Energy Efficiency Made Simple Vol IV

owever, as is often the case with any new technology, the

advancements within Ethernet are outpacing the knowledge

and training of those who must utilise it. This leads to networks

which, while fulfilling their purpose at the most basic level, fail to

fully live up to their potential. A properly designed and implemented

network can lead to great savings in both production and time, as

problems with network and end devices can be easily identified.

With redundancy in place, failures do not have to mean a shutdown

Planning and designing an

Ethernet network for mission

critical communications

T Craven, H3iSquared

Ethernet has become the de facto standard for use in mission

critical communication networks, especially those used to control

power grids. Ethernet standards are constantly evolving, which has

led to Ethernet being feasible for use in latency and time sensitive

applications, improving the standard on an ongoing basis. Until

something completely new and paradigm altering is developed, it

is safe to say that Ethernet is here to stay.

of the grid or sections thereof. It is important that the knowledge is in

place when designing the network, as Ethernet is no longer a simple

technology that can be improvised; it has become a school of its own.

Hardware

One of the main steps when designing a mission critical network is

deciding what hardware to use. Budget is obviously always a factor

to be considered; however, utilising the incorrect hardware based on

a budgetary perspective can lead to greater losses in the long run if

the hardware does not live up to expectations. It is important to select

hardware that complies with the relevant technical standards for your

requirements, and not to pay for functionality that will never be utilised.

As stated, Ethernet is a complex group of standards and not all of these

will be necessary or even beneficial on your network. For instance, if

extremely accurate time synchronisation is required for your network

then IEEE1588/PTP [1] (Precision Time Protocol) with a GPS master

clock should be considered. If this level of accuracy is not required,

purchasing PTP compliant hardware will add unnecessary expense

Ethernet networks were once things that ran on a shop floor, in the

process plant and office. Now, mission critical applications include

the monitoring and control of substations, where the same network

system provides overall management and control. The planning and

design of an Ethernet network must be reviewed.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY MADE SIMPLE 2015