Difference Between Industrial Ethernet and Regular Ethernet
Ethernet technology can be separated into two primary categories regarding their intended use: industrial Ethernet and regular Ethernet. Industrial Ethernet essentially refers to Ethernet that is equipped to operate efficiently in a rugged industrial environment. “Regular” Ethernet, on the other hand, is Ethernet that is designed for commercial use. Attempting to use regular Ethernet devices in an industrial setting can greatly reduce the efficiency and quality of a network. As such, it is important to recognize and identify the many ways that these two types of Ethernet differ from one another. To gain a better understanding of the difference between industrial Ethernet and regular Ethernet, continue reading.
Application Requirements
One of the main differences between industrial Ethernet and regular Ethernet is their application requirements. The fundamental purpose of industrial Ethernet differs greatly from commercial Ethernet. Industrial Ethernet is created for mission-critical purposes where determinism and real-time control is vital. Commercial Ethernet does not inherently provide such deterministic performance or real-time communication, and thus cannot meet the application requirements of industrial usage.
Operating Conditions
Another substantial difference between industrial Ethernet and regular Ethernet is the operating conditions of each type of technology. Regular Ethernet is designed to work in commercial networking applications such as data centers or office buildings where it will be located in an indoor, temperature-controlled, clean, and stable environment. Industrial Ethernet, however, was designed to work efficiently in rugged industrial environments. As such, industrial Ethernet must be able to stand up to much harsher environmental demands, such as:
- Extremely high or low temperatures
- Exposure to water
- Exposure to high winds
- Exposure to high humidity levels
- Exposure to UV Rays
- Exposure to electromagnetic environments
Because commercial Ethernet technology is not designed to withstand such harsh operating conditions, implementing it in an industrial setting will likely result in substantial damage. As a result, other negative repercussions such as downtime or critical data loss can occur.
Antaira Technologies is a leading provider of industrial networking equipment. Our wide selection of innovative devices ranges from industrial Ethernet switches to industrial routers and media converters. To learn more about how our products can help you create a robust, high-functioning network, contact us today.