5 Tips to Prepare Your Ethernet Network For Future Growth
- March 7, 2023
- Best Practices
- Automation
Planning for your ethernet network of the future is like buying a house for your family. If you are planning on having a lot of kids, it probably doesn’t make sense to buy a two-bedroom house. As you look to invest in cybersecurity and upgrade your networks, hardware and PLC platforms, will your network infrastructure have enough bandwidth to support future growth? Here are five tips for building a successful ethernet network of the future.
TIP #1: ASSESS YOUR CURRENT ETHERNET NETWORK
Getting documentation on your current network is a good first step on your ethernet connectivity journey. Do you know everything that is connected to your network? Do you have it mapped out? Failing to account for your most critical assets can affect performance or leave you vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks, but performing a network assessment helps you identify assets and gives you a benchmark for the current state of your network.
As new technologies and products with more throughput emerge, you need to make sure your infrastructure will support what you have now while giving you room for growth in the future. Once ethernet infrastructure is installed, it is usually in place for 15-20 years, and it is not easily replaced. If you have large capital projects or expansions planned in the future, it helps to have documentation to understand what you have in place and evaluate whether you will have the bandwidth and throughput to achieve your future goals.
TIP #2: ESTABLISH RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN IT AND OT
Your devices, patch cords and panels are not the only things that need to be compatible. Your people need to communicate and work together effectively too. Do your IT and OT teams communicate regularly? Do you know who is responsible for managing the physical network infrastructure on your plant floor?
The IT and OT relationship is more important now than it ever has been with cybersecurity concerns and the wide growth of ethernet on the plant floor network. Both teams need to stay up to date with the latest technology, best practices and telecommunications industry standards. When both teams are educated and aligned with best practices, assigning responsibilities between your IT and OT teams helps upgrades and future expansions run more smoothly.
TIP #3 INVEST IN A NETWORK DESIGN
To operate efficiently, it is important to have a network design both on the logical and physical side of the network. The logical side looks at all the software and hardware that is running on a network, and the physical infrastructure needs to be able to support it. This includes copper, fiberoptics and all the connectivity from the datacenter out to the machine level.
Converged Plantwide Ethernet (CPwE), for example, is a Rockwell Automation and Cisco-tested blueprint designed to be more scalable, reliable and secure. Using a network design like CPwE helps you optimize production, minimize risk and enable room for growth.
TIP #4: SELECT THE RIGHT MANUFACTURERS AND PRODUCTS
Not all manufacturers make products the same. How do you know who to work with? Companies, like Rockwell and Cisco, have looked at different aspects of their logical design, tested products together and designed products that can be used in any plant floor environment.
The form factor between manufacturers is the same. For example, an RJ45 will plug into an RJ45 no matter the manufacturer. That said, cheaper isn’t always better. Jacket quality and environmental ratings play a big role in the performance of your network. It is best to make sure products are individually tested, certified and UL listed where they need to be. Making sure products are rated to withstand environmental conditions helps you pass inspections, avoid unplanned downtime and mitigate data loss.
TIP #5: CHOOSE THE RIGHT PARTNER
Building your ethernet network of the future does not have to be a solo journey. How do you choose the right partner to help you along the way? Whether it’s help with product selection and network design or performing a network assessment, Van Meter has experts to walk you through every step of the journey. Reach out to your account manager or call 1-800-247-1410 to connect with an ethernet connectivity expert.
Connect with an ethernet expert today

ARTICLE BY:
JASON OSTRANDER
EMPLOYEE-OWNER, PANEL SOLUTIONS SPECIALIST