Implemented on Multitudes of chips produced by many vendors. Widely used also in PC to PC, PLC to PLC and supervisory control applications. Gradually working its way toward the sensor level in plant floor applications. Ethernet is the most widely accepted international networking standard. Nearly universal worldwide.
Ethernet can handle large amounts of data at high speed and serve the needs of large installations.
The networking of millions of PC s in offices and the proliferation of the Internet across the world has made Ethernet a universal networking standard. Ethernet hardware and related software has evolved to the point where even inexperienced users can build simple networks and connect computers together. Ethernet hardware is dirt cheap and can be purchased in office supply stores, computer stores and e-commerce sites everywhere. In contrast to the perception that the popular fieldbuses are expensive, difficult to use, and that there are too many of them vying for market dominance, Ethernet appears to be a panacea. The Challenges of Moving Ethernet to the Plant Floor Reality may be somewhat different, however at least right now.