The global Internet of Things (IoT) market is growing rapidly, driven by the deployment of an ever-increasing number of devices. Current projections indicate that the number of IoT devices worldwide is expected to almost double by 2030, increasing from 15.9 billion in 2023 to more than 32.1 billion. As more connected devices and technologies enter the market, networks are correspondingly growing in size and complexity, and addressing an increasingly broad range of applications.
As part of ensuring these applications run seamlessly and at an acceptable cost, businesses must get the network deployment right. This means enabling the co-existence of traffic of differing priority levels and latency tolerances across a converged network. In turn this supports a wide range of applications over different vertical markets, from professional audio-visual systems and industrial IoT to automotive and aerospace.
The use of Avnu-certified Ethernet switches implementing Audio Video Bridging (AVB) and Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) capabilities, ensures the needs of mixed-criticality traffic in such a converged network can be met, with the reassurance that the networking will work.
Setting New Standards for Performance and Interoperability
The Avnu Alliance’s new switch certification program is designed to transform how network switches are tested and certified, addressing the evolving needs of various networking industry segments through new testing procedures and defining tools for performance and interoperability testing.
Whether it’s for audio-visual applications, industrial automation, or critical infrastructure, the new certification program promises to enhance device reliability and streamline certification processes. By certifying device compliance with the IEEE 802.1BA profile for AVB defined by the IEEE 802.1 TSN Task Group, Avnu Alliance is playing its part to bring in a new era of converged network performance, by helping to ensure that all devices meet the rigorous demands of modern real-time networking environments. Work is ongoing at the Avnu Alliance to extend certification programs to address networking requirements for other application segments, such as industrial automation.
Why This Certification Matters
As industries ranging from audio-visual production to industrial automation increasingly rely on networked systems, it is critical to ensure the component parts of these systems meet the highest standards of reliability, performance, and interoperability.
The IEEE’s AVB Task Group, reimagined into the TSN Task Group in 2012, initially set the foundation with AVB specifications. TSN has since built on these foundations, incorporating advanced features like frame pre-emption, per-stream filtering, and time-aware scheduling. These enhancements enable a wide range of real-time applications, from audio and video to industrial automation and automotive networks, and today’s deployed systems showcase the versatility and necessity of AVB/TSN technology.
AVB and TSN represent a leap forward for Ethernet and wireless LANs. They offer unparalleled reliability, low latency, and improved synchronization, which are essential for time-critical applications. The precise timing within devices facilitated by these standards supports low-jitter media clocks and accurate synchronization of multiple nodes, allowing diverse types of traffic to coexist seamlessly on a single network.
For AVB/TSN-enabled devices to be deployed and managed successfully, interoperability between devices, and adherence to the IEEE 802.1BA profile are crucial. Avnu Alliance’s new switch certification program revamps the testing process to adopt a functional approach, emphasizing the switch’s performance within a functional system while ensuring conformance with IEEE specifications. The new switch certification program improves and speeds up device certification, ensuring compliance with AVB/TSN standards and enhancing interoperability among platforms to provide cost-effective and superior market solutions.
Certification Process
The certification process begins with a comprehensive Pilot phase where devices undergo rigorous testing to ensure they meet the preliminary standards set by the Avnu Alliance. During this phase, devices that pass the tests receive conditional certifications. This provisional status allows manufacturers to market and deploy their products with the assurance that they meet essential requirements.
A New Era of Network Technology
As networks continue to evolve and support more diverse applications, certifications like this become increasingly important. Certification ensures interoperability and adherence to specifications, ultimately paving the way for smoother, and therefore successful deployments.
This new certification program marks an important step forward in network technology, promising to deliver more reliable, efficient, and versatile networking solutions across various industry segments. With Avnu Alliance’s certified Ethernet switches, we are entering a new era where network performance meets the highest standards, ensuring seamless, reliable, and efficient communication for all applications.