Progressive TSN Deployment: For Success, Lead with the Network

To support smart operations, Industry 4.0 relies on real-time data transfer and automation. It's the enabler of intelligent and precise monitoring, control, synchronization and productivity.

In Industry 4.0 applications time-sensitive networking (TSN) is becoming increasingly critical due to its ability to provide reliable, low-latency communication for industrial applications.

It offers industrial environments benefits like:

• Real-time performance and precise data transmission to execute critical tasks exactly when they need to happen
  
  
• Improved coordination and efficiency through high-precision time synchronization that ensures accurate, simultaneous operation of all network devices
  
  
• Flexibility to support multiple communication models and industrial applications
  
  
• Low costs and seamless integration with existing network infrastructure thanks to compatibility with Ethernet technology
  
  
• Simplified operations through interoperability, which enables devices from different vendors to work together
  
  
• Reduced downtime by streamlining support of complex systems that contain large numbers of nodes and communication requirements

5 reasons to take a network-first approach to TSN deployment

Although it offers many advantages, implementing time-sensitive networking can present challenges if it's not handled carefully. Issues can quickly arise with existing equipment (such as I/O modules and servers) and its ability to support TSN.

To reduce these issues, utilizing a progressive TSN deployment strategy that leads with the network first is a smart and practical choice.

Instead of a big-bang overhaul, this approach gradually introduces TSN capabilities into your existing network infrastructure. Each phase is carefully planned and executed to minimize disruptions and allow for gradual integration and testing.

For industrial plants that want to integrate time-sensitive networking into their network, this strategy offers many benefits.

1. Reduced deployment risks

A forceful, accelerated TSN deployment will be highly risky if onsite hardware doesn't align with TSN's requirements. Problems with device incompatibility and unstable performance quickly rise to the surface.

Progressive deployment empowers enterprises to implement TSN network upgrades in steps, ensuring the stability and efficiency of network infrastructure before devices are upgraded or servers are replaced.

By deploying the system in steps, you can make sure that an issue encountered in one stage will not affect the stability of the entire system. As technical problems surface, they can be addressed methodically and one at a time rather than having to manage drastic changes caused by massive, all-at-once replacement.

At each stage, compatibility between newly added TSN components and existing systems can be tested to ensure seamless integration.

2. Smoother transitions

By utilizing network-leading strategies, you can gradually optimize and improve network performance during TSN deployment to ensure a smooth transition.

Replacing old devices gradually helps you reduce the likelihood of production interruption caused by system upgrades. This approach also gives your team time to learn and steadily adopt new operations technology.

With a gradual approach to equipment upgrades and server replacement, there’s also time to adjust and optimize your network to achieve seamless connection across the entire TSN system.

3. Fuller utilization of existing resources

When labor and financial resources are limited, understanding how and when to utilize them is the key.

You can avoid one-time massive investments and improve cost effectiveness through gradual upgrades. The financial burden can be distributed over time, and each phase can be scheduled to reduce disruption to operations. Limited resources and budgets can be allocated to the most critical areas so the most important technical issues can be addressed.

4. Improve overall performance

A stable, efficient network infrastructure is the core of industrial automation. By taking a phased approach to TSN integration, you can take the opportunity to continuously optimize your network as you gradually develop TSN components. TSN technology provides high-precision time synchronization and low-latency data transmission, which are crucial to automation response speed and control accuracy.

Progressive TSN deployment helps ensure collaborative operation between equipment and components to improve efficiency.

5. Build solid foundation for future expansion

A strategy that leads with the network lets you build a foundation for future expansion. The methodical incorporation of TSN helps you better plan and prepare for future technology and applications along the way.

The design of TSN networks allows for easy scalability and enables enterprises to add new equipment and services based on business needs.

As a long-term investment, gradual development of TSN could help you achieve more extensive technical upgrades over time.

Mapping the 10 steps to phased TSN deployment

To improve the success of TSN network development, more industrial environments are utilizing phased deployment strategies. Belden created its own 10-step process to lead you gradually through a network-first approach to TSN integration.

1. Communicate about goals and needs

It all begins with conversations to understand your existing network conditions, forecast targets, business goals and specific technical requirements. This also includes a discussion of your detailed requirements for achieving industrial automation, real-time control and other low-latency and high-reliability applications.

2. Understand the situation and requirements

An onsite evaluation is conducted of existing network architecture, equipment compatibility, network traffic modes, etc.

Based on your business processes and operational requirements, we analyze and determine your network performance requirements for parameters like bandwidth, delay, jitter and packet loss rate.

3. Classify your data

Based on your requirements, data traffic is divided into three categories of prioritization: high, medium and low. Specific Quality of Service (QoS) policies are defined for each category to ensure that critical traffic is processed preferentially.

4. Determine corresponding TSN levels

Based on data classification, corresponding TSN services levels, such as cyclic schedule and stream reservation protocol, can be configured. This will ensure that high-priority data traffic can obtain necessary network resources and scheduling priorities.

5. Deploy TSN supportive switches

Switches are selected to meet TSN standards and your performance requirements. Based on data classification and TSN level, these switches are then configured and deployed.

6. Follow network-leading implementation

To ensure that your new switches are compatible with existing equipment, network infrastructure is replaced in advance without changing onsite terminal equipment. Next, network topology is optimized to reduce unnecessary network layers and improve network efficiency.

7. Conduct a network performance test

TSN switch performance is tested to ensure that switches can properly process different types of data traffic. Key performance indicators, such as network latency, jitter and packet loss rate, are verified to ensure compliance with TSN standards and your business demands. During testing, errors are identified and corrected.

8. Continuously monitor and optimize

A network monitoring system is deployed to track network performance and device status in real-time. Network configuration and performance is then optimized based on the monitoring data and business needs.

9. Establish documentation and training

Detailed network configuration documents and operational manuals are prepared and handed over to you. TSN technology and network management training is also provided to your team to ensure that you understand and are ready to maintain your new network.

10. Subsequent support

Finally, we make sure you have access to continuous technical support to solve any problems you encounter during network operation. This is a good time to start developing a plan for network upgrades and expansions, too, based on changes in technology and demand.

We’re ready when you are

There are many benefits to taking a progressive TSN deployment strategy that leads with the network first. It not only reduces overall risk, streamlines the transition and optimizes resource utilization but also enhances network performance and establishes a solid foundation for future expansion.

When you're ready to integrate TSN to support industrial automation, consider this strategy for deployment. Belden's team is here to answer your questions and lead you to success.

Learn how we support TSN technology.

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