Standardization of industrial Ethernet - the next battlefield?

Roughly two years after the end of the fieldbus war, the IEC TC65 has started a new standardization project. The definition of a real-time Ethernet standard is a logical consequence of the introduction of Ethernet in industrial automation. Currently, several vendors have already introduced their approaches on the market or have at least finished specification. This paper gives an overview of the various Ethernet-related activities in IEC TC65, specifically cabling, real-time, safety, and security issues. It reviews the candidates for standardization and tries to investigate the chances of a new fieldbus war.