BEAVERTON, OR –– Avnu Alliance, the industry forum driving deterministic capabilities into open, standards-based networking, hosted its first European plugfest in recent years at one of its Registered Test Facilities, GRL Laboratories in Karlsruhe, Germany on May 16-20, 2022. Twelve Avnu member companies with more than 30 participating engineers came together to further develop and test TSN products and devices, along with new devices now able to be certified under the Advanced Milan Certification Program.
During the plugfest Avnu members continued work on the integration and validation of IEEE 802.1AS time synchronization test development, with the certification program targeted to open for members this year. This work will lay the framework for time distribution, including media specific support for Ethernet and Wi-Fi. Plugfest testing also included the introduction of initial Wireless TSN test development over Wi-Fi, as well as the introduction of initial 802.1Qbv/.3br wired test for bounded latency through traffic shaping and scheduling with the certification program targeted to open for members by the end of this year. Data from this plugfest event will be used to refine these test plans.This plugfest was the first since the Milan Advanced Certification Program opened certification testing for bridged end stations, Pro Audio end devices with a small bridge that meet Milan specifications. Avnu members with those devices were welcomed to participate with their devices and will be invited to future plugfests.
“Our most recent plugfest demonstrates Avnu’s continued momentum and growth in making pre-certification and certification testing easier and faster for member companies,” says Ed Agis, Certification Work Group co-chair. “We are committed to helping manufacturers who are implementing TSN ensure interoperability.”
Avnu’s next plugfest is planned for July 2022.
Avnu Alliance Member Quotes
“As a company we get a lot of benefits from the plugfests. This latest one was no exception and GRL did an excellent job hosting. We will definitely participate in future events,” said Morten Lave, Adamson Systems Engineering.
"Certification for compliance is very important for users to know that devices will ‘just work out of the box.’ Plugfests allow an easy way to quickly find rare edge cases before customers discover them. And they are a way to share ideas and solutions within the open standards community,” said Richard Bugg, Digital Products Solutions Architect, Meyer Sound.
“Events like this are essential to the realization of the converged network. Plugfests provide a forum for learning and allow various vendors to challenge their own assumptions regarding the implementation of these TSN standards,” said Jordon Woods, Product Line Director, Industrial Ethernet, Analog Devices. “Ensuring a common layer 2 and thus, a common approach to management, are foundational to the realization of the factory of the future. A venue in which vendors can collaborate to realize those technologies is invaluable.”
“Plugfests are an invaluable opportunity to validate TSN features on silicon and demonstrate our open-source software interoperates with others. Enabling cost effective automation with fast, deterministic, and robust communication like GB TSN is the most practical option when nanoseconds matter” said Pekka Varis, Senior Member Technical Staff, Sitara Processors, Texas Instruments.
To learn more about Avnu Alliance, visit www.avnu.org.
About Avnu Alliance
Avnu Alliance is a community creating an interoperable ecosystem of low-latency, time-synchronized, highly reliable networked devices using open standards. Avnu creates comprehensive certification programs to ensure interoperability of networked devices. The foundational technology enables deterministic synchronized networking based on IEEE Audio Video Bridging (AVB) / Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) base standards. The Alliance, in conjunction with other complimentary standards bodies and alliances, provides a united network foundation for use in professional AV, automotive, industrial control and consumer segments.