Integration Of Enterprise And Industrial Networks In A Computer Engineering Technology Program

In many industrial plants, the local area network is a relatively small path that connects computers and workstations used by managers and engineers. Unlike enterprise networks, industrial networks are typically dedicated to conveying critical control information and operational data to operators, equipment, controllers, valves, and sensors. Due to this nature, normal industrial networks are usually kept isolated from the enterprise networks. In the same manner, the general approach to curricular structure designs in enterprise networks and industrial networks is to separate the two. However, the rapid growth of information technology and the continuing cost reduction in computing hardware have stimulated the growth of computer networking in all aspects. The interoperability between these two types of networking becomes an important and valid issue to be addressed. Vendors and developers of industrial and enterprise networks are trending toward integrating these two types of networking with designs of interoperable protocols and proper network architectures. In this paper, we discuss the impact of this trend on the design of curriculum in the Computer Engineering Technology program. We also report our initial attempt in assimilating these two networks from the curriculum point of view. The related course material and associated laboratory exercises used in this initial attempt and their implementation in the higher-level curriculum in Computer Engineering Technology program are discussed.