METHOD FOR OPERATING A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK AND NETWORK ARRANGEMENT

摘要

A method for operating a communications network, in particular an Ethernet network is provided. Network devices that are coupled to the network have a switch device and a control device that is coupled to the switch device, and the switch device has at least one receiving port and a sending port for sending and receiving data via the communications network. Fuse devices for monitoring a particular data transfer rate are assigned to the receiving ports. The fuse devices block data reception at a particular receiving port when a previously determined maximum data transfer rate is exceeded. A possible annular structure using bidirectional communication paths and the limitation of the data transfer rate at the receiving ports improve fail-safety and error analysis in the event of transfer and hardware errors, in particular babbling idiot errors. The invention further relates to a network arrangement having a plurality of corresponding network devices which function according to said method.