The End of "Best Effort"

On a standard network, packets wait in a queue (FIFO). If a large file download starts, your real-time data gets stuck behind it. This is Jitter. DetNet solves this by creating a disciplined schedule for the wire.

Core Mechanisms

To achieve zero congestion and fixed latency, DetNet uses:

• Time Synchronization: Every switch in the path must agree on the time down to the nanosecond (using PTPv2 / IEEE 1588).
• Resource Reservation: Bandwidth and buffer space are allocated for specific 'flows' before they even start.
• Path Control: Explicit routing to ensure every packet takes the exact same physical path to avoid timing variations.

Use Cases

• Industrial Automation: Keeping high-speed assembly robots in perfect sync.
• Professional Audio/Video: Ensuring uncompressed 8K video streams never 'stutter.'
• Smart Grids: Micro-second precision for circuit breaker coordination.

Conclusion

DetNet is about control. By stripping away the statistical uncertainty of packet-switched networks, we enable applications that were previously only possible with dedicated point-to-point wiring.