Empirical Evaluation of Media Redundancy Protocol (MRP) for High Availability in Mission-Critical Industrial Networks: Design, Implementation, and Performance in Ring Topologies

Abstract

In mission-critical industrial environments, network interruptions can result in significant operational disruptions, financial losses, and safety risks. Deterministic communication and high availability are, therefore, essential to maintain system reliability. The objective of this thesis was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Media Redundancy Protocol (MRP) in ensuring deterministic fault recovery and continuity in industrial Ethernet networks under realistic operational conditions.

In this study, a design-based experimental approach was employed, integrating theoretical analysis of redundancy principles with the implementation of a laboratory testbed. The testbed modeled four MRP rings in dual redundant domains where controlled link and node failures were simulated to assess ring integrity, self-healing, and recovery metrics using console logs, ICMP tests, and packet captures under sustained traffic loads.

The study demonstrated MRP's robust self-healing capabilities, with mean control-plane recovery times of 51 milliseconds and closure times of 20 milliseconds. Application-layer disruptions averaged 1 second per event yet ensured complete data delivery without loops or desynchronization. These findings affirm MRP's contribution to achieving high availability in ring topologies, while highlighting the value of hybrid redundancies to mitigate limitations such as node isolation. The results provide practical guidelines for industrial network deployment, enhancing operational efficiency and safety for commissioning organizations. Keywords: media redundancy protocol, industrial Ethernet, high availability, fault recovery, network resilience