Most Ethernet PHYs were designed for standard computer applications where the delay thru PHY does not really matter. However, for Real-Time Ethernet (RTE) applications, and especially motor control, both the absolute delay and the variation in this delay are critical parameters for the overall system design. Where an Ethernet PHY is used inside a control system, for example to send data from a thermal sensor that controls a furnace, the delay (or latency) through the PHY can affect the stability of the control loop.