Processor Ethernet represents the interface by which IP endpoints, branch gateways, and adjuncts can register to Communication Manager.

The two primary considerations when engineering the required number of Processor Ethernet interfaces are registration and packet throughput. Registration considerations pertain to the maximum number of entities that can simultaneously reregister upon system failure. Packet throughput refers to the maximum number of simultaneous signaling connections supported by Processor Ethernet. For practical purposes, these two concepts can be considered independent of one another.