In this paper, we discuss real-time control of networked control systems (NCSs) and practical issues in the choice of the communication networks for this purpose. An appropriate integration of control systems, real-time environments, and network communication systems allows the optimization of the quality-of-control (QoC) in NCSs. We compare several prevailing network types that may be used in control applications to offer a guideline of choosing a proper network. A real-time operating environment is also presented as an important ingredient of NCS design. To evaluate its feasibility and effectiveness, a real-time NCS containing a ball magnetic levitation (Maglev) setup is implemented via an Ethernet. Based on the experimental results, it is concluded in this paper that real-time control via Ethernet is a practical and feasible solution to NCS design.