Preparing your network for the IIoT: Ethernet switches
More businesses are rolling out Industry 4.0’s transformative technology for process automation, efficient manufacturing, and cost savings. Integrating these Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices into local area networks enables machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, advanced analytics, predictive maintenance, and more efficient automation.
However, by adding all these sensors, processors, robotics, and other IIoT devices, our networks quickly become inundated with heavy traffic. Without the right network backbone to support it, IIoT initiatives can never reach their full potential, or, even worse, can create errors that lead to downtime or risks to personnel safety.
“For an IoT deployment to succeed, organizations must prepare their network infrastructure for a flood of data from the furthest reaches of the network to reduce latency and security risks,” writes Kristen Gloss for TechTarget. “IT managers must understand how each piece — including 5G, Wi-Fi, gateways, user interfaces, and platforms — of the IoT network integrates and how business priorities affect network architecture.”
In this article, we’re going to discuss one of the most important pieces of hardware that any organization needs to implement a successful IIoT initiative: Ethernet switches. As control engineers integrate more and more devices in their Ethernet networks, they rely on robust switches with advanced features to power their operations.
Let’s go through the features to look for in switches that can keep up with the demands of tomorrow’s manufacturing networks.
Fiber optics
Fiber optic switches use fiber optic cables and optical modules to transfer signals and data using light instead of electrical impulses. While many industrial switches can achieve up to gigabit speed, newer options can bring additional benefits. For example, while copper can only carry signals for 100 meters, fiber can go up to 20 kilometers.
Fiber also eliminates the problem of electrical interference. Copper starts having problems if it runs by an electrically noisy device, like a motor or drive, or near power lines. Fiber is optical and has no such limitations.
The increased throughput eliminates bottlenecking and congestion caused by traffic influx. Just as cities need to expand their physical infrastructure, such as adding lanes to their highways as their population grows, we need to do the same for our networks. With throughputs up to 1,000 Mb/s, this is a huge upgrade over yesteryear’s copper switches.
Second, real-time automation requires real-time communication. One of the main advantages of IIoT is the labor savings that result from integrating multiple devices with different functionalities into a single workflow. To keep everything moving according to schedule, we need the fast networking provided by fiber optic Ethernet switches.
Automation Protocol Prioritization (APP)
This “fast pass” for industrial networks lets engineers designate some data as more important than others to ensure that mission-critical data never gets delayed. For instance, M2M communication is necessary for continued production. Intermittent reporting to the cloud for big data analytics is a less pressing concern, and regular administrative traffic is the least important of all. Automation protocol prioritization (APP) guarantees that the former transfer takes precedence over the latter.
Phoenix Contact switches support technology to prioritize certain industrial protocols on the network. The first is EtherNet/IP, a network protocol commonly used in applications that run on Rockwell Automation devices. Essentially, the switch gives the traffic priority over others with Quality of Service (QoS) arrangements, so the engineer does not need to program or choose.
The second is PROFINET, a similar protocol by SIEMENS that synthesizes IT functionality with automation technology for more efficient manufacturing. PROFINET is advantageous because of its global acceptance/use and its very expansive libraries and support.
By enabling features like APP, Ethernet switches let us create more complex, higher-performing networks without sacrificing reliability or consistency.
Modern chipset
The last thing we need is for our switches to lack the ability to handle the demands of increased network traffic. Modern chipsets are crucial for supplying the processing power that Ethernet switches need to support IIoT networks.
Since chipsets handle the lowest levels of connection, they provide the foundation upon which everything else depends. They are crucial for proper system performance, and without an advanced chipset, it is impossible to take advantage of any other features.
Lastly, chipsets also dictate future expansion options. As networking technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, we need to make sure that we have plenty of room for improvement.
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
Power over Ethernet (PoE) is another growing trend in the industrial world, making it easier to power remote devices such as sensors, wireless access points, and IP video cameras. Rather than installing a remote power supply, the switch sitting in the cabinet can supply the power.
A switch with PoE capability can reduce hardware costs and simplify installation. Instead of both power and data cables, the cabinet now only needs a single cable, and there is no need for an additional power supply.
Unmanaged Ethernet switches are ready for the IIoT
By combining the latest features like fiber optics, APP, and more, Phoenix Contact has created the next generation of unmanaged Ethernet switches that are designed specifically for Industry 4.0 applications. Right out of the box, our 1000 series Unmanaged Switches let engineers do more with their network.
IIoT brings many exciting opportunities to industries around the world. We’re at the cusp of a momentous shift in the manufacturing landscape. Remaining competitive in this technological world is going to require an innovative approach to better leverage the data generated and consumed by the Industry 4.0 and IIoT explosion.
Switches are the heart of a network. By utilizing Ethernet switches, we can create the robust systems that we need to support the Industrial Internet of Things.
Published By David Hoysan
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.
