Developments from Hirschmann advance industrial networking
September 2006
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Hirschmann Automation and Control is offering the managed switches of the Rail, MICE, PowerMICE and MACH 4000 product families, together with industrial profiles which are special software packages. These network components can then be totally integrated in the three standard protocols PROFINET, EtherNet/IP or Modbus TCP. The respective profiles can be selected through the Webshop-Configurator OpenRail and are then copied onto the switches at the factory. This software can also be exchanged later over the Internet.
"With this concept Hirschmann adopts a pioneer role as a neutral manufacturer of network equipment," the head of marketing, Dr Klaus Zwerina, explains. "Because then not only do the standard protocols of large automation manufacturers become accessible to all Ethernet users, but at the same time Hirschmann switches can also be integrated in the application software of these manufacturers."
This integration enables both the configuration and monitoring of the network components according to the plug-and-play principle. Dr Zwerina commented: "This enables a homogeneous, plant-wide engineering from the simple commissioning through the smooth integration in the diagnostic concept to the comfortable exchange of defective components by automatic assignment of the configuration parameters."
OpenRail switches
Rail switches with management functions guarantee high availability of complex automation systems with innovative redundancy solutions and the option of network monitoring.
Modular Rail switches perform due to their flexibility through problem free planning, minimum storage problems and easy adaptation to the most varied network topologies with media modules. One can have customised solutions for all industrial data networks and have the capability to expand due to their modular structure.
Network topologies
To enable all this, the industry demands higher standards on the redundancy of the Ethernet network.
To reach higher redundancies different topologies are necessary. A typical industrial topology is shown in Figure 1. The ring structure plays a very important role in Industrial Ethernet topologies. The reason is that it is easy to install and it gives cable redundancy. It is necessary to use fibre cable for backbone infrastructure. The reasons are immunity against electrical noise, lightning resistant and high bandwidth availability.
Figure 1. A typical industrial topology
Against this background the description of Industrial Ethernet is closely connected with topics such as information technology in automation, Internet in production or web-based operation and observation. Figure 1 shows only the most important elements of the Industrial Ethernet world. The entire complex environment cannot be described in detail here. But taken together it has now become clear that Industrial Ethernet is increasingly becoming the focal point for harmonisation of the systems environment.
For more information contact Industrial Automation & Control, +27 (0) 12 657 3600.
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