According to Moxa, users in today’s competitive manufacturing environment need to extract every possible benefit from Ethernet technology. Optimised productivity requires the right tools and techniques to increase operating efficiency and reduce expenditures effectively – a convergent network will do just that.
A convergent industrial automation network is constructed around a shared Ethernet-based platform that is not just for data transmissions, but also for the transmission of voice, video, and other mission-critical applications. With a 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) core switch solution, bandwidth is no longer an issue.
The Ethernet movement has evolved into one of the most widely implemented protocols for the industrial automation industry. Initially, Fast Ethernet with a speed of 100 Mbit/s was sufficient, but the demands for network information quickly outgrew this speed. This led to Gigabit Ethernet, which increased the speed to 1000 Mbit/s, which is still not fast enough for convergent industrial automation networks. This is where 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) comes into play. Superseding both Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet with a data rate of 10 Gbit/s, 10GbE is 10 times faster than Gigabit Ethernet.
Ethernet backbones: commercial or industrial core switches?
A convergent industrial Ethernet network is very important, especially for large-scale mission-critical automation applications such as in the transportation (rail and subway) and oil and gas industries where a massive amount of data, voice and video needs to be transmitted 24/7. A 10 Gigabit Ethernet core switch with the capability to provide high performance, high port density and bandwidth and endure harsh, demanding operating environments is required.
Industrial-grade 10GbE core switches can provide all of the aforementioned features. Commercial-grade core switches cannot as they do not survive the harsh industrial environments. In addition, commercial switches are equipped with fans which can malfunction unexpectedly and also require regular cleaning and replacement. Furthermore, the commercial switches’ fault recovery time is measured in seconds, not milliseconds, and the installation, integration, and troubleshooting of commercial switches for large-scale industrial automation networks is both complicated and time consuming.
Many users are inclined to choose commercial switches because the initial cost is lower than that of industrial switches. In reality, choosing industrial-grade products from the outset is actually more cost-efficient since reliability and network stability are ensured. Maintenance costs are also lower due to the rugged construction.
Moxa’s solution
Moxa ICS series industrial core Ethernet switches offer modular and scalable construction for integration into Cisco or other vendor networks to facilitate a single multipurpose convergent network that is ultra stable and reliable.
The switches combine a comprehensive range of industrial functionality to provide the ideal solution for convergent industrial automation networks. These fanless 10GbE industrial Ethernet switches also offer four 10GbE ports for high performance up and downlinks at a competitive price.
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