In the field of IIoT, industrial switches are key network devices that connect various industrial equipment, sensors, and control systems. Their selection directly affects the stability and reliability of the entire industrial network. For different industrial networking scenarios, it is crucial to choose the right industrial switch. The following is a professional guide to selecting industrial switches, designed to help people who need to make informed choices for networking applications.
Before selecting an industrial switch, it is necessary to first clarify the application scenarios and requirements. Different industries and production lines have different requirements for industrial switches. For example, in the rail transit industry, it is necessary to choose products that meet the industry standards; In high-risk environments such as mines or chemical plants, switches with high protection levels and explosion-proof capabilities should be selected.
The working environment of industrial switches is usually harsh, such as high temperature, high humidity, electromagnetic interference, etc. Therefore, when selecting a switch, special attention should be paid to the temperature and humidity adaptability, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), protection level such as IP level, and installation method of the switch. Ensure that the selected switch can operate stably in the target environment.
Select the appropriate switch port speed and type according to business requirements. Industrial switch ports are divided into 100M, 1G and 10G, and should be selected according to the actual bandwidth requirements. At the same time, it is also necessary to consider whether RJ45 interfaces, fiber optic interfaces, and the number of interfaces are needed to meet the connection requirements of different devices.
Network management switches provide more powerful management and configuration functions, such as SNMP protocol support, VLAN division, QoS settings, etc., which are suitable for medium-sized and large industrial networks or scenarios with high requirements for network management. Non-managed switches are relatively simple, plug-and-play, and suitable for small networks or scenarios with low network management requirements.
In industrial networks, redundancy design is an important means to ensure network stability. Network management industrial switches usually support ring redundancy protocols such as RSTP, which can automatically switch paths when there is a network failure to ensure smooth network connectivity. In addition, the hardware reliability of the switch, such as power redundancy and fan design, should also be considered.
Industrial switches should support commonly used industrial protocols, such as PROFINET and Modbus, to ensure compatibility with various industrial devices. At the same time, the switch should also support standard TCP/IP protocols to achieve seamless docking with other network devices.
In the industrial IoT environment, cybersecurity is equally important. Choosing a switch with firewall functionality, access control list ACL, and port security policies can effectively prevent network attacks and unauthorized access. In addition, the physical protection capabilities of the switch, such as dust and water resistance, should also be considered.
Select the appropriate transmission medium and distance according to the actual application scenario. Short-distance communication usually uses twisted-pair cables, while long-distance communication requires the use of optical fibers. The transmission distance of twisted-pair cables is generally within 100 meters, while the communication distance of multimode fiber can reach 2 kilometers, and that of single-mode fiber can reach 120 kilometers.
Choosing a well-known brand and a supplier with good after-sales service is also an important consideration for selection. Products from well-known brands usually have higher quality and reliability, while good after-sales service ensures timely and effective solutions when equipment problems arise.
The selection of industrial switches requires comprehensive consideration of various factors, including application scenarios, environmental factors, communication rates, network management functions, redundancy and reliability, protocol support, security, transmission media, and brand and after-sales service. By comprehensively evaluating these factors, it can be ensured that the selected switch can meet the actual needs and provide strong guarantee for the stable operation of the industrial Internet of Things.
