In the wave of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), the role of networking equipment has become increasingly crucial. In traditional industrial environments, routers and switches serve distinct purposes, but with technological advancements and the complexity of industrial demands, using industrial routers as industrial switches has emerged as a flexible and efficient networking configuration. This article, delves into how this transformation is achieved and explains the underlying technical principles and practical value.
Before understanding how to use industrial routers as industrial switches, we must first clarify their basic roles and differences. Industrial routers typically connect internal local area networks (LANs) to external wide area networks (WANs), enabling data transmission across networks. Industrial switches, on the other hand, focus on communication between devices within an internal LAN, providing high-speed and stable data exchange services.
However, with the development of networking technology, many industrial routers have built-in switch functionalities, making it possible to configure industrial routers to function as industrial switches in specific scenarios.
The core of using industrial routers as industrial switches lies in configuring the router to perform only the functions of a switch. Specifically, the following steps are required:
1. Disable Routing Functionality: First, disable the router's routing functionality, disconnecting its WAN port from external networks and only retaining the LAN ports for connecting devices within the internal LAN.
2. Configure VLANs and IP Addresses: After disabling routing, configure the router's LAN ports with the same VLANs and IP address ranges as the switch to ensure smooth communication between internal devices.
3. Disable DHCP Service: To avoid IP address conflicts, disable the router's DHCP service, allowing internal devices to use static IP addresses or obtain IP addresses from other DHCP servers.
4. Adjust Firewall and Security Settings: According to actual needs, adjust the router's firewall and security settings to ensure the security of the internal LAN.
Using industrial routers as industrial switches has several practical application values:
1. Flexibility: In scenarios requiring rapid network deployment or replacement of faulty equipment, the switch functionality of existing industrial routers can be utilized, reducing the time cost of equipment procurement and configuration.
2. Cost-Effectiveness: In some cases, using industrial routers with switch functionality can replace separate industrial switches, reducing equipment procurement and maintenance costs.
3. Network Management: Through a unified network management platform, industrial routers and industrial switches can be managed and monitored simultaneously, improving the efficiency and convenience of network management.
However, in practical applications, the following issues also need to be considered:
1. Device Compatibility: Not all industrial routers support being used as industrial switches, and it is necessary to select devices with corresponding functionalities.
2. Performance Bottlenecks: Although industrial routers have switch functionalities, their performance may not meet the high-bandwidth and low-latency demands of industrial applications. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the intended usage based on actual needs.
3. Security: When disabling routing functionality and adjusting firewall settings, it is crucial to ensure that the security of the internal LAN is not compromised.
Using industrial routers as industrial switches is a flexible and efficient networking configuration. Through proper configuration and management, the potential of industrial routers can be fully utilized to meet the complex demands of the Industrial Internet of Things.
