Also known as industrial Ethernet switches, industrial switches are reliable, stable, and secure transmission tools that adapt to complex industrial environments and facilitate industrial automation network deployment. The industrial switches are designed in such a way that they withstand the toughest working environments with a wide product line and flexible configurations, meeting the needs of a wide range of industrial control applications. With time, the demand for industrial switches is increasing in different industries.
These are a few characteristics/features of industrial switches that help them in quality delivery. But, the thing is companies don’t make the most out of the industrial switches. And it’s because they don’t know the industrial switches’ scope of work. They often incorporate the switches for general uses thinking that’s all.
If you are investing in industrial switches, you should know what they can do for your organization. You should know how to get the maximum return from the amount invested in the industrial switches.
Industrial switches power and transmit data across a network
With the use of a single ethernet cable, the industrial switches power the network and enable network communication. The switches connect the network in a variety of industrial settings, especially where a reliable and stable connection is important. The best thing about industrial switches is that they are capable of powering networks of all sizes, meaning the switches can fulfill all networking requirements easily and conveniently.
Industrial switches reduce noise.
Industrial switches support both twisted wire and fiber optic cables. Generally, organizations use twisted wires that cover short distances of 100 meters or less. Also, the performance of the twisted wire is great.
If organizations wish to achieve a longer range of connectivity, they use fiber optic cables. It’s said that fiber optic cables reach 12 miles. But, the problem with the longer distance and fiber optic cables is noise. The high levels of noise cause interference with network connections. Here, the industrial switches come into the picture because they dampen down the noise, improving network connections from point to point.
Industrial switches provide an unmanaged switch option.
For rudimentary, low-priority networks, unmanaged switches are a good fit. If you opt for managed switches for such networks, they won’t work. Also, the managed switches will be costlier than unmanaged switches.
Unmanaged industrial switches provide connectivity for five to ten ports. Also, they are capable of basic packet filtering and are a good choice for connecting several switches.
Industrial switches deliver advanced managed switch capabilities
The functions performed by unmanaged and managed industrial switches are almost the same. But, the managed switches provide advanced network management tools that unmanaged switches don’t.
The benefits that managed industrial switches offer are improved traffic filtering, network topography, device mapping, network management, troubleshooting, cable diagnostics, industrial protocol management, and enhanced network security.
These are a few important contributions of industrial switches in the networking development of organizations. Without industrial switches, organizational operations are a bit challenging.
Now, you very well know the features and functions of industrial switches.