Top 5 Features of Industrial Switches for Industry 4.0

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SheldonJun 09 20251 min read

In the era of Industry 4.0, industrial networks are upgrading from "connection" to "collaboration", and traditional architectures can no longer support the real-time, reliability and security requirements of intelligent manufacturing. As a core hub, the performance of industrial switches is related to the success of digital transformation. This article summarizes the five key features of industrial switches to help enterprises build highly resilient and intelligent industrial networks.Industrial network transformationIndustrial networks are evolving from single data transmission to a closed loop of "data-decision-control". For example, in smart manufacturing scenarios:Data acquisition (end): Industrial cameras transmit several GB of image data per second to artificial intelligence detection systems.Real-time decision-making and control (edge): Edge computing nodes must respond to device instructions within milliseconds.Global monitoring and optimization (cloud): Remote operation and maintenance platforms analyze massive amounts of device status data in real time.This close collaboration of "end-edge-cloud" constitutes the core closed loop of Industry 4.0. It places extremely high demands on the network that carries all of this:Extremely low latency and highly deterministic communication: Meet millisecond-level control response requirements to ensure the stability and predictability of task execution.Industrial-grade environmental adaptability: Network equipment needs to operate stably in harsh environments such as high temperature, high humidity, and electromagnetic interference.Open protocols and system compatibility: Support access to multiple industrial protocols and heterogeneous systems to achieve cross-vendor and cross-platform interoperability.Multi-layer security protection mechanism: Build an end-to-end security system from device to cloud to deal with network attacks and data leakage risks.Intelligent operation and maintenance capabilities: Use AI and visualization tools to achieve network fault prediction, self-repair and performance optimization, and reduce the complexity of operation and maintenance.Five key features of industrial switchesUltra-low latency and deterministic communicationIn industrial control systems, millisecond-level delays may directly lead to production interruptions or safety accidents. Therefore, industrial switches need to have extremely low communication latency and high determinism to support application scenarios with extremely high real-time requirements such as PLC control and motion control.Redundant ring network architecture (such as ERPS, MRP): By building a high-speed self-healing ring network structure, once a node or link fails, the system can quickly complete the switch in less than 20ms, avoiding a single point of failure causing the entire network to be paralyzed.Bypass redundancy design: Even if the main device is down or restarted, network communication can still be continuously forwarded through the bypass module to ensure uninterrupted communication.TSN and PTP protocol support: Using time-sensitive networking (TSN) and precise time protocol (PTP) to achieve nanosecond time synchronization and traffic scheduling, ensuring that industrial control signals reach the target device in a predictable time sequence. For example, FS's TSN3220 series industrial switches, as devices that support the complete TSN standard, are ideal for implementing highly deterministic, low-jitter industrial communication networks.Industrial-grade environmental adaptabilityIndustrial sites often face extreme environments such as high temperature, low temperature, dust, water vapor, and strong electromagnetic interference. Industrial switches must have excellent physical adaptability to operate stably for a long time and ensure system reliability.Wide temperature design: By selecting industrial-grade chips and fanless heat dissipation structure, the switch can operate stably in an environment of -40℃ to 75℃, far exceeding the 0℃~40℃ range that commercial equipment is only applicable to.EMC anti-interference ability: It complies with electromagnetic compatibility standards such as IEC 61850-3, has good lightning resistance, anti-static, and anti-radiation capabilities, and can operate stably in high electromagnetic interference places such as substations and rail transit.IP protection level: It adopts a high protection level shell design (such as IP30/IP40/IP67), has dustproof and waterproof characteristics, and is suitable for harsh environments such as factory workshops, mines, and ports. For example, FS's IES3220-8T4F-U switch provides an IP41 protection level, effectively preventing the intrusion of solid foreign objects and vertical water drops, meeting the basic requirements of industrial environments for equipment protection.Open protocols and system compatibilityIn industrial sites, equipment from different manufacturers coexists widely, and the communication protocols are different. If the switch is not compatible with these protocols or lacks conversion capabilities, it will lead to difficulties in system integration and information islands. Therefore, good protocol openness and compatibility have become indispensable capabilities for industrial switches.Multi-protocol compatibility: supports more than 20 industrial protocols including Modbus TCP, Profinet, EtherNet/IP, BACnet/IP, etc., and is compatible with controllers and devices of different brands to avoid deployment obstacles.Protocol conversion engine: built-in intelligent conversion module to achieve intercommunication between multiple protocols, avoiding device communication failure or data interruption caused by inconsistent protocols.VLAN isolation technology: supports flexible division of virtual local area networks (VLANs), isolates different control systems (such as video surveillance, automation control, and security systems) from each other, effectively reduces broadcast storms and interference, and improves system stability.Multi-layer security protection mechanismWith the development of the industrial Internet, industrial networks are also facing more and more security threats, including device intrusion, virus propagation and illegal control. Industrial switches need to have a multi-layer, in-depth defense security mechanism to ensure the security of core assets and critical communications.Micro-isolation access control: Implement independent access policies for each port or VLAN to prevent unauthorized devices from accessing the network.Dynamic access management: Dynamically adjust access rights based on parameters such as user identity, terminal device status, time and access location to implement the "least privilege principle".Multi-factor authentication: Integrate security authentication mechanisms such as RADIUS/802.1X, combine passwords, certificates or physical tokens to achieve strong authentication, and ensure that key resources can only be accessed by authorized users.Intelligent operation and maintenance capabilitiesFaced with industrial networks that are widely distributed, large in scale, and complex in structure, traditional manual troubleshooting methods can no longer meet the needs of efficient operation and maintenance. Industrial switches need to integrate intelligent operation and maintenance tools to achieve visual, centralized, and automated network management.Real-time traffic and fault monitoring: Through the Web graphical interface or command line interface (CLI), network administrators can view key information such as port status, traffic changes, and fault logs at any time.LLDP topology discovery protocol: Automatically identify connected devices and their network topology, and generate real-time graphical network structure diagrams to facilitate rapid location of problem nodes.RMON remote monitoring: Supports remote monitoring of error packets, bandwidth utilization, packet loss rate, etc., to achieve data visualization and refined management.SDN centralized control capabilities: Applicable to large-scale industrial network architectures, centralized configuration and policy distribution through software-defined networks (SDN) to improve network resource scheduling efficiency and flexibility.ConclusionIn the era of Industry 4.0, industrial switches are no longer just passive connectors, but strategic enablers of productivity, flexibility, and intelligence. The right industrial switch can transform your network from infrastructure to competitive advantage.If you are looking for TSN industrial switches or PoE industrial switches for harsh industrial environments, FS can provide you with a wide range of product options. Whether it is the need for high-precision synchronous communication for time-sensitive networks or the comprehensive deployment needs of power supply and data transmission for edge devices, FS can provide customized models that support multiple rates (such as 1G RJ45, 1G SFP, 10G SFP+) of downstream ports, flexibly responding to various industrial automation and smart manufacturing application scenarios.Categories: Enterprise Network Network SwitchTags: #Wiki #Buying GuidesRelated BlogsMultimode Fiber Types: OM1 vs OM2 vs OM3 vs OM4 vs OM5 Basic Knowledge About GPON SFP Transceivers Cat5/5e, Cat6/6a, Cat7 and Cat8 Cable Buying GuideAbout Us

Top 5 Features of Industrial Switches for Industry 4.0

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