Ethernet switches offer advanced traffic control

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jun 27, 2008

The EKI-7554MI and EKI-7554SI offer four 10/100Base-TX ports and two 100Base-FX fibre ports, while the EKI-7559MI and EKI-7559SI offer eight 10/100Base-TX ports and two 100Base-FX fibre ports.

The Industrial Automation Group of Advantech has released four new managed industrial Ethernet switches with integrated 100Mbit/s fibre optic ports: the EKI-7554MI, EKI-7554SI, EKI-7559MI and EKI-7559SI.

These compact and industrially hardened switches offer advanced traffic control for optimum network performance and security, along with rapid self-healing fibre optic ring capabilities that ensure network uptime in adverse environments.

The EKI-7554MI and EKI-7554SI offer four 10/100Base-TX ports and two 100Base-FX fibre ports, while the EKI-7559MI and EKI-7559SI offer eight 10/100Base-TX ports and two 100Base-FX fibre ports.

All models are equipped with SC type optical fibre connections and are available in multimode (MI models) and single-mode (SI models) fibre configurations.

These rugged switches feature an extended operating temperature range of -40 to 75C.

With integrated fibre ports, the products are ideal for applications beyond the 100m distance limitation of copper Cat5 cabling, as well as applications requiring the total electrical isolation provided by optical fibre.

To meet the real-time fault-tolerant needs of manufacturing, the dual fibre connections can be used to connect multiple managed switches in a self-healing ring configuration which provides a secondary communications path in the event that the primary is interrupted.

In addition to open standard Spanning Tree (STP) and Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP), the EKI-7000 family switches support Advantech's ultra fast X-Ring, which guarantees recovery in less than 10ms.

Another key benefit of the EKI-7000 managed switches is advanced network traffic management.

Using virtual local area networks (VLANs), a physical network can be logically subdivided in multiple logical networks, improving performance and enhanced security.

With the rising popularity of Ethernet/IP and other industrial protocols that use multicast messaging, IGMP snooping can direct these messages to only the participating devices, without flooding all of the other devices with unnecessary multicast traffic.

Managed switches also offer a variety of built-in diagnostics tools, for quick and easy network troubleshooting and maintenance.

Port statistics allows remote monitoring of device connection status and data traffic throughput and the switch can also proactively send an e-mail message or SNMP trap (alarm) when a fault has been detected, minimising network downtime.

These switches also support simple network management protocol (SNMP), for centralised remote management or integration with HMI and Scada systems.

Theswitches have been designed to withstand extreme shock and vibration, extended operating temperatures of -40 to +75C and include redundant 12 to 48V DC power inputs for resiliency.

Packaged in a metal IP30 rated chassis, these switches feature standard DIN-rail or direct panel mounts.