Industrial Ethernet switches add redundancy

Westermo has implemented Spanning Tree (STP) and Rapid Spanning Tree (RSTP) network redundant protocols in its Lynx-, R200- and T200-series of industrial Ethernet switches.

Westermo has implemented Spanning Tree (STP) and Rapid Spanning Tree (RSTP) network redundant protocols in its Lynx-, R200- and T200-series of industrial Ethernet switches.

This will allow the fastest reconfiguration time switches of the market (up to 20ms) to improve interoperability while keeping a high network redundancy reliability.

STP/RSTP is a complement to FRNT (fast reconfiguration network topology).

FRNT is the fastest reconfiguration protocol for large networks on the market: 20ms with up to 200 switches in a single ring.

But FRNT is a proprietary solution.

As Lynx, R200 and T200 ranges are also sometimes installed with equipment from other suppliers, the new STP/RSTP offers an excellent redundancy solution for the global Ethernet networks.

RSTP/STP is a Layer 2 link management protocol that provides path redundancy while preventing loops in the network.

For a Layer 2 Ethernet network to function properly, only one active path can exist between any two stations.

Multiple active paths among end stations can cause loops in the network.

End stations might then receive duplicate messages with broadcast storm and, as a result, an unstable network.

All Westermo switches support the Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) according to IEEE802.1w with fall-back to the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP - IEEE802.1D).

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