Managed Industrial Ethernet Switches Provide Comprehensive Support for Intelligent Manufacturing

The so-called intelligent manufacturing refers to information-based manufacturing that is oriented towards the entire product lifecycle and achieves ubiquitous perception conditions. Intelligent manufacturing technology is the deep integration and integration of information technology, intelligent technology, and equipment manufacturing technology, based on advanced technologies such as modern sensing technology, network technology, automation technology, and anthropomorphic intelligence technology. Through intelligent perception, human-machine interaction, decision-making, and execution technology, the design process, manufacturing process, and manufacturing equipment are intelligentized. Intelligent manufacturing is a major trend of deep integration of informatization and industrialization.

In the context of the new round of information technology, the widespread application of the Internet of Things, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, AI, and AR/VR has increasingly high requirements for network speed and performance, and increasingly strict requirements for reliability. The development of industrial Ethernet switches in the manufacturing industry is also becoming more mature.

In order to achieve production automation, many enterprises have introduced automated production equipment and related automated production systems controlled by PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). The production network used to connect various automated production equipment and production systems is generally referred to as the OT (Operation Technology) network. The core of an Ethernet based OT network is an industrial Ethernet switch. There are various types of industrial Ethernet switches, which can be classified according to management methods into unmanaged industrial Ethernet switches and managed industrial Ethernet switches that need to be configured. Unmanaged industrial Ethernet switches are plug and play, with lower costs and may seem like the best choice, but when considering environmental requirements and switch functionality, managed industrial Ethernet switches are usually the best choice.

Scalability and redundancy of managed industrial Ethernet switches

A scalable network equipped with a managed industrial Ethernet switch allows for flexible network expansion. The most commonly used function is network segmentation, which uses VLAN technology to logically separate traffic and separate factory units and regions from each other. By organizing the factory workshops into relevant groups, it can more smoothly grow vertically and horizontally throughout the entire topology. In addition, managed Ethernet switches often support redundant technologies such as STP, RSTP, and ERPS to better utilize redundant links and maintain good network performance even in the event of hardware or link failures.

Efficient fault location and uninterrupted operation

When manufacturing stops due to network issues, troubleshooting the connection and bringing the manufacturing process back online is a critical task. Even simple network topologies are often much more complex than they initially appear, carrying hidden protocols and control data to gain a deeper understanding of the possible causes of network problems. Managed industrial Ethernet switches provide visibility into these protocols and can remotely indicate the exact location of problems to users for accurate and rapid resolution.

Managed industrial Ethernet switches provide security for industrial automation equipment

Another benefit of using industrial Ethernet switches in industrial control systems is that they provide higher security. Most industrial Ethernet switches have built-in security features, such as port security and access control lists (ACLs). This provides a foundation for enhancing the visibility and control of the overall OT security situation.

Modern ICS security and visibility tools use technology called "continuous packet capture". These tools listen to all communication on the network and identify trends and deviations at the packet level. This can be achieved by configuring industrial Ethernet switch port mirroring, or sending copies of network packets to destinations for monitoring and analyzing traffic. Port mirroring can be flexibly added directly to the location where traffic is generated, providing information security professionals with the data they need to assist OT peers in protecting factory workshops.

Intelligent manufacturing cannot do without managed industrial Ethernet switches

An important goal of intelligent manufacturing is to achieve the modernization of traditional ICS networks, so selecting appropriate managed industrial Ethernet switches is crucial for successful intelligent manufacturing. When it comes to intelligent manufacturing, it is often about accessing machine data for advanced analysis and control, but as the foundation of information driven, managed industrial Ethernet switches are also worth paying attention to.

In the era of digital intelligence transformation, Houshi Network is also striving to gain insight into the needs of customer scenarios, and rely on its own technological innovation ability to solve problems. From unmanaged industrial Ethernet switches, managed industrial Ethernet switches, to large networks and large solutions, it provides a stable and reliable network foundation for Digital transformation of various industries, and provides all-round support for high-quality development of intelligent manufacturing.