Feature Cabling & Cable Management The heart of cabling infrastructure
HARTING’s Gavin Stoppel explains how the introduction of Ethernet into the industrial and automation world has very quickly brought networking technology to the forefront in that application sector
T
he dynamic development of data networking
technology, the
rapid increase in data transfer speeds and customer demand for better compatibility continue to drive the development of new connectivity and cabling standards and products. Ethernet is now well established as the standard for networking solutions in offices or in private households. Ethernet-based transmission methods are also replacing existing technolo- gies employed in long distance net- working in the WAN (wide area network) sector. A similar trend par- allel to this is now under way in the industrial sector (see above). The sim- plest and most cost effective Ethernet integration can be implemented using switches - with unmanaged switches the simplest and most favourably priced solution in this respect.
Switch on
Ethernet switches are fundamental network infrastructure components - they link controllers, field devices and higher level control and monitor- ing levels. The importance of switches and the demands placed on them have changed dramatically in recent years. Nowadays, switches have a significant impact on network infrastructure due to their functional- ity and their technical capabilities. Switching is typically used in a wide range of applications - for machinery, automation applications, renewable energy grids (for wind and solar), and for transportation equipment such as rail, bus, shipping and signalling. So-called ‘unmanaged’ Ethernet switches represent the simplest form of this class of device. Typified by the products shown in the images right, these devices are cost effective com- pared to managed switches since there is no need for an expensive processor
20
or for various memory devices. Nevertheless, they fulfil all standard functions such as auto-crossing, auto- negotiation and auto-polarity. The reduced range of functions offers a number of additional advan- tages. The switches can be installed with no configuration effort, which makes them ‘plug and work’ capable in the broadest sense of the phrase. These simple components even boast port speeds which range from Fast Ethernet to Gigabit Ethernet, which means that they meet current market requirements and are adequate for most applications.
Applications This product family covers a wide range of applications. While the dependency of individual machines (and therefore their networking) was often limited to a small manageable range in the past, today we increas- ingly encounter distributed systems in which a rapidly growing number of end-subscribers communicate with one another. The networking of the entire system takes place primarily via managed switches, since adminis- trative and diagnostic functions are essential for the application. High up-time through redundancy mechanisms is mentioned here as one example. Within these systems, unmanaged Ethernet switches are used for local port duplication in the control cabinet or mounted directly on the machine. Since the port costs of unmanaged switches are much lower, this approach can be found in many applications in different mar- kets. This allows a large number of additional subscribers to be inte- grated into the network without sig- nificant increases in costs.
Another area of application for these unmanaged switches is the cost effec-
Above:
Ethernet-based transmission methods are replacing existing technologies employed in long distance networking in the WAN (wide area network) sector
tive changeover from the medium of copper to fibre optic lines, in which the switches are used as a media converter. The connection to a higher net- work level is very often effected via optical ports. The advantage here is that longer routes and distances can be covered, and EMI effects need not be considered. This characteristic significantly eases the planning and design of the system, and helps to prevent problems caused by electro- magnetic interference. HARTING’s eCon switches for top-
Above: HARTING’s eCon 3000 family
hat rail mounting are available in two different designs optimised for the point of use. First is the eCon 3000 family (left), whose very narrow form factor permits high packing density in the control cabinet, helping users to save costs. Secondly, the eCon 2000 family (below left) has a ‘flat’ design which permits greatly reduced installation depth at the point of utilisation. In a head-to-head comparison with
managed Ethernet switches, unman- aged Ethernet switches do not offer users complex technical capabilities or a very comprehensive range of features. Nevertheless, they are, and remain, a significant component of the Ethernet market, with significant growth potential over the coming years. The advantages of unmanaged switches clearly lie in their simple installation and handling. Moreover, no configuration or parameterisation is required for their utilisation. This means that a simple operational start- up is now ensured - on demand and directly at the application site - with no deeper knowledge of Ethernet and networking technology required.
Above: HARTING’s eCon 2000 family
HARTING
www.harting.co.uk T: 01604 827 500
Enter 210 FEBRUARY 2014 Electrical Engineering
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