As Ethernet network designs become more and more popular to increase the reliability and availability of data transmission in hazardous environments, choosing an industrial Ethernet switch that forms the control and information network infrastructure becomes as critical as any other part of the process. In this article, we'll discuss five different details to consider to make sure you're choosing the right industrial switch.

Industrial unmanaged and managed switches by 3onedata


Industrial managed switch vs. industrial unmanaged switch

If you have a unmanaged switch it simply receives data from the devices it is connected to and redirects it to the desired destination in a very short time. This is really all that a industrial unmanaged switch can do. For an industrial managed switch that provides the same features as an unmanaged switch, it also gives you the added benefit of configuring, managing and monitoring your local network. With this added control, you will be able to, among other things, manage how data is transmitted on the network, as well as control who can access it.

industrial unmanaged and managed siwtches comparison

Industrial switch with PoE versus switch without PoE

Before choosing an industrial switch, you need to determine what devices will be connected to it. Do these devices need power and will the switch provide it? If so, make sure you choose an industrial PoE switch. A PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch allows connected devices, such as IP cameras or VoIP phones, to be powered via RJ45 Ethernet cables. With these types of network switches, wiring is simplified and you don't need to call an electrician to set up power to the equipment. In addition, if the network switch is connected to an inverter, you don't have to worry about power outages.

Industrial network with industrial PoE switch

Fast port vs. Gigabit port

If you're going to use and transfer large amounts of data over a switch, it's a good idea to make sure that the industrial switch you've chosen operates at a high enough speed to accommodate all the data being transferred. You usually have several options, the most common being Fast or Gigabit. Fast allows you to transfer up to 100 megabytes per second, while Gigabit allows you to transfer up to one Gigabit per second.

industrial switch with fast port compare to copper port

Copper port vs. fiber port

In addition to all of the above features, you must further specify whether you want copper ports, fiber ports, or a combination of the two. Copper ports allow transmission over distances of up to 100 meters, while fiber optic ports allow transmission over distances of up to 120 km. If your project requires long-distance data transmission, you'd better choose a industrial switch with fiber ports.

Fast port a port Gigabiot transmission range

How many ports do you need in an industrial switch?

Finally, you should also consider how many devices you intend to connect to the switch. Make sure the switch you choose has enough available ports to accommodate everything you need. It's a good idea to have free ports in case you need to connect more devices in the future.

As you can see, there are many things to consider when choosing the right Ethernet switch. Armed with the necessary information about your specific application, as well as the various features and configurations available, you should be able to choose the right industrial switch that will work long and reliably.

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