In the rapid development of IIoT, industrial switches play a crucial role as key equipment for connecting various elements in the factory production site. They not only need to operate stably in harsh environments, but also need to meet stringent requirements such as high efficiency, reliability, and safety. Therefore, when purchasing industrial switches, it is necessary to consider from multiple dimensions to ensure that the selected equipment can become the cornerstone of building a stable industrial Internet of Things.

1. Comply with industry standards

First of all, the purchase of industrial switches should meet industry standards. Different industries have different requirements for switches. For example, the rail transit industry needs to choose products that are recognized by the rail transit industry to ensure the stability and reliability of communication in a complex and ever-changing operating environment. At the same time, for situations with high risks, products that meet the corresponding certification standards should be selected to reduce potential safety risks.

2. Adapt to the work environment

Industrial switches usually need to operate in extreme environments, so when purchasing, it is important to focus on parameters such as temperature and humidity adaptability, EMC electromagnetic compatibility, protection level, device methods, and power supply. For example, in environments with high temperature, low temperature, humidity or high electromagnetic interference, switches with excellent protection levels and electromagnetic compatibility should be selected to ensure their continuous and stable operation.

3. Meet the requirements of communication rate

Choosing the appropriate switch port rate according to business requirements is the key to ensuring the broadband carrying business data. Industrial switch ports are divided into 100M, 1G and 10G, which should be selected according to the actual network traffic and future expansion needs. For example, in the field of intelligent manufacturing that requires a large amount of data transmission, gigabit or 10 gigabit switches are better choices.

4. choose network management or non-network management

Managed switches and unmanaged switches each have their own advantages and disadvantages. If the network architecture is simple and does not require complex network management functions, you can choose a plug-and-play non-managed switch. However, for scenarios that require features such as convenient follow-up maintenance and redundant design, network management switches are a better choice. Network management switches support remote management, configuration, and monitoring, providing more flexible and powerful network functions.

5. Consider the number of interfaces and expansion issues

When purchasing industrial switches, it is necessary to calculate the number of RJ45 interfaces and fiber interfaces required, and consider future expansion needs. With the continuous development of the Industrial Internet of Things, the number of device connections and data traffic will continue to grow. Therefore, it is wise to choose a switch with sufficient interface numbers and expansion capabilities.

6. Pay attention to the redundancy function of the ring network

Ring redundancy is a common feature of network management industrial Ethernet switches, which can improve the reliability and stability of the network. When there is a failure in the network, the ring network redundancy can quickly switch to the backup path to maintain the continuity of communication. Therefore, when purchasing an industrial switch, you should pay attention to whether it has a ring redundancy function and whether it supports multiple redundancy protocols.

7. Consider transmission medium and distance

The transmission media for industrial Ethernet communication mainly include twisted-pair cables and optical fibers. The transmission distance of twisted-pair cable is generally within 100 meters, which is suitable for short-distance communication; Optical fiber can support longer transmission distances, such as multimode fiber with a communication distance of up to 2 kilometers and single-mode fiber with a communication distance of up to 120 kilometers. When selecting a transmission medium, one should consider factors such as the actual communication distance and cost.

When purchasing industrial switches, it is necessary to consider multiple dimensions such as industry standards, working environment, communication rate, network management and non-network management options, interface quantity and expansion issues, ring network redundancy functions, and transmission media and distance. Only by taking these factors into consideration can we choose the most suitable industrial switch for our application scenario, thereby building a stable, efficient, and reliable industrial IoT.