In the era of Industry 4.0 and the vigorous development of intelligent manufacturing, industrial routers are key equipment in industrial networks, and their importance is self-evident. It not only undertakes the task of data transmission, but also ensures the security and integrity of data during transmission. How to choose an industrial router suitable for smart manufacturing needs can be a confusing issue. This article will introduce you to the key elements of choosing an industrial router from multiple perspectives to help you make an informed choice.

1. Clarify the application scenarios

Different intelligent manufacturing scenarios have different requirements for industrial routers. Before purchasing, you need to understand the specific requirements of the application in detail, such as bandwidth, latency, connection stability, and so on.

Video surveillance: Router with high bandwidth and low latency is required to ensure real-time data transmission.
Big data transmission: more focus on throughput and stability to ensure data integrity and reliability.
Remote monitoring and maintenance: For industries such as power, oil, and water conservancy, routers are required to support remote access and control, reducing on-site maintenance costs.
Therefore, clarifying the application scenario is the first step in choosing an industrial router.

2. Pay attention to hardware performance

Hardware performance is the core of industrial routers, directly affecting their transmission speed, stability, and reliability.

Processor performance: The stronger the processor performance, the better the processing power of the router, which can support more device connections and higher data transmission rates.
Memory capacity: A large memory capacity ensures that the router can maintain smooth and stable performance when handling complex tasks and large data transfers.
Number of network interfaces: Ensure that the router can meet the needs of existing devices and future expansion. The multi-WAN port design can enhance the flexibility and reliability of network connections.

3. Consider stability and reliability

Industrial environments are often harsh, such as high temperature, high humidity, vibration, etc., so routers are required to have high stability and reliability.

Protection level: Choose a router with an IP30 or higher protection level to effectively prevent dust and water splashes, and adapt to various harsh environments such as factory floors and the wilderness.
Heat dissipation performance: Good heat dissipation performance can ensure the router to operate stably for a long time in high temperature environment.
Redundant design: such as dual SIM card redundancy backup function, when one SIM card fails, it can automatically switch to another one to ensure that the network is never disconnected.

4. Pay attention to data security

In smart manufacturing, data security and privacy are of utmost importance. When shopping, you need to choose a router with strong security features.

Data encryption: The router should support the Advanced Encryption Standard to ensure the security of data transmission.
Access control and authentication: Support multiple authentication methods and fine-grained access control policies to ensure that only authorized users and devices can access the network.
VPN function: Supports multiple VPN virtual private network protocols, provides firewall protection, and ensures the security and integrity of data transmission.

5. Consider scalability and management maintenance

With the development of industrial automation and intelligence, more devices may need to be connected to the network in the future. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a router with good scalability.

Interface type: Ensure that the router supports the protocols commonly used in industrial communication and has a rich variety of interface types to facilitate the connection of various industrial devices and sensors.
Remote management: The router should have remote management functions, such as configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting through a Web interface, to reduce on-site maintenance costs.
Software upgrade and maintenance: consider whether the router supports firmware online upgrade and whether the manufacturer provides long-term technical support and software update services.

6. Choose well-known brands and high-quality services

Brand and reputation are also factors that cannot be ignored when shopping. Choosing a well-known brand and understanding the user evaluation and feedback of the product can help to purchase an industrial router with stable performance and high-quality service.

Brand reputation: Well-known brands usually have more advanced technology and a more comprehensive service system, which can provide users with more comprehensive and thoughtful after-sales service and technical support.
After-sales service: Excellent brands and service providers can provide users with timely technical support and solutions to help users solve problems encountered during use.

7. Refer to user evaluation

By reviewing the usage experience of other users, you can understand the actual performance, stability, ease of use, and other aspects of the router, and thus gain a more comprehensive understanding of the router you want to purchase.