In many operators’ plants, long downtimes occur in the event of an error. The failure is often due to network problems that are time-consuming to locate without suitable information.

Industrial Ethernet switches and routers are effective building blocks for corporate and manufacturing networks worldwide. In this special report, industry experts provide information on the latest trends in new products, solutions to improve network management and support for new technologies such as TSN.

The miniaturization of devices has led to a drive toward more compact connector solutions for both power and data transfer applications. New technology is adding building blocks to produce more compact designs, including hybrid and power applications and new HD card edge options for transferring at high data rates.

Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) is unique and innovative technology that can help companies implement futureproof Industry 4.0 applications by considerably improving industrial Ethernet standards. By means of key additions to these standards, TSN supports determinism and network convergence – two essential elements of highly competitive, connected industries of the future.

A fully connected operation will only reach its full potential if network availability is assured. The use of “smart” network devices as part of a back-up power strategy can improve network availability, as companies move to a network model that harnesses standard, unmodified Ethernet and Internet Protocol (IP).

A highly efficient power measurement chain provides a range of solutions from the sensor to the cloud. These include capturing the physical value with new SCT current transformers, to the IoT Coupler and finally to cloud-based data analysis. A broad spectrum of power measurement terminals covers requirements.

CIP Security for EtherNet/IP can assist manufacturers in preventing security breaches. The CIP Security standard requires authentication and integrity of EtherNet/IP messages. It also requires both Scanners and Adapters to be authenticated, and implements message encryption to ensure integrity and privacy.

To formally confirm a high level of safety, the manufacturers of EtherCAT devices must meet requirements during development, testing and implementation to ensure the safe operation of products. A wide range of support services are available including tools, tests, documents and consultation.

An OPC UA companion specification for CIP to OPC UA Gateways is based on assumptions that the cloud interface will use an OPC UA information model; it will use OPC UA transport mechanisms (MQTT, AMQP or HTTPS) and the cloud interface will use OPC UA defined cybersecurity roles, authentication and…

Two key challenges need to be addressed when building a stable PROFINET application over a WLAN infrastructure. The selected WLAN solution must support L2 forwarding in different configurations, and wireless latency and jitter need to be minimized to meet the requirements of the PROFINET application.