As the Internet of Things (IoT) increases in popularity, legacy factories have to perform a comprehensive reform of their infrastructure. The equipment will be interconnected using the Internet Protocol (IP). All information can be stored and analyzed at a data center, since the data is sent over IP its routing function enables inter networking.
However, the limitations of conventional devices are distance and environment which distorts and causes loss of images from security camera applications. To reduce the problem of noise, customers changed from Digital CCTV to IP camera. IP cameras are now accepted by the security industry. But, customers still face other problems in more difficult environments such as the problem of power, extended temperature specifications, electromagnetic sensibility (EMS) and status monitoring.
The advantages of Power over Ethernet (PoE) switches:
Reliability: By providing a stable IEEE 802.3af/at complaint electrical power supply. It’s designed to protect network equipment from overloads, electrical surges and incorrect installation.
Flexibility: An Ethernet cable provides the electrical power to devices such as VoIP phone, IP CAM, Wireless AP, LED display… using a power sourcing equipment(PSE) device.
Cost Reduction: Eliminates the need for expensive electrical wiring, and reduces the need to build a power sourcing infrastructure.
Efficiency: By supporting the SNMP protocol, customers can receive the PoE status from end devices, even turning off the PoE function for each port.
Rugged qualities: Industrial products are designed for critical environments. Products can overcome extreme temperature ranges pf -40°C to 75°C, and have passed EMS Level 3 (Enclosure Air +/- 8KV).
One customer in the steel manufacturing industry chose Advantech’s PoE Unmanaged 10/100/1000 Mbps Switch with view able function via Modbus/TCP and SNMP.
The EKI-5624P and EKI-5729P support 4 and 8 PoE ports with PoE power output capacity at 30W per port. The EKI-5000 series are built for extreme temperature ranges of -40° to 75°C and have passed C1D2, ATEX and EMS Level 3 certification for critical environments.
For hardware, Advantech designed two feature. “Loop LED” reminds the customer when there is a broadcast storm on the network and the “VIP Port”, allows you to use the priority traffic port. This means that the customer keeps 60% of the CPU power even when network traffic is at 100%, thereby ensuring data won’t be lost.
For the software, the EKI is the worlds first unmanaged switch which lets you communicate with NMS and SCADA because they support Modbus/TCP and SNMP protocols. Customers can poll the switch status, for example system information (device name, MACX address…), port information (Port speed, link up counter, PoE current…) and packet information (TX/RX packet counter, TX/RX error packet…). Advantech fulfills the needs of both IT and field site engineers.
Advantech’s EKI-5624P(I) and EKI-5729P(I) supports IEEE 802.3af and 802.3at standards. The maximum continuous output power per cable allowed in IEEE 802.3at is 25.50W. This allows a single cable to provide both data connection and electrical power to devices such as wireless access points or IP cameras. The EKI-5000 series have passed C1D2, ATEX and EMS Level 3 for critical environments, and also support extreme temperatures.
Supports redundant 12 ~ 48 VDC wide-range power input and P-Fail relay
Supports IEEE 802.3af and 802.3at standard
Port-based QoS for deterministic data transmission
Loop detection
EMS level 3 protection for extreme outdoor environments
For extreme temperature ranges of -40°C to 75°C
Communicates with SCADA software via Modbus/TCP
Communicates with NMS (Networking management system) via SNMP