Does an Ethernet Switch Slow Down Internet Speed? (Explained)
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An Ethernet connection is one in which multiple computers are connected in a local area network; unlike a Wifi connection, an Ethernet connection uses a cable to transmit data. The connected computers share information with one another without any problem. That being said, does an ethernet connection slow down internet speed?
Ethernet connection is wired, and it doesn’t slow down the internet speed. Instead, it provides more stability and allows connected devices to access the internet faster. However, the type of activities connected users engage in on the internet and your bandwidth determines the internet speed.
If you want a faster internet speed on an ethernet connection, you need a higher bandwidth if you have multiple users. Read more about how your broadband package and users’ activities affect your internet speed below.
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How Does Ethernet Affect Internet Speed?
Fast internet speed is a prerequisite for productivity and profitability in most businesses and homes today. For this reason, everyone is careful of switching to connections that slow down their internet speed.
Even though an Ethernet connection isn’t wireless like a wifi connection, it doesn’t slow down your internet speed. Devices connected to it can access the internet faster. An Ethernet connection also provides stability.
However, your activities on the internet may slow down your overall internet connection. An Ethernet connection allows multiple users at the same time.
If some users are engaged in activities that consume more bandwidth, you could experience a slow connection.
The rate at which you connect to the internet also depends on the capability of your bandwidth.
If your internet package is cheap, you will have to share the small bandwidth with other users. I would recommend you buy higher broadband packages if multiple users will be using your Ethernet connection.
You don’t have to worry about too many devices on your Ethernet connection. All users will use the same amount of bandwidth available in your broadband package. However, you can control who among the users receives the highest internet speed.
This way, you can prioritize your device so that you won’t suffer from slow internet speed when you’re in the midst of something important. You can even prioritize applications and programs on some routers as well.
While Ethernet connection naturally doesn’t slow down your internet speed, the type of cables you use may do so. Not all Ethernet cables are the same. Different cables have different speed ratings, but many people don’t know about this.
The first rule of thumb is that new cables are faster than older ones and are less vulnerable to network interference.
‘For instance, if you just bought a new piece of equipment but connected it with your old setup, you will likely experience a slow internet connection. You have to go through the stress of running new cables if you want a stable internet connection.
For this reason, I would recommend you opt for new cables always. Also, you should check the speed ratings of the lines you intend to buy.
You don’t have to be an expert to tell different cables apart. Ensure you buy cables that are labeled with their categories. A cable that supports 100 Mbps will transmit your data faster than the one that supports 10 Mbps.
Besides, the shorter the number of cables you have, the better your network. Even if you have an extensive network, ensure you don’t have too many cables.
To be on the safe side, always use the cables that came with your network equipment.
Are Managed Switches Faster Than Unmanaged Switches?
An unmanaged Ethernet switch has a fixed configuration that you can’t change.
It is often used to connect temporary groups of computers to a more extensive network or small networks. The setup is simple.
On the other hand, an unmanaged switch allows you to change, manage and monitor the settings of your local area network(LAN). You can use it to prioritize specific devices, control traffic to the LAN, and create new LANs to separate small groups of systems. It also allows you to duplicate and recover data when needed.
In an unmanaged Ethernet switch, you don’t have to set up your network before you start using it. You plug and play immediately.
However, you have to set up your network in a managed Ethernet connection, which allows you to troubleshoot any problem with the network remotely.
Unmanaged switches have less security than managed switches. You have access to your data protection, control, and management in managed switches. You can also shut down any threats you suspect.
In terms of cost, managed switches are more expensive than unmanaged switches.
This is because you are paying for other benefits aside from the configuration ability of the switch.
As regards the internet speed, managed switches aren’t faster than unmanaged switches. What determines the internet speed of each switch is the specifications. These include the data rate, backplane speed, and throughput.
Many manufacturers provide this necessary information on their switch models. You need to compare different switch models and look for what suits you before you make any purchase.
The backplane speed is the speed of the switch’s motherboard. The switch’s hardware determines the backplane speed.
The data rate is the bandwidth a switch has. I would recommend that you go for a data rate that considers the inward and outward traffic on different interfaces simultaneously.
The throughput is the forwarding rate of the switch. It deals with how much data can be transferred from one point to another within a specific period.
In managed switches, you’ll see it expressed as multiple packets per second and as frames per second in unmanaged switches.
What is the Fastest Ethernet Switch?
If you need a fast and reliable network, you need to get the quickest switch for your business or home. If you want an unmanaged network switch, you can check out the TP-Link TL-SG108.
The TP-Link TL-SG108 is an unmanaged network switch that has an external power supply and eight ports. It is compact and inexpensive and can be used in the home or office. It has a sleek build and a fanless metal enclosure.
The LED lights are less distracting, and each port has two. The lights blink based on your activity, link, and speed. There are different colors and patterns for the additional information the lights want to convey.
The data rate has a full-duplex flow, which means that it considers both inward and outward traffic. However, it doesn’t have a loop detection, which could have served as a troubleshooting tool.
For this reason, I would recommend you get another network switch if loop detection is important to you.
The TP-Link TL-SG108 has a lifetime warranty; however, this is limited to some years. It is a good network switch that can help expand your network’s capability.
If you prefer a managed switch, you can check out the Ubiquiti Unifi USW-Flex network switch. It has five ports and is compatible with PoE (Power over Ethernet). It has fanless cooling with a two years warranty.
It has two status lights per port and is weather resistant. It supplies up to 15.4 watts of power to every of its output ports. It is a managed switch that provides the best of PoE.
However, if you’re using every port, the fourth port automatically experiences lower power and priority. You can use it outdoors and mount it on various surfaces, as it has different mounting options.
It also comes with a hood to protect the ports from moisture when it’s raining outdoors.
It has solid transfer speed and is faster than most gigabit switches in the market. However, it gets hot quickly, especially when the room temperature is hot.
For this reason, I would advise you to keep it in a cool and shaded area whenever you’re using it outdoors.
You have to get an UniFi network if you want to enjoy using its USW-Flex. Without the UniFi network, using the switch can be frustrating.
While it can function perfectly without manipulation, you might have to configure the settings to access high capabilities.
Ensure the switch’s powering is in line with the laid-down protocol so that you can get the entire power budget.
The switch can serve as a device to power cameras and sensors as well. You also need to pay attention to operating the switch as some features are obscure.
How to Deal With a Slow Ethernet Connection?
You can have a high bandwidth capacity that supports all connected users’ activities in your Ethernet connection and still have a slow internet connection. You can fix this by simply restarting your computer before you try more sophisticated fixes.
If restarting your computer doesn’t fix the issue, you can restart your network switch.
You do this by disabling and enabling your Ethernet connection consecutively. Sometimes, a network switch has bugs that stop it from working well with your ethernet connection.
Troubleshooting your network adapter helps as well. Enable your troubleshooter to run as administrator to scan and fix the problems in a broader range.
Once your troubleshooter detects any issue, it will suggest a relevant solution.
If the slow connection persists, try using another port on the switch or router. Not all ports work at the same speed; some are faster than others.
I would advise you to note the lights at the back of the switch as they provide more information about the internet connection.
Regularly scan your computer for malware. Malware mostly steals bandwidth from connected devices. As such, your applications and activities on the internet have to compete with your computer’s malware for a faster internet connection.
After getting malware out of your system, ensure you restart your computer.
There are various malware removal tools you can use to do this.
Conclusion
When setting up an Ethernet connection for your home or office, ensure you buy the fastest network switch and use the cables that come with it.
Always read the specifications to see which product best meets your requirements when making any purchase.
Buy from reliable manufacturers and read third-party reviews to help you make the right choice. Also, you can use the tips shared above to combat a slow Ethernet connection.
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Do Ethernet Switches Reduce Speed?
Knowing how these switches work is vital for deciding what type of hardware to buy, the maximum bandwidth of your internet connection, and even how much money you need to spend on data plans.
So what are Ethernet switches?
These devices are used to route network traffic around a system. They’re an absolute necessity if you have any local area network or “LAN.
” Switches operate at layer 2, which means they only read the MAC addresses found on each packet it receives. The controls operate at layer 2. Therefore it is impossible to tell the source of the traffic.
This works well for Ethernet networks because Ethernet is an efficient way to send data. However, this doesn’t work so great on the internet, sending packets via UDP or TCP. Ethernet switches are used due to their small size and high port counts.
These switches connect computers through a router-like device called a hub or transceiver (another type of device). The devices inside this hub (switches) can send and receive data simultaneously; however, they do not track what is coming in and out of the network.
How do Ethernet switches work?
You may have heard about Ethernet switches before, but did you know how they work? Ethernet switches are designed to filter out data packets based on their destination, source address, protocol type, and port number. It also filters the data packet based on priority levels of different kinds of traffic (such as voice, video streaming, gaming).
You can think of an Ethernet switch as a glorified bridge that only forwards the right packets to the correct ports. In a bridge, all traffic from one port is distributed to all ports except the originating one. This is a simple concept and a primary method to connect multiple PCs in a network. Ethernet switches are used in company’s, universities, and other organizations because of their reliability, speed, and ease of use.
Do Ethernet Switches Reduce Speed?
Ethernet switches do not reduce the speed of a network. The switches improve the efficiency of data transmission by eliminating unnecessary packets and conserving bandwidth. These devices do not work at the same level as a router does.
Ethernet Switch & Slow Wi-Fi
The main reasons people buy Ethernet switches are to increase bandwidth and reduce cable clutter. Even if you get a fast ethernet switch, it may not be enough for today’s internet connections. This is because switching technologies were designed for slower systems that could only handle 500 kilobits per second (kbps) or less.
Recognizing this, manufacturers started to use fiber optic cables instead of copper wires to transmit data over longer distances. These cables can send data at speeds of 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) or more, much faster than the old 10BASE-T connections.
The problem is that fiber optic cables work best when used in shorter distances. If you want to transfer data from one room to another, you’ll need an Ethernet switch to take the signal and route it to the other room.
If your internet connection is slow and you use wireless for most of your connectivity, an Ethernet switch will do the trick. The only problem is that you won’t be able to tether your smartphone or tablet to your router unless you’re using a higher-speed USB 3.0 hub such as the NetGear N150 (available at Amazon).
Ethernet Switch & Cable Methodology
Just like cable providers, Ethernet switches also have different speeds and several ports.
Ethernet Switch & Bandwidth Split
Another reason some people choose Ethernet switches is to split bandwidth.
This is a great way to use a single cable to link two computers together while keeping the bandwidth on the ethernet connection.
One major drawback with this method is that you can’t send data from one computer to another when both are connected via Ethernet. Instead, it has to travel through the switch and then down to each computer. So instead of sending an email or transferring a file, you’re limited to copying it between your computers.
This is why we need Ethernet switches; they allow you to create networks using different amounts of bandwidth depending on your needs.
Ethernet Switch & Bandwidth Dueling
To create a bandwidth dueling network, you will need to have a single ethernet switch. Using this setup, you’ll be able to send the data from one computer to another over one network connection that is not split by an Ethernet switch.
This setup works by disconnecting that portion of your cable and connecting it directly back to the router. Doing this allows both computers to be on the same network (the bandwidth dueling method).
Then, you will need another ethernet switch in place of your router. This second switch will run at 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) and connect your networks (the bandwidth splitting method).
We know that the ethernet switch is not to be blamed for your slow internet with all these things listed above. Your ISP may cause the issue, but this problem can be solved only by switching to a better provider. Here are a few other issues that might be related to the ethernet switch.
Old Switch
Most of the people who have been using the old switches of 10-100 Mbits for a long time have had a chance to experience slowdowns on their network. If you want to improve your network speed and stability, you should update your ethernet switch. The new switches operate on gigabit ports which can easily handle up to 1 Gbps of throughput.
Also, the manufacturers of these switches have added a QoS feature, which will help you prioritize traffic going through your network. It means that low priority traffic such as browsing and downloading will be reduced, thus improving overall performance.
Wired LAN What about those who use wired connections for their computers? Many people still choose wired networks instead of wireless due to better speed or capacity. In most cases, the wired networks have a higher speed capacity than wireless ones. However, many people have experienced old switches that supported only 10 Mbps speeds. If you find yourself in the same situation, then you should change to a gigabit switch.
Failing Hardware
Most people love their internet service, but when they suddenly face a problem, they tend to blame it on the switches rather than the ISP. When you are experiencing slowdowns on your internet or even experiencing your connection dropping suddenly, you want to check if the controller is the problem. Once this switch cannot handle high-speed traffic, it will direct all of that network traffic through its bottleneck, causing the slowdown. To avoid this problem, you should replace old hardware with a new one that can easily handle high throughput.
Dumb Hub
The old wired connections have bandwidth issues and have the same problems as the Ethernet switches. For example, people experience slowdowns because too many devices are connected to their network with a single hub. In this case, people often call out the hub or switch as being the cause. A hub is only a dumb tool that is designed to handle the network traffic and nothing more. When you connect many devices to a single hub, a lot of traffic will be passed through the tool, making it slow down.
If you have old hubs or switches in your network, it’s time to change them to new ones with built-in QoS features. This will help you prioritize traffic on your wired connection and avoid slowdowns.
What to Look For in a Gigabit Ethernet Switch?
When you are looking for the right switch to use in your network, there are several things that you should consider. One is the speed of the device. If you want to experience gigabit per second speeds, choose an Ethernet switch that supports this type of network transfer.
Another thing that you should consider is how many ports this switch has. If you have many devices on your network, it would be a good idea to choose a switch with a lot of ports. Also, two or three-gigabit ports will make a great addition to your home or office network.
Another critical factor is the QoS feature. This will help prioritize traffic on your wired connection and avoid slowdowns. Last but not least comes a price. To enjoy fast and stable networks, you don’t need to spend a fortune.
What Do You Need to Look Out for When Using Network Switches?
The first thing that you should consider is the maximum speed of your Ethernet switch. This will help determine how fast your networks will work. If you want to experience gigabit per second speeds, choose an Ethernet switch that supports this type of network transfer.
Another thing that we should consider is the number of ports the switch has. If we have many devices or other computers on our network, it would be a good idea to choose a switch with many ports.
Also, two or three-gigabit ports will make a great addition to your home or office network.
The other thing that we should consider is the QoS feature. This will help prioritize traffic on our wired connection and avoid slowdowns. Last but not least comes the price. To enjoy fast and stable networks, you don’t need to spend a fortune.
Hey! Do You Wanna Buy Best Ethernet Switch Then Click Me.
If you are experiencing slowdowns on your network, it’s time to try a switch. Switches can widely vary in prices and capabilities. However, we have compiled a list of the best ethernet switches so that you will know what to look for and what kind of switch is right for your network. If you want to improve your Ethernet connection speed, the first thing that you should do is check your ISP contract. You can do this by looking up “the fastest Internet providers” or “Internet providers comparison.” To ensure that the problem is not on your side, try switching ISPs, run some speed tests on Speedtest.
net, or ping test on Ping Test. If you are still experiencing slowdowns, it’s time to consider changing your switches.
Will using a network switch slow down my internet?
You’re paying good money for a fast broadband connection, and it would be a shame if a bad choice of hardware got in the way of your network. Are network switches to blame for your slow connection?
We get a fair amount of inquiries from readers about network hardware, especially about whether a network switch is to blame for home network problems — primarily in matters of speed and connection stability. Despite the suspicion that so many people seem to intend to use a bad network switch, it is very rarely the source of network problems.
However, as with all technology claims, there are always two exceptions. Let’s take a moment to rule out any issues you might have with your network switch that could really affect your network speed.
Your switch is actually a hub
Sure, with very few exceptions, when we’re helping someone troubleshoot performance issues after installing a switch, the switch is.
.. well, it’s not a switch at all.
RELATED:
General information about routers, switches and network equipment
You can
read more about the difference between switches and hubs here
but here’s the point. A hub and switch look physically the same: they have X ports (usually a multiple of 4, e.g. 4, 8, 16, 24, etc.), with one reserved for use as an input, or a completely separate port labeled «uplink «. However, despite their almost identical appearance, the insides of these two network devices are completely different.
The old and widespread Netgear EN104TP hub is the bane of network administrators everywhere.
A hub is a «stupid» device in the sense that it broadcasts whatever it hears on the input port to
all
output ports. This leads to collisions between data packets and a general deterioration in the quality of the network.
If you have a hub installed between your router and the rest of the network, you are creating a huge headache.
On the other hand, the switch is much smarter. It actively manages connections between input and output ports, so you won’t run into the problem of collisions or other issues that plague hubs.
If you have purchased the device in question within the last few years, the chances that it is a hub are virtually zero. Switches used to be expensive and hubs cheap, but advances in technology have made switches so cheap that they don’t even bother building hubs. Whether you fished your «switch» out of an old box in a basement corner or bought it very cheap at a surplus sale, look up the model number online and make sure it’s not a hub.
You have an old switch but no connection
The speed of an Ethernet connection depends on the quality of the cable and the capabilities of the network equipment. Some
very
older switches are only capable of 10Mbps, switches built since the mid-1990s are capable of 100Mbps, and modern switches are capable of 1000Mbps (or «gigabit» speeds).
The type of cables you use matters too: older Cat5 cables can’t support gigabit speeds, but newer Cat5e and Cat6 can. So if you have a slow connection, it’s possible that you have older, slower hardware somewhere in the chain. Check the switch model number and cables used (Cat5/5e/6 type will be listed right on the cable jacket).
While 100Mbps, despite being an old standard, is still fast enough for most broadband connections, if your broadband connection is a blazingly fast and shiny new fiber connection, then you don’t want to degrade bandwidth with an old switch . If your internet connection is over 100 Mbps, you’ll need to upgrade your hardware (and possibly cables) to take full advantage of it.
Your equipment fails
When it comes to old equipment, failures happen even with high-quality equipment. Although sometimes equipment fails catastrophically (a power transformer emits a ghost, a part on a circuit board pops up and releases all the magic smoke, etc.
), network equipment often dies a slow death that is not as great as a click, pop, and pop. but a lingering whimper.
RELATED:
Layer by layer Internet connection troubleshooting
For example, earlier this year I was
troubleshooting internet connection issues, layer by layer
to find out why my connection speed was 5% of what it should be. Eventually, I traced the problem down to what seemed like an unlikely source (but which we later learned was actually a common point of failure): an Ethernet pass-through port in our
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
Block.
The port didn’t go down completely, it just degraded to the point where we experienced frequent connection drops and less bandwidth than we should have. The same can happen with network switches. So when in doubt, remove the network switch from the equation to see if faulty hardware is to blame.
Your network is overloaded
In this last case, the network switch is not so much to blame as the activator. After all, why do we use network switches? Because we need to connect more devices to the network, such as computers and game consoles.
The more devices and more people use them, the more our precious bandwidth is distributed to more people. Suddenly, with everyone and their brother streaming video to their bedrooms, the pipe isn’t big enough. However, this is not the fault of the switch: just the devices connected to the switch. If you can’t upgrade to a faster connection, you can always
deploy quality of service (QoS) at the router level
to help manage the demand for your connection.
Long story short: unless it’s a hub, old and out of flames, and your hardware and cables are up to date, there’s very little chance that a humble network switch will be the source of connectivity issues.
Embedded Ethernet switches: it’s time
#Hirschmann
#IEE
#NSI
#Siemens
#Network equipment
Network equipment
The article describes the practical benefits of using embedded switches, gives a brief excursion into Ethernet redundancy technologies. The technical features of the Hirschmann EES20 embedded module and possible ways of its application are also considered.
Sommer Rolf-Dieter, Wei Frank
168
TO BOOKMARKS
Article
in the electronic version
«STA» No. 4 / 2012 p. 92
Article in PDF
1 MB
Embedded systems are not a new term. Processor modules and chips integrated into cars, home theaters, smartphones, household appliances have changed not only the products of various industries, but life in general. The trade shows that arose as part of the development of this direction have turned into regular world-class events: the Embedded World exhibition in Nürberg celebrated its 10th anniversary, the Embedded Systems conference in Silicon Valley turned 24 years old.
Today, 98% of Ethernet switches are external physical devices. This allocation of switches leads to automatic separation of communication and application tasks. However, the current trends towards highly integrated devices on the one hand, and to the constant reduction of system size and cost on the other hand, suggest the development of Ethernet switches built into industrial automation components.
External to embedded switches
The first embedded managed switches were introduced about two years ago. These devices have been designed to be integrated onto the main board of on-board systems. We see embedded systems being widely used in a wide variety of applications, and we expect embedded switches to become an integral part of industrial automation. Developers of automation tools will have the opportunity to create systems with smaller dimensions and built-in data transmission capabilities using the ProfiNet, Ethernet/IP, EtherCAT protocols (Fig.
1, 2). The evolution of industrial communications since the advent of Ethernet technology more than 20 years ago is presented in the sidebar A Brief History of Industrial Communications.
Integrating Ethernet technologies into a device from scratch is not an easy task. Embedded Ethernet modules fill a huge gap between external managed switches and switching chips, the integration of which is a major challenge for developers. If we talk about the development of an embedded switch, then this task is greatly facilitated, since the science-intensive stages have already been passed here. Developers do not need to have deep knowledge of Ethernet technologies, and can fully focus on implementing the necessary functions.
The use of embedded switches not only reduces system development time, but can also reduce its dimensions for those applications where, as they say, size matters.
The emergence of embedded Ethernet switches in industrial equipment is a sign that monitoring and control tasks are inseparable from communication tasks.
ARC Advisory Group, an industry and infrastructure research company, published a report in 2011 entitled «Embedded Ethernet switches in end devices (I/O and HMI, drives) can reduce system cost, simplify network structure, increase performance and improve topology flexibility.»
Semiconductor technologies have made it possible to reduce the dimensions of switches through the use of more compact printed circuit boards. Switching chips are becoming smaller and more versatile, so that all the functions of an Ethernet switch can be implemented on a compact printed circuit board that is embedded in industrial automation components. Such a solution, in addition to miniaturization of devices, makes it possible to get by with a smaller number of necessary connecting wires and connectors.
The first application where embedded Ethernet switches were used was the control of sensors and actuators, then the tasks of logical and discrete control, data acquisition were added to this list, and finally, when Ethernet reached the performance sufficient for real-time operation, the task of dynamic speed control rotation.
Automation tools with integrated Ethernet switches provide significant added value for the end customer. The opportunity to save money appears not only at the stage of system development, but also at the stage of operation. For example, the cost of an embedded Ethernet switch is 20-25% of the cost of a separate switch with similar capabilities, so the total cost will be lower. Separately, it is worth considering the savings on connecting wires and power supply, service and support, which are easier to get on one device than on two.
A BRIEF EXCURSION TO THE HISTORY OF INDUSTRIAL COMMUNICATIONS
Figure 3 shows several significant milestones in the evolution of Ethernet switches, from original commercial systems optimized for office communications to fault-tolerant industrial switches designed for mission-critical industrial applications.
Ethernet technologies for over 20 years. Over the years, the protocol stack has been repeatedly rebuilt and extended to suit not only the office network environment, but also industrial applications with a distinctive emphasis on determinism and fault tolerance.
Ethernet topologies have evolved from chains to stars and from rings to networks with mixed topologies. The last two topologies provide the redundant communication circuits needed to provide fault tolerance in industrial applications.
This advent of Ethernet technology has allowed the Ethernet standard to gain a foothold in industrial networks. Redundancy is an important concept in industrial automation, where any process shutdown can be dangerous and costly. Protocols such as MRP (Media Redundancy Protocol) allow manufacturers to create highly deterministic redundant networks, and RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol) seriously reduces the speed of network recovery after a failure. However, for some applications, the milliseconds it takes for the network to recover in the event of a failure is too long. In some cases, even microsecond delays are unacceptable. For example, when measurements of current and voltage at a substation are transmitted over the network, redundancy is required with zero recovery time in the event of a failure.
Technologies using PRP (Parallel Redundancy Protocol) redundancy and HSR (High Speed Redundancy) seamless redundancy can meet these requirements. ■
Embedded Ethernet Module Specifics
Managed Embedded Ethernet Modules provide a wide range of networking features required by industrial automation tools to support a variety of networks and protocols. They make it easier to provide data collected from specific equipment to a central network management system. Network utilities such as Hirschmann HiVision allow operators to centrally manage network devices and update device software and configuration. In addition, network utilities provide alarm services, event handling, database support, and log files.
Centralized network management is an important element of industrial network infrastructure, along with redundancy, configurable port types, real-time operation, remote software upgrade. Other important factors when choosing embedded Ethernet modules are their industrial design and availability of technical support.
Reservation
New standards for improving network reliability and network redundancy PRP (Parallel Redundancy Protocol) and HSR (High Speed Redundancy) involve overcoming a network failure without interrupting data transmission (zero recovery time). Thus, Ethernet becomes suitable for critical applications. With the adaptation of PRP and HSR for Ethernet networks, the last barriers to the widespread use of these networks in industrial environments are disappearing. For more details on the PRP and HSR protocols, see the sidebar “Standard IEC 62439. Highly Reliable Networks for Critical Applications.
Real time operation
The IEEE 1588 v2 standard is especially important for distributed automation systems. The PTP protocol (Precision Time Protocol), described in the IEEE 1588 standard, establishes clock synchronization for distributed automation tools with an accuracy of less than 1 microsecond. On fig. 4 is a block diagram of the Hirschmann EES20 Embedded Ethernet Module.
It shows that a separate functional block, physically representing a special microcircuit, is responsible for the implementation of PTP. Rotation speed control, robotics, measurements in distributed systems (seismic, etc.) are the most typical examples of the application of the EES20 module.
Remote software update
The ability to upgrade the embedded Ethernet module using software tools is another attractive feature. After integrating the module into the end device and putting it into operation, you can update the software remotely.
Industrial version
Embedded Ethernet modules for industrial automation applications must be industrial grade to meet the basic requirements of harsh environments. Despite the fact that the module will be installed inside the device case, the device itself may be in a hostile environment and may not provide an adequate level of protection for internal components. Therefore, the design of embedded Ethernet modules implies the use of chips with an extended operating temperature range.
Also, special attention is paid to the even distribution of heat on the printed circuit board, since the formation of hot spots leads to an increase in the likelihood of product failure. To protect against high humidity and aggressive volatile compounds, a special conformal coating of the printed circuit board and soldered elements is used.
IEC 62439 HIGH RELIABILITY NETWORKS FOR CRITICAL APPLICATIONS
Unlike commercial networks, where bandwidth is paramount and short outages are acceptable, industrial networks must be highly available, as even short interruptions in communication can have more serious consequences. For example, in the case of in-line production process control, delays in data transmission can cause damage to a batch of goods, failures in data transmission at electrical substations — an emergency power outage, etc. The first inset shows the evolution of communication channel redundancy technologies over the years, however, most of the presented methods are based on reconfiguring the network in case of failure, which inevitably requires a short interruption of data transmission for the duration of the channel changeover.
Even if we are talking about a pause in the microsecond range, it must be taken into account in advance as possible in the technological process.
The IEC 62439 standard describes the PRP (Parallel Redundancy Protocol) and HSR (High Speed Redundancy) protocols for high availability networks for mission-critical applications that define the behavior of the network in the event of failure of individual nodes or links. More precisely, they provide network redundancy with zero recovery time in the event of a single failure by duplicating data with transmission along different routes. If the data does not reach one of the routes, the recipient uses their copies that passed through the second route. In normal mode, duplicates are simply deleted.
The PRP protocol satisfies the requirements of hard real time in mission-critical applications such as electrical substation automation. As the name implies, parallel redundancy means the simultaneous use of two identical networks for the purpose of redundant data exchange.
If a node or transmission channel fails in one network, the system uses a second network, and the process proceeds in the same way as in the case of HSR, with zero delay. The HSR protocol involves the use of special end devices: SAN (Single Attached Node) and DAN (Double Attached Node) with three built-in Ethernet ports. One of the three ports is for external data, the remaining two ports are used for inclusion in a network with a ring topology. Both ports synchronously send copies of data around the ring in both directions. Another type of special devices for implementing the HSR protocol is the RedBox (Redundancy Box). It allows you to connect any network devices to the HSR network (Fig. 5). ■
Application examples
An example of an application for embedded Ethernet modules is the food industry. This process is accompanied by constant cleaning and washing of the equipment with special liquids and chemicals under high pressure. The range of equipment includes both freezers and ovens, so the operating temperature range is very wide.
The desire to get by with as few pieces of equipment as possible in production is natural. If you use automation tools with integrated switches, as the number of equipment decreases, the probability of failure decreases, and the cost of ownership also becomes more attractive. In instrumentation, another advantage of embedded switches comes to the fore — saving space, that is, compactness. There is no need to connect an external switch to the device, because all functions are already integrated into it.
In terms of functionality, external switches do not differ from embedded ones; the latter also have form factors and interface options. On fig. Figure 5 shows a mixed use of multiport external switches and plug-in modules.
Embedded switches are most relevant for scalable automation systems. They provide managed switch functionality in distributed systems with a variety of external devices such as protection relays in electrical substations, remote terminal units (RTUs) and gateways.
Conclusion
In the last 20 years, Ethernet has made a significant contribution to the efficiency of industrial processes. Since Ethernet has become the main standard for industrial automation, integrating network services into automation devices is an important task. The protocols of «seamless» redundancy of the network presented in the article can be considered as the final argument in favor of the use of Ethernet in industrial applications.
Embedded managed Ethernet modules provide the ability to quickly integrate network services into industrial equipment. They are pre-tested, configured and debugged to work with the network, developers can immediately concentrate on using the functions of the modules. Built-in switches have significant additional advantages: equipment with built-in switches is much more functional and convenient in the eyes of the end user. ●
Recommended literature
- Enormes Wachstum fu..r Embedded Systeme // Markt&Technik.
