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Industrial Switches Explained: What Purpose and/or Functions do Industrial Switches Deliver?

10/12/2021

1. What Is an Industrial Switch? 


   






A Switch is a networking device capable of transferring telecommunication signals. A Switch provides an exclusive path of telecom signals between any two network nodes linked by the switch. The most popular one is an Ethernet Switch; there are also telephone voice switches, optical fiber switches, and so on.

A Switch that combines a phone-call carrying device, switching class, control, and signal & command device, and other functions in a single unit is capable of connecting user wires, telecom circuits, and other functional units that need to be connected together in accordance with exclusive user requirements.   Switching refers to the automated transmission of specific data to a corresponding router, manually or using devices, based on the needs of the two communicating ends. A Switch, in general meaning, is the device capable of exchanging data in a communication system.

Switching refers to the automated transmission of specific data to a corresponding router, manually or using devices, based on the needs of the two communicating ends. A Switch, in general meaning, is the device capable of exchanging data in a communication system.

2. Difference between a Switch and a Hub? 

The main functions of Switch include 1. Physical Address, 2. Network Topology, 3. Error Check, 4. Frame Sequence and 5. Flow Control; Switch is also capable of completing operations such as Learning, Forward / Filter, and Elimination Loop, etc.; New Switches even support functions like VLAN, Link Aggregation, or even Firewall.   

  • Learning: MAC Address Table of an Ethernet Switch registers bit addresses of devices linked at every port; it also stores port mapping corresponding to bit addresses.   
  • Forward / Filter: After mapping the destination address of the data frame into the MAC Table, the data frame will be forwarded to the port of the linked destination node instead of to all the ports (except for broadcast/multicast frames).   
  • Elimination Loop: Ethernet Switch can eliminate redundant circuits included in the switch by using spanning-tree protocol; it also permits the existence of a standby path.   In addition to connecting the same type of network, a switch can also accomplish interlink of different network types (such as linking Ethernet and Fast Ethernet). Currently, many switches provide high-speed ports supporting Fast Ethernet or FDD, used for linking other switches in the network and additional bandwidth of key servers that occupy a large bandwidth.   In general, every port of a switch corresponds to an individual network segment. However, in special conditions, we may connect some important computers within the network directly to ports switch. Key servers and important users in the network may get faster connection speeds to support even higher data flow.   
Let’s summarize the basic functions of a switch:   

 1.  A switch provides a large number of cable ports for adopting Star Topology Routing. 

 2.  When forwarding frames, the switch re-generates a distortion-free Square Electrical Signal. 

 3.  All the ports of a switch are of the same Forward or Filter logic. 

 4.  Switch substantially increases the bandwidth of a local area network (LAN); it divides LAN into several conflict areas, each having an independent bandwidth. 

 5.  In addition to the functions of Bridge, Hub and Relay, a switch also provides advanced functions such as virtual local area network (VLAN)


Welcome to Advantech IoT Academy for A Deeper Knowledge 

Understand Ethernet Technology, Switching Fundamental and Advantech Industrial Ethernet Switch EKI Series

This course will talk about what a network switch is, the differences between an un-managed switch and managed switch, and the concept of the OSI 7 Layers model. Our instructors will also impart the basic knowledge and an overall network concept for each function and protocol of Advantech Switch product, EKI switches. Participants will equip the basic network knowledge and how our product plays a role in network applications; mainly aimed at the salesperson or new FAE who don't have much-related experience.

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