Managed Ethernet Switches

How to Choose a Managed Industrial Ethernet Switch

A managed industrial Ethernet switch provides configuration and monitoring capabilities that allow the network to be adapted to the requirements of an automation installation. Compared with an unmanaged switch, it offers greater control over network administration, diagnostics and traffic management.

Not all managed switches provide the same features. Selecting the appropriate model requires checking port speeds, redundancy protocols, management capabilities and environmental specifications.

Key Features of Managed Industrial Ethernet Switches

Technical Criteria for Selecting a Managed Switch

• Ports and speed: RJ45 port count, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet and available fibre-optic interfaces.
• Network topology: star, line or ring architecture and availability requirements.
• Redundancy protocols: compatibility with the recovery mechanisms required by the installation.
• Management functions: VLANs, QoS, multicast handling, SNMP, port mirroring and diagnostics.
• Management security: authentication, permissions and supported administration protocols.
• Environmental conditions: temperature, power supply, vibration, mounting and protection rating.
• Future expansion: available ports, communication speed and features required for additional devices.

N-Tron Managed Ethernet Switches from HMS Networks

N-Tron offers several families of managed industrial Ethernet switches. Selection depends on the capabilities of each series and the communication requirements of the installation.

N-Tron 700 Series

This series includes managed Fast Ethernet switches with different copper and fibre-optic configurations. Certain models support web-based management, SNMP and N-Tron-specific redundancy technologies.

N-Tron 7000 Series

The series offers managed configurations with Fast Ethernet connectivity and Gigabit uplink options, depending on the reference. These switches can be considered for installations requiring monitoring, segmentation and advanced network administration.

Other N-Tron Managed Switch Families

Other solutions are available for Gigabit architectures, modular connectivity and applications with specific installation requirements. PoE availability, optical interfaces, redundancy and security features must be verified for each family and product reference.

Applications and Benefits

• Machine builders: control networks requiring traffic management and monitoring.
• Manufacturing facilities: network architectures with specific availability and diagnostic requirements.
• Energy and infrastructure: distributed networks requiring redundancy and administration capabilities.
• System integrators: segmentation and organisation of different automation networks.
• Industrial maintenance: access to status information, statistics and alarms for investigating communication problems.

Managed or Unmanaged Switch: Which Should You Choose?

If the installation only requires Ethernet connectivity without configurable network functions, an unmanaged switch may be sufficient.

If VLAN configuration, multicast traffic management, redundancy or monitoring tools are required, consider a managed switch with the appropriate features.