Industrial unmanaged switches EKI

The EKI-2000/5000 series are unmanaged industrial switches that, for all their simplicity, have a number of advanced features. Switches are easily integrated into any SCADA system due to the support of open protocols Modbus TCP and SNMP, they have protection against incorrect switching and error indication on the front panel for easy debugging. There is support for the IEEE 802.3az protocol, which allows to reduce electricity consumption by up to 60%, and working at extreme temperatures from -40 ° C to 75 ° C allows the use of switches in the harshest conditions.

In the article we will see how industrial switches differ from household SOHO switches, test the industrial functions of the device, and consider the configuration procedure.

Industrial features

The main difference between industrial switches and household switches is their high requirements for reliability when working in any conditions. Industrial models have protection against voltage surges, protection functions from switching errors, as well as tools for quick debugging problems and signaling problems. Cases of industrial versions are designed to withstand mechanical loads and have a standard mount on a DIN rail.

EKI-2000 series

The series of switches is mainly intended for small objects, where switching rules are not required and the network is not divided into VLANs. The switches have no settings and are the most economical option from the EKI switch line.
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The EKI-2525LI is one of the smallest industrial switches in the world. Its width is 2.5 cm. And its height is 8 cm. It makes it easy to install it in the most compact shield, and the device case is made of metal and has an IP40 protection level. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

EKI-2712G-4FPI multi - function gigabit PoE switch with an output power up to 30W per port. It has 4 SFP ports for installing optical modules. The model has a certificate of compliance with the European standard EN50121-4 for installation on the railway transport. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

EKI-5000 series

Devices of this series have additional options for integration into SCADA systems. ProView allows you to monitor the status of each port using Modbus and SNMP protocols. Advanced self-test options help you identify switching errors, and electrical safety certification allows you to install a switch in a hazardous area.

EKI-5524SSI - switch with 4 optical and Ethernet ports

Specifications

• 4 optical ports
• Monitoring via Modbus TCP and SNMP
• Supports 802.3az Energy Saving Ethernet Protocol
• Jumbo frame support
• QoS Port Prioritization
• Detection of "loop" to prevent ARP-storm
• Backup power input and discrete power failure alarm
• Temperature range from -40 to 75 ° C

The switch can be used as a media converter to connect optical lines with twisted pair at remote sites. There are also models with PoE support, for connecting video surveillance systems and machine vision.


The front panel display shows the status of each power line.

Electrical safety and protection against interference

The EKI-2000 series switches have built-in protection against short-term interference on power lines up to 3 thousand volts, as well as protection against static voltage on Ethernet lines up to 4 thousand volts.

The 5000 series is ATEX / C1D2 / IECEx certified for explosion proof and can be used in facilities that handle explosives and in the oil and gas industry.

Backup power and alarm

All devices in the series have two power inputs and allow you to separately connect a backup power source, for example, from a battery. In the event of a breakdown of the main power supply, a switch to the backup power source will occur, without stopping the operation, and the alarm indication relay will operate.


In case of breakage of one of the power lines, the relay is activated.

Energy-efficient 802.3az Ethernet standard

The IEEE 802.3az standard, also called Green Ethernet, is designed to conserve power, which is especially important in solar-powered or backup power installations. The technology automatically determines the length of cable connections and adjusts the power of the transmitted signal based on these values. So, on short connections, transmitter power will be reduced compared to long lines. Unused ports are completely de-energized.

Intelligent PoE

Models that support PoE (Power over Ethernet) allow you to monitor the voltage and current consumption on each port using the Modbus protocol. With the help of monitoring, you can detect a change in the standard load and detect consumer faults, for example, a failed infrared illumination of a video surveillance camera.

Jumbo frames

All devices in the series support Jumbo frames, which allows transmitting Ethernet frames of up to 9216 bytes in size, instead of the standard 1500 bytes. This avoids fragmentation when transferring large amounts of data and in some cases reduces data transfer delays.

Loop detection

Switches with loop detection function automatically detect a switching error in which the two ports form a closed ring, and automatically disables them to prevent the disruption of the operation of other connected devices.
Ports on which a loop is detected are labeled with a special indication so that they can be found visually. This simple and effective protection works without STP / RSTP protocol.

ProView —ModBus and SNMP function

The EKI-5000 series switches support ProView's proprietary function, which adds the ability to monitor the status of even unmanaged switches. Thanks to the support of open protocols Modbus TCP and SNMP, this option allows you to integrate the switch into any SCADA system or network monitoring panel. The device is compatible with Advantech WebAccess / SCADA and WebAccess / NMS network management system.

Data available via SNMP and Modbus:

• Device model and arbitrary description
• Firmware version
• Ethernet MAC
• IP address
• Port statuses: status, speed, errors
• The amount of data transmitted by port
• Custom port description
• Port disconnect counter
• PoE status / consumed current and voltage (for models with PoE)

Customization

Initial configuration can be done through the EKI Device Configuration Utility .


IP Address Setup

On the System tab, you can set the device name and comment (this name and description will be available via SNMP and Modbus), set the timeout interval for modbus packets, find out the firmware version.

Conclusion

The EKI-2000/5000 series switches are a simple and functional solution for small remote sites. The display on the front panel allows you to quickly diagnose problems without the involvement of qualified personnel. Work in extreme temperatures and a shockproof housing allow the device to be used in harsh environments.

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