Cisco X Hirschmann

We have a Hirschmann ring network at my plant but I wonder if Cisco is better or not. I'm planning to redesign my network and maybe going Cisco industrial switch is a good call, what you guys think?

I have had good luck with both manufacturers. What is driving your need to upgrade? What is connected to the ring, PLC, HMI, I/O, etc....

The ring network is connected thru 5 Hirschmann RS30 switchs and connects other Hirschmann switchs w/ 22x PLC's, 2x FactoryTalk Servers, 20x FactoryTalk Client Computers, 2x Engineering/Maintance Stations, OSIsoft PI interface (RSLinx and KepServer) and some IHM's too.

There are parts of the site which runs FIX/FIX32 and I'm planning to change to FactoryTalk and to do so I'd increase the ring network installing 2 other Hirschmann RS30 to connect two new FactoryTalk servers and 10 PLC's. Something I feel like doing is putting wireless routers somewhere and installing FactoryTalk on a Tablet PC to make it like an wireless IHM I wonder if that works.

Yes that could work but it would be far easier to use something like vnc to control the HMI operator panel.

Why? Tablet PC poor hardware?

Should I stick with Hirschmann?

I don't really see a need to change. Both are solid in my experience. If you need to add to the network, I would go with whatever is already installed so you can manage them from one software package.

No using a Tablet pc is fine but you will have to have a studio license or a runtime license on your laptop or tablet pc.

If you just use vnc to remote into one of the existing computers running view se then you don't need a runtime. VNC is free.

Depends on how many operator pc's that you have and how active they are.

And what about Virtual Machine for FTserver application? Have you ever tried it?