Hey ya'll,
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading many, many posts on this forum. Very very helpful as you all know.
We are in the process of networking all of our Allan Bradley's PLCs (12 PLCs right now, could increase to 30+) to be able to setup a SCADA system.
What we have done so far:
1) Configure IP Addresses for all of our PLCs so none conflict with each other when we connect to managed switch.
2) Start running Cat6 cable (read: no fiber optics) to each PLC to our central location where the switch will be installed. We have decided to go with the "star" topology rather than a ring format.
What we want to do next is
3) Order a managed, (possibly layer 3) switch. 16 Ethernet ports. The more I look at the Stratix 8300 switches, the more I become discouraged and lean towards the Hirschmann and NTRON equivalents.
Obviously, we want a managed switch so to physically separate our PLC network from our business network.
IT is onboard with the project. But they, like us, have never done this before. I don't think this is that hard but we would like to do it right the first time. Any advice on criteria for choosing one switch over another?
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading many, many posts on this forum. Very very helpful as you all know.
We are in the process of networking all of our Allan Bradley's PLCs (12 PLCs right now, could increase to 30+) to be able to setup a SCADA system.
What we have done so far:
1) Configure IP Addresses for all of our PLCs so none conflict with each other when we connect to managed switch.
2) Start running Cat6 cable (read: no fiber optics) to each PLC to our central location where the switch will be installed. We have decided to go with the "star" topology rather than a ring format.
What we want to do next is
3) Order a managed, (possibly layer 3) switch. 16 Ethernet ports. The more I look at the Stratix 8300 switches, the more I become discouraged and lean towards the Hirschmann and NTRON equivalents.
Obviously, we want a managed switch so to physically separate our PLC network from our business network.
IT is onboard with the project. But they, like us, have never done this before. I don't think this is that hard but we would like to do it right the first time. Any advice on criteria for choosing one switch over another?