Description
Overview
The Cisco IE-4010-4S24P is an industrial Ethernet switch designed to meet the demands of industrial networks. It belongs to the Cisco Industrial Ethernet 4010 Series and comes with a range of features that make it a powerful and reliable networking solution. In this detailed guide, we’ll explore the switch’s key attributes, its advantages, and how it can enhance network management and performance.
Industrial Ethernet switches, like the Cisco IE-4010-4S24P, are specialized networking devices used in industrial settings. These switches are built to withstand harsh environmental conditions, such as extreme temperatures, humidity, and vibrations. They play a critical role in connecting various devices and machines in industrial automation, manufacturing, and utility applications, ensuring seamless data transfer and control.
Key Features of the Cisco IE-4010-4S24P
The Cisco IE-4010-4S24P switch boasts several features that make it a top choice for industrial environments. Let’s break down these features to understand their significance:
Ports for Connectivity
The switch comes equipped with 24 ports supporting 10/100/1000 Mbps data transfer speeds. This means it can handle a substantial amount of network traffic, making it ideal for environments where multiple devices need to communicate simultaneously.
Gigabit Ethernet Expansion Slots
In addition to the 24 built-in ports, the Cisco IE-4010-4S24P has four Gigabit Ethernet expansion slots. These slots offer flexibility in network design, allowing for the addition of extra interfaces or modules when needed. This adaptability is vital in industrial applications where network requirements can change over time.
Manageability
The switch is ‘manageable,’ which means it can be configured and controlled to suit your specific network needs. It offers advanced management capabilities, such as Quality of Service (QoS) settings, VLAN support, and security features. This level of control ensures that your network operates efficiently and securely.
Layer 3 Capabilities
Cisco IE-4010-4S24P is a Layer 3 switch. This means it can route data at the network layer, allowing for more advanced and efficient traffic management. Layer 3 switches are instrumental in dividing networks into segments, optimizing data flow, and improving overall network performance.
Redundant Power Supply Support
Industrial networks often require high availability. The switch’s support for redundant power supplies means that if one power source fails, another takes over automatically. This redundancy minimizes downtime and keeps your network up and running even in the event of power issues.
Rack-Mountable 1U Design
The 1U (1 rack unit) design is compact and space-efficient, making it easy to install in standard network racks. This is especially important in industrial environments where space might be limited.
Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) Ports
SFP ports are used for connecting the switch to optical fiber networks. They offer high-speed, long-distance data transfer capabilities. This feature is valuable in scenarios where you need to extend your network over substantial distances.
Advantages of Using the Cisco IE-4010-4S24P
Now that we’ve explored the key features of the Cisco IE-4010-4S24P, let’s discuss the advantages it brings to your industrial network:
Reliability in Harsh Environments
Industrial settings can be challenging, with exposure to extreme temperatures, dust, and vibrations. The Cisco IE-4010-4S24P is built to withstand these conditions, ensuring that your network remains operational even in adverse situations.
Increased Network Capacity
With 24 ports and expansion slots, this switch offers the capacity to connect numerous devices and machines, allowing your network to grow and adapt as your business requirements change.
Enhanced Network Control
The switch’s manageability and Layer 3 capabilities provide you with precise control over your network. This control includes the ability to prioritize critical data, separate network segments, and set up security measures tailored to your specific needs.
Uninterrupted Operation
The support for redundant power supplies ensures that your network remains operational even if there is a power supply failure. This redundancy is critical in industries where downtime can be costly and disruptive.
Space Efficiency
The 1U rack-mountable design saves space in your network cabinet. It’s a practical choice for installations where space is a concern.
Versatile Connectivity
The inclusion of SFP ports means you can connect to fiber optic networks, enabling high-speed, long-distance connections. This is particularly valuable in situations where you need to extend your network reach.
Security and Access Control on the IE-4010-4S24P
The IE-4010-4S24P Cisco Industrial Ethernet 4010 Series 24-Ports SFP Managed Switch is a high-performance industrial switch that includes various security and access control features to protect industrial networks from unauthorized access and malicious attacks. Some of the security and access control features of the IE-4010-4S24P include:
- IEEE 802.1X: This standard provides a way to authenticate users or devices connecting to the network through a RADIUS server. This ensures that only authorized users or devices can access the network.
- Port security: This feature allows you to configure security settings for individual ports, such as limiting the number of MAC addresses that can be learned on a port, or disabling a port if a security violation occurs.
- Access control lists (ACLs): These allow you to define policies that control access to network resources based on IP addresses, protocols, or other criteria. For example, you can use ACLs to block traffic from specific IP addresses or to limit the types of traffic that can pass through a port.
- SSH and SSL encryption: The IE-4010-4S24P supports the use of Secure Shell (SSH) and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption to secure remote management and configuration of the switch.
- Denial-of-service (DoS) protection: The IE-4010-4S24P includes features to protect against common DoS attacks, such as SYN flood and IP spoofing.
- Auto Secure: This feature automatically configures the switch to use a set of secure defaults, such as disabling unnecessary services, setting strong passwords, and configuring port security.
These security and access control features of the IE-4010-4S24P can be used in combination to provide a comprehensive security solution for industrial networks. By configuring these features, network administrators can ensure that only authorized users and devices can access the network and that data and resources are protected from unauthorized access and malicious attacks.
Quality of Service (QoS) and Traffic Prioritization Managed Switch
The IE-4010-4S24P Cisco Industrial Ethernet 4010 Series 24-Ports SFP Managed Switch includes Quality of Service (QoS) and traffic prioritization features to ensure that critical network traffic is given priority over less important traffic. Some of the key QoS and traffic prioritization features of the IE-4010-4S24P include:
- Class of Service (CoS): The IE-4010-4S24P allows you to assign different CoS values to different types of traffic. This allows you to prioritize certain types of traffic, such as time-sensitive industrial control traffic, over less critical traffic, such as email or web browsing.
- Weighted Round Robin (WRR) scheduling: This scheduling algorithm allows you to assign different weights to different traffic types so that higher-priority traffic is serviced before lower-priority traffic.
- Quality of Service (QoS) groups: The IE-4010-4S24P allows you to group ports together and assign them a specific CoS value or WRR weight. This allows you to easily apply the same QoS settings to multiple ports at once.
- IEEE 802.1p: This standard allows you to assign different priority levels to different types of traffic based on the IEEE 802.1p priority tag.
- Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) and Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP): LLDP and CDP allow the switch to discover other devices on the network and automatically apply QoS policies based on the device type.
These QoS and traffic prioritization features of the IE-4010-4S24P can be used to ensure that time-sensitive industrial control traffic, such as EtherNet/IP or PROFINET, is given priority over less critical traffic, such as email or web browsing. This helps to ensure that industrial control systems and devices receive the bandwidth they need to operate effectively, and reduces the risk of network congestion and delays.
The IE-4010-4S24P Cisco Industrial Ethernet 4010 Series 24-Ports SFP Managed Switch includes various redundancy and resilience features to ensure that industrial networks remain operational even in the event of a failure or network disruption. Some of the key redundancy and resilience features of the IE-4010-4S24P include:
- Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP): This protocol allows multiple physical links to be bundled together to form a single logical link. This provides increased bandwidth and redundancy, as traffic can be automatically rerouted in the event of a link failure.
- Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP): RSTP is a faster version of the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) that allows the switch to quickly detect and recover from network topology changes, such as a failed link. This helps to ensure that the network remains operational even in the event of a failure.
- Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP): VRRP allows multiple routers to share a virtual IP address so that if the primary router fails, a secondary router can take over its responsibilities without interruption.
- Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP): Similar to VRRP, HSRP allows multiple routers to share a virtual IP address, so that if the primary router fails, a secondary router can take over its responsibilities without interruption.
- Industrial Redundancy Protocol (IRP): IRP is a Cisco proprietary protocol that allows for redundancy across multiple industrial switches in a network. It works by creating a virtual switch by combining the resources of multiple physical switches, which can provide redundancy and failover capabilities.
- Dual Power Supplies: The IE-4010-4S24P has two power supplies that can be connected to different power sources. This allows for redundancy in the event of a power failure.
These redundancy and resilience features of the IE-4010-4S24P can help to ensure that industrial networks remain operational even in the event of a failure or network disruption, which is crucial for maintaining productivity and minimizing downtime in industrial environments.
General Information about this Cisco IE-4010-4S24P
- Manufacturer: Cisco
- Model Number or SKU# IE-4010-4S24P
- Type: Networking
- Product Type: Managed Switch
Technical Information of Layer 3 Switch
- Total Number of Network Ports: 24
- Product Series: 4000
- Devices Type: Layer 3 Switch
- Uplink Port: Yes
- Modular: Yes
- Stack Port: No
- Port/Expansion Slot Details: 24 x Gigabit Ethernet Network
- Port/Expansion Slot Details: 4 x Gigabit Ethernet Expansion Slot
Performance for 24 Ports Switch
- Media Type Supported: Twisted Pair
- Media Type Supported: Optical Fiber
- Ethernet Technology: Gigabit Ethernet
- Network Technology: 1000Base-X
- Network Technology: 10/100/1000Base-T
I/O Expansions Managed Switch
- Number of Total Expansion Slots: 4
- Expansion Slot Type: SFP
- Shared SFP Slot: No
- Number of SFP Slots: 4
- Layer Supported: 3
- Manageable: Yes
Power Description
- Power Source: Power Supply
- Redundant Power Supply Supported: Yes
In summary, the Cisco IE-4010-4S24P Industrial Ethernet switch is a powerful and adaptable solution for industrial networking needs. Its robust features, manageability, and resilience to harsh conditions make it a reliable choice for industries where network uptime and performance are critical.
By investing in a switch like the Cisco IE-4010-4S24P, you can optimize your network infrastructure, ensuring that your machines, systems, and devices communicate effectively and securely. This can lead to increased productivity, reduced downtime, and improved overall operational efficiency in your industrial environment. Whether you operate in manufacturing, utilities, transportation, or any other industry, this switch can be a valuable asset for your network management needs.