Allen-Bradley Stratix 2500 lightly managed Ethernet switch

Unmanaged switches deliver the network connectivity required for less complex industrial applications, but they can’t provide diagnostics, manage traffic or enhance security. The Allen-Bradley Stratix 2500 lightly managed switch is designed to provide the security, resiliency, segmentation and bandwidth-optimisation benefits of a managed switch without the need for extensive configuration.

When installed straight out of the box, the industrial Ethernet switch can prioritise critical industrial network traffic. It also can be configured for application-specific needs. Manufacturers can use this flexibility to futureproof their operations by deploying the switch out of the box and scaling it up to a lightly managed switch as their needs evolve.

The lightly managed switch is said to exceed the capabilities of an unmanaged switch by monitoring and optimising traffic flow and providing diagnostic information to help minimise downtime. It also can support up to 64 VLANs for logical segmentation, which helps reduce total cost of ownership. In addition, port security allows users to disable ports or control end-device connectivity based on the media access control address.

The lightly managed switch uses embedded Cisco technology and is part of the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture system. This helps ease network configuration, management and support while optimising integration with the enterprise network.