Advantech Launches 16+2G Combo Port Industrial Ethernet Switch

The Industrial Automation Group of Advantech introduces the EKI-7656C 16+2 combo port industrial managed redundant Gigabit Ethernet switch. This compact and industrially hardened switch offers advanced traffic control for optimum network performance and security, along with rapid self-healing fiber optic ring capabilities to ensure network uptime in adverse environments.

The 18-port EKI-7656C features 16 Fast Ethernet (10/100Base-TX) and two combo gigabit (1000Base-T) ports, which support both copper (RJ-45) connections and optional industry-standard Small-Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) modules. About the size of an “AA” battery, SFPs are available in single-mode and multi-mode fiber models, for fiber connections ranging from 500M to 110km (1,800 feet to 68 miles).

To meet the real-time fault-tolerant needs of manufacturing, Advantech developed the ultra fast X-Ring, which in the event of a fiber cable fault or similar problem, switches to the backup connection in less than 10ms, ensuring solid and reliable network communications. For even greater network resiliency, X-Ring supports advanced architectures including dual rings and coupled rings. There is even backward compatibility with enterprise and back-office to factory-floor connections, with support for RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol) and its predecessor STP (Spanning Tree Protocol).

The EKI-7656C provides a broad range of advanced traffic control functions. QoS (Quality of Service) ensures priority delivery of critical data, and rate limiting can shape excessive traffic from connected devices. Ethernet MAC and IP address filtering limits access to only authorized devices and users. Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) allow the creation of multiple logical networks within a single physical network, providing network segmentation for improved performance and enhanced security.