Networking scheme for industrial switches in intelligent manufacturing workshops
1、 Background of the plan
With the rapid development of Industry 4.0 and intelligent manufacturing technology, the number of equipment in intelligent manufacturing workshops is increasing and the level of intelligence is constantly improving. The amount of data exchange between equipment is growing explosively. It is crucial to build a stable, reliable, and high-speed industrial network in order to achieve efficient collaborative work, real-time data transmission, and analysis of equipment in the workshop. As the core equipment of industrial networks, the networking scheme of industrial switches directly affects the operational efficiency and stability of the entire intelligent manufacturing workshop. Therefore, it is urgent to design a scientific and reasonable industrial switch networking scheme.
2、 Requirement analysis
（1） Equipment connection requirements
The intelligent manufacturing workshop contains various types of equipment, such as CNC machine tools, industrial robots, sensors, actuators, PLCs (programmable logic controllers), AGVs (automatic guided vehicles), etc. There are differences in communication interfaces and protocols among different devices, requiring industrial switches to have a variety of interface types, including Ethernet interfaces, fiber optic interfaces, serial ports, etc., to meet the access needs of various devices. Meanwhile, with the continuous increase and upgrade of workshop equipment, the network needs to have good scalability to facilitate the access of new equipment.
（2） Data transmission requirements
A large amount of real-time data transmission is required between equipment in the workshop, such as equipment operation status data, production process parameters, control instructions, etc. These data require extremely high real-time, accuracy, and reliability for transmission, and any delay or loss of data may lead to production interruption, product quality decline, or even equipment damage. Therefore, the industrial switch networking solution needs to ensure that data can be transmitted accurately and without errors in a short period of time, supporting high bandwidth and low latency data transmission.
（3） Network reliability requirements
The production process in intelligent manufacturing workshops is usually continuous and does not allow for prolonged network interruptions. Industrial switches need to have high reliability and be able to operate stably in harsh industrial environments such as high temperature, humidity, dust, electromagnetic interference, etc. At the same time, the network should have a redundant backup mechanism, which can automatically switch to a backup device or link when a device or link fails, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of the network.
（4） Network security requirements
The workshop network involves a large amount of production data and core enterprise information. Once it is subjected to network attacks or data leaks, it will bring huge losses to the enterprise. Therefore, industrial switch networking solutions need to have comprehensive network security protection mechanisms to prevent security threats such as illegal access, data tampering, and virus transmission.
3、 Network architecture design
（1） Three layer network architecture
Adopting a three-layer network architecture consisting of core layer, aggregation layer, and access layer, the network achieves hierarchical management and efficient data transmission.
Core layer: The core layer is the core hub of the entire network, responsible for forwarding and exchanging high-speed data, connecting aggregation layer switches and key servers, data centers, etc. in the workshop. Core layer switches should have characteristics such as high bandwidth, low latency, large capacity backplane bandwidth, and high reliability, and be able to handle large amounts of concurrent data traffic. It is recommended to use industrial grade core switches that support 10 Gigabit or higher bandwidth, and adopt redundant power supply and fan design to improve equipment reliability.
Aggregation layer: The aggregation layer is mainly used to aggregate data from access layer switches and forward it to the core layer. It plays a bridging role, aggregating and managing network traffic, implementing VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) partitioning, access control list (ACL) settings, and other functions to improve network security and management efficiency. The aggregation layer switch should have high performance and rich interface types, support Gigabit Ethernet interfaces and fiber optic interfaces, and meet the connection needs of different access layer devices.
Access layer: The access layer directly connects various equipment in the workshop, such as CNC machine tools, industrial robots, sensors, etc., providing network access services for the equipment. Access layer switches need to have a rich number of ports and multiple interface types to meet the connection needs of different devices. At the same time, access layer switches should have plug and play, PoE (Power over Ethernet) and other functions to facilitate device installation and deployment.
（2） Network topology structure
The hybrid network topology mainly adopts a star topology structure, combined with a ring topology structure. A star topology structure is adopted between the core layer and the aggregation layer, which has the advantages of easy management, good scalability, and convenient fault isolation. At the access layer, for some equipment groups that require high reliability, such as critical production line equipment, a ring topology structure can be adopted. The ring topology structure has the characteristic of high redundancy. When one link fails, data can be transmitted through the other link, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of the network. Meanwhile, the use of Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) or Fast Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) is employed to prevent the generation of network loops and ensure the stability of the network.
4、 Industrial switch selection
（1） Selection of Core Layer Switches
Core layer switches should have high performance, high reliability, and rich functional features. It is recommended to use industrial grade core switches that support 10 Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, such as Huawei CloudEngine S7700 series, New H3C S12500 series, etc. These switches have large capacity backplane bandwidth and high forwarding performance, which can meet the high-speed forwarding needs of large amounts of data in the workshop. At the same time, it supports redundant power supplies, redundant fans, hot swapping and other functions to improve the reliability and maintainability of the equipment. In addition, it should also support VLAN partitioning, QoS (Quality of Service) ACL、 Link aggregation and other functions enable fine-grained management and security control of the network.
（2） Selection of Convergence Layer Switches
Aggregation layer switches require high performance and flexible interface configuration. It is recommended to use industrial grade aggregation switches that support Gigabit Ethernet interfaces and 10G fiber optic interfaces, such as Huawei CloudEngine 5.700 series, New H3C S5800 series, etc. These switches have a rich number of ports and multiple interface types, which can meet the connection needs of different access layer devices. At the same time, it supports VLAN partitioning QoS、ACL、 Link aggregation, stacking, and other functions improve network performance and management efficiency. In addition, it should also have good heat dissipation performance and anti-interference ability to meet the requirements of industrial environments.
（3） Selection of Access Layer Switches
Access layer switches should pay attention to the number of ports, interface types, and usability. It is recommended to use industrial grade access switches that support Ethernet interfaces and PoE functionality, such as Huawei CloudEngine S2700 series, New H3C S1850 series, etc. These switches have a rich number of ports, which can meet the access needs of a large number of devices. At the same time, it supports PoE function, which can supply power to devices that support PoE (such as IP cameras, wireless access points, etc.) through Ethernet cables, reducing wiring costs and complexity. In addition, it should also have features such as plug and play, port speed limit, and port mirroring to facilitate device installation and management.
5、 Network Configuration and Management
（1） VLAN division
Divide the network into VLANs based on the functions, areas, and security requirements of the equipment in the workshop. Divide different types of devices into different VLANs, such as assigning CNC machine tools into one VLAN, industrial robots into another VLAN, and office equipment into separate VLANs. This can isolate the broadcast domain, reduce the impact of network broadcast storms, and improve network performance and security. At the same time, data communication between different VLANs is achieved through inter VLAN routing, and access control policies are configured according to actual needs to restrict illegal access between different VLANs.
（2） QoS configuration
In order to ensure real-time transmission of critical data in the workshop, QoS configuration of the network is required. Assign different priorities to different data streams based on the type and importance of the data. For example, setting high priority to real-time data such as device control instructions and production process parameters, and setting low priority to equipment operation status monitoring data, log data, etc. By implementing QoS policies, ensure that high priority data can be transmitted first, avoiding delays and losses of critical data caused by network congestion.
（3） Network Management
Adopt a centralized network management system to manage and monitor industrial switches. Through the network management system, real-time monitoring of switch operation status, port traffic, device alarms, and other information is possible, making it convenient for network administrators to detect and resolve network failures in a timely manner. At the same time, the network management system also supports remote configuration and upgrading of switches, improving the efficiency and convenience of network management. In addition, network management systems can be used to analyze and optimize network performance, adjust network configuration based on actual network operation, and improve overall network performance.
6、 Network Security Protection
（1） Access control
Configure access control lists (ACLs) on industrial switches to restrict unauthorized devices from accessing the network. Set rules to allow or prohibit access based on the device's IP address, MAC address, port number, and other information. At the same time, the access permissions of network management personnel are classified and managed, and different levels of management personnel have different operational permissions to prevent illegal operations and data leakage.
（2） Data encryption
Encrypt sensitive data transmitted within the workshop to prevent theft and tampering during transmission. SSL/TLS protocol can be used to encrypt network communication, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity. At the same time, data stored on servers and devices is also encrypted and stored to improve data security.
（3） Network Intrusion Detection and Defense
Deploy network intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) to monitor abnormal traffic and attack behavior in the network in real-time. When a network attack is detected, IDS will promptly issue an alert message, and IPS will automatically take defensive measures, such as blocking the attack source, filtering malicious traffic, etc., to protect the security of the network.
（4） Virus protection
Install antivirus software on servers and terminal devices in the workshop, regularly scan and kill viruses to prevent the spread of viruses and malicious software. At the same time, monitor and filter file transfers in the network, prohibit the transmission of suspicious files, and reduce the risk of virus infection.
7、 Redundant backup design
（1） Equipment redundancy
The core layer and aggregation layer switches adopt redundant device configuration, combining multiple switches into a logical device through stacking or clustering technology. When one of the switches fails, the other switch can automatically take over its work to ensure the normal operation of the network. At the same time, equip key equipment with redundant power supplies and fans to improve equipment reliability.
（2） Link redundancy
Redundant link connections are used between the core layer and the aggregation layer, as well as between the aggregation layer and the access layer. By using link aggregation technology to bundle multiple physical links into a logical link, the bandwidth and reliability of the link can be improved. When one of the links fails, data can be transmitted through other links to ensure uninterrupted operation of the network. At the same time, redundant protocols such as VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol) are used to achieve redundant backup of routers, ensuring the reliability of the network layer.
8、 Implementation and testing of the plan
（1） Implementation of the plan
Equipment installation: Install industrial switches, servers, routers, and other network equipment in suitable locations within the workshop according to the network architecture design plan. During the installation process, attention should be paid to the installation environment of the equipment, ensuring good ventilation, stable power supply, and proper grounding treatment to prevent electromagnetic interference.
Wiring construction: Network wiring construction is carried out based on the distribution of equipment and network topology structure. Using industrial grade network cables and optical fibers to ensure the quality and reliability of wiring. During the wiring process, attention should be paid to the identification and organization of cables to facilitate maintenance and management in the later stage.
Equipment configuration: After the installation and wiring of the equipment are completed, configure the industrial switch. According to the network configuration plan, perform VLAN partitioning, QoS configuration, access control list settings, and other operations. At the same time, configure servers, routers, and other devices accordingly to ensure the normal operation of the network.
（2） Scheme testing
Connectivity testing: Use ping commands and other tools to test the connectivity between network devices, ensuring that they can communicate normally. Check if the network link is unobstructed and if the IP address configuration of the device is correct.
Performance testing: Use network performance testing tools such as Iperf to test performance indicators such as bandwidth, latency, and packet loss rate of the network. Ensure that the network performance meets the data transmission requirements of the equipment in the workshop.
Reliability testing: Simulate network failures, such as disconnecting power from switches, cutting network cables, etc., to test whether the redundant backup mechanism of the network can work properly, whether the equipment can automatically switch to backup devices or links, and ensure uninterrupted operation of the network.
Security testing: Use network security testing tools such as Nmap, Metasploit, etc. to test the security protection mechanisms of the network. Check whether the access control list is effective, whether data encryption is effective, and whether the network intrusion detection and defense system can detect and handle attack behavior in a timely manner.
9、 Advantages of the plan
Efficient and Stable: Adopting a three-layer network architecture and hybrid network topology, combined with high-performance industrial switches, it can ensure high-speed and stable data transmission, meeting the real-time and reliability requirements of intelligent manufacturing workshops.
Flexible Expansion: The network architecture and equipment selection have good scalability, facilitating the access of new equipment and network upgrades in the workshop, and adapting to the future development needs of the enterprise.
Safe and reliable: A comprehensive network security protection mechanism and redundant backup design can effectively protect the security of workshop networks and data, prevent network failures and security threats from affecting production.
Easy to manage: The centralized network management system and standardized network configuration facilitate network management personnel to monitor, manage, and maintain the network, improving the efficiency and convenience of network management.
This plan covers multiple key aspects of intelligent manufacturing workshop networking, ensuring efficient and stable operation of the network. If you have any adjustment requirements for certain parts of the plan or would like to add specific scenario requirements, please feel free to let me know at any time.