Cost-conscious Machine Builders and OEMs often prioritize affordability when designing machines and selecting components. Consequently, a significant portion of these suppliers continue to utilize inexpensive, unmanaged switches in their equipment.
Unmanaged Switches pose a security risk due to the presence of open ports
Unmanaged switches lack port security, making them vulnerable to unauthorized access and virus spread. Connecting PCs to open ports on unmanaged switches can lead to havoc on the IACS and network. Managed switches offer port security features that can disable ports and prevent unauthorized access.
The Second drawback is the lack of resiliency, which results in increased Downtime
Managed switches offer redundancy to protect networks in case of connection or cable failures. Redundancy ensures an alternate data path for traffic and prevents loops in the network. Redundant links act as backups, minimizing downtime and ensuring system availability.
Unmanaged switches lack the capability to prioritize network traffic, which is a disadvantage
Managed switches enable prioritization of LAN traffic for important information Unmanaged switches facilitate communication between Ethernet devices like PCs and printers Quality of Service feature in managed switches assigns higher priority to critical network traffic.
Unmanaged switches lack the capability to divide network traffic into separate segments, which is a disadvantage
VLANs partition and isolate network domains, allowing switches to group devices logically. Segmentation of network traffic reduces unnecessary traffic and improves network performance. VLANs provide an additional level of security by isolating critical control information from other traffic.
Another issue is that unmanaged switches may have limited or no capabilities for monitoring network activity or performance
Managed switches utilize protocols like SNMP for monitoring network devices. SNMP queries can assess network health and device status. Port mirroring on managed switches enables network traffic analysis without disrupting service.
In conclusion
Users highly value network visibility and control in their plants. Managed switch functionality enables Machine Builders to differentiate their machines, command higher prices, and reduce total cost of ownership for users. Users are willing to pay for network visibility and control in their plants.
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