Weidmuller IES series of industrial ethernet switches

Weidmuller has released its IES series of Industrial Ethernet switches. Three ranges are available, with a choice of Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet switches with various port combinations.

Users can select from the entry level IES21 Fast Ethernet, IES31 Fast Ethernet with Gigabit Uplink, up to IES41 full Gigabit Ethernet switches. The switches have ring redundancy with floating master, security features, IGMP snooping and a built-in virtual cable tester.

Suitable for use in factories, automotive process and oil, gas and renewable energy industries, the range meets all current Australian standards.

The range is equipped with W-Ring technology which simplifies network requirements by eliminating master/slave settings in a redundant ring while providing a network reinstatement time of less than 20 ms.

For additional redundancy, the switches have MSTP, which furnishes the network with spare links that automatically provide backup paths, should the active links fail.

A built-in virtual cable tester (VCT) tests a twisted pair connection status by using time domain reflection (TDR) methodology. Weidmuller claims it is capable of identifying the type of fault, as well as the distance from the switch port, within five seconds.

The managed switches can prioritise network traffic using the 802.1p standard, IP TOS as well as DSCP. The switches are also compatible with SMNP3, Radius and Tacas and are suitable for integrating into CISCO secured networks.

Operational in harsh and demanding environments, the switches can withstand vibration and operating temperatures up to 85°C. Housed in robust metal casings, the range is IP40 protected and can be DIN rail or wall mounted.