What are Industrial Network Edge Devices?
The industrial network “edge” infrastructure tier is populated by devices such as Ethernet, wireless, and cellular gateways; Ethernet switches and routers; and wireless access points (WAPs). Network edge infrastructure devices play an increasingly important role as middleware entities that connect the field to the enterprise. These products have traditionally been relied on to bridge IT and OT environments, bring automation devices onto the enterprise backhaul, and/or bring legacy equipment into automation or enterprise architectures. An industrial gateway, for example, may be used to interface automation-specific machine networks to Ethernet backhauls, while a cellular gateway may link remote oil and gas installations to corporate operations. Today’s network edge products may also target sensor-to-cloud integration and/or edge computing to further industrial internet-based strategies and improve business performance.
Industrial network edge infrastructure devices are typically distinguished from commercial ones by not only their application but also their industrial packaging. This includes features such as extended environmental, shock, vibration, and surge ratings as well as DIN rail, 19-inch rack, or wall mount form factors.
ARC Advisory Group defines the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) as connecting intelligent physical entities, such as sensors, devices, machines, assets, and products to each other, to internet services, and to applications. The IIoT architecture builds upon current and emerging technologies such as mobile and intelligent devices, wired and wireless networks, cloud com-puting, Big Data, analytics, and visualization tools.
The term IIoT is one of several terms associated with leveraging connectivity of industrial devices to achieve business benefit. Other examples include In-dustrie 4.0, popular in Germany, Europe, and China, as well as IT-OT convergence, smart manufacturing, and others. While the term “IIoT” is used throughout this report, it is understood to encompass these related terms as well due to the primary emphasis on connectivity.
The industrial automation landscape is populated with numerous connectiv-ity options. Devices are deemed potential candidates for use in the IIoT by virtue of the type of network interface they support. Due to the focus on potential internet connectivity, only devices with Ethernet, industrial Ether-net, or Wi-Fi network capability are included. Devices used exclusively with serial, analog, or other non-internet-capable dedicated automation interfaces are excluded.
Presentation of the market data is largely from the perspective of the type of industrial network infrastructure device. The following sections detail the definitions of each respective network infrastructure device type.
An industrial Ethernet switch is used to transmit Ethernet data frames be-tween devices connected to an industrial Ethernet network. Most Ethernet switches use the store-and-forward method to transmit frames between the Ethernet ports on connected devices. Industrial Ethernet switches are avail-able in managed, lightly managed, and unmanaged versions.
Numerous features further distinguish industrial Ethernet switches from their commercial brethren. These include ruggedized enclosures and high IP (Ingress Protection) ratings, DIN rail or rack mounting, industrial connect-ors, ability to withstand extended temperature ranges, passive cooling, redundant components, and conformance to industrial infrastructure stand-ards. Leading suppliers include Belden (Hirschmann), Siemens, and Cisco.
