EC: Allen-Bradley Stratix 8300 Layer 3 managed switch

Network Integration - Ethernet hardware - Rockwell Automation - Allen-Bradley Stratix 8300 Layer 3 managed switch, with Cisco technology, helps engineers and IT professionals achieve secure, seamless integration of Ethernet applications while incorporating software and programming tools familiar to IT engineers. This is a Control Engineering 2011 Engineers' Choice (EC) Award winner.

November 1, 2010

The Allen-Bradley Stratix 8300 Layer 3 managed switch extends the popular Allen-Bradley Stratix 8000 industrial switch family to provide VLAN and subnet routing capability using Cisco technology. Like the Stratix 8000, the Stratix 8300 switch uses the Cisco Catalyst operating system, feature set and user interface, providing IT and networking engineers with the same programming and configuration tools they already use today. In addition to providing technology familiar to IT professionals, these switches integrate into the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture system, making plant-floor engineers feel at home. This helps reduce errors and mitigate risk when integrating Ethernet applications into the plant infrastructure.

By supporting inter-VLAN routing and advanced routing protocols, the Stratix 8300 switch allows users to integrate multiple cell zones across the plant and seamlessly connect with manufacturing and enterprise-level networks. The full-featured Layer 3 switch offers static, dynamic, multicast and policy-based routing, router resiliency and virtual routing tables for increased segmentation. This allows for maximum flexibility in providing secure segmented architectures for industrial Ethernet applications.

Using a standard application of Layer 3 switching enables EtherNet/IP users to route all types of real-time control and other Ethernet traffic between network segments if required in their application. At the same time, the switches provide comprehensive diagnostic information from within the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture system.

Like the Stratix 8000 switch, the Stratix 8300 switch can be configured using Rockwell Software RSLogix 5000 programming software. The software automatically generates Logix tags for integrated diagnostics and includes FactoryTalk View faceplates for status monitoring and alarming. All of these features are the preferred way for controls and automation professionals to integrate networked devices. Modular and industrially rated, the product line scales from six to 26 ports with options for copper and fiber to meet a variety of applications.         

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