Sixnet introduces fault-tolerant Ethernet switch with nine ports

Sixnet recently introduced its ET-9RS Real-Time Ring Ethernet switch, which is priced the same as its original industrial switches, but includes many more features. The company says ET-9RS delivers reliability and performance via ultra-fast, fault-tolerant network redundancy and other features, which makes it ideal for programmable logic control (PLC) and other automation systems.

Real-Time Ring is self-configurable, and reportedly runs without the complex configuration steps required by other alternatives. It provides a recovery time of less than 5 ms per hop, and allows more than 50 switches to be connected in a ring. Sixnet says these features are essential for real-time, deterministic control, and distributed systems. ET-9RS provides networking features, such as priority queuing for real-time performance, and port mirroring for advanced diagnostics. Messages get filtered to prevent broadcast storms, and there are reportedly no delays with store and forward wire-speed (non-blocking) switching.

Sixnet adds that its switches offer a 20-year support policy and more than 1 million hours mean time between failures (MTBF). In addition, the product is UL, CSA, and CE certified; has marine and hazardous ratings; MIL-STD-1275 surge protection; and a -40 to 85 °C standard operating temperature range.

There are several Real-Time Ring models that offer different combinations of copper and fiber-optic ports, for connections up to 40 km or more. The switches can be ordered pre-configured for true plug and play operation, or field configured with an easy-to-use Windows utility.

Jim Montague, news editor, Control Engineering, jmontague@reedbusiness.com

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