We are now entering the fourth industrial revolution, whose main paradigm is that information and deeper integration between machines, operators and management is the key driver of productivity growth. In order to realize this idea, each machine, facility and process in one production must be bound together and the whole data stream should flow into a unified management system where it becomes useful information that helps to optimize the production process.

This deeper integration and interdependence also requires a high degree of reliability of the newly built cyber-physical system and raises the critical need for a secure and reliable connection to the server which manages the production processes. A collision in data traffic can cause huge damage to the production process. For this reason, the modern idea of a “smart” factory would not be possible without a reliable and fast industrial communications network.

For this reason, the network switches in the main communication network ring have to meet a number of challenges caused by the heavy manufacturing process such as vibrations, electrical shocks, high-temperature amplitude, high frequency and electromagnetic disturbances, etc. In addition, the industrial network has to cover a large area with high speed and reliability.

In such systems, client devices are introduced with a variety of protocols and data exchange methods. Therefore, the network switch must be able to handle industrial protocols of different manufacturers.

With the entry of different devices into a communications network, the requirements for its security and stability are also rising. This should allow logical separation of individual users.

Parameter Name	Parameter Value
Type	managed
Applications	industrial