The Right IoT Networking And Embedded PC To Reduce Downtime

The right IoT networking and embedded PC to reduce downtime.

Industrial systems are especially sensitive to downtime caused by network issues. Time is money, and a minute offline can mean thousands of dollars in potential losses, if not more. For mission-critical systems, the stakes can be even higher and may involve public safety. To help minimize the chances of experiencing a significant downtime event, here are some key several attributes that industrial users can look for in their networking equipment.

Industrial Design

All networking devices are not created equal.

Ethernet switches, routers, and serial devices have been used in commercial or enterprise applications for many years. Slowly but surely, this networking technology has migrated into industrial systems. This trend is only going to accelerate with the Internet of Things (IoT) movement. However, communications technology that was originally designed for commercial use needs to be adapted for industrial users. One of the most notable differences is in the design and build quality of the networking components:

1. Industrial networking / embedded PC equipment should have a high mean time between failures (MTBF). This is a useful point of reference for how long a piece of equipment is designed to operate without failing. MTBF for industrial-grade equipment should be much higher than for commercial-grade equipment.
2. Industrial networking / embedded PC equipment should be designed to dissipate heat on their own without the need for built-in or additional cooling fans. This isn’t a critical issue for commercial-grade equipment that is installed in temperature controlled environments, but it can be a major contributor to downtime in industrial settings.
3. Industrial networking / embedded PC equipment should have extra protection from electromagnetic and RF interference and surges. Because these devices are typically installed in harsh environments with other machines, it’s important that they are guarded from sudden spikes in power. Surge protection can be built into the networking device or connected via surge protector.

Connection Redundancy 

Do you have a backup communication plan?

Communication redundancy provides a backup data transmission route in the event that a cable is inadvertently disconnected or damaged. This can be achieved through redundant rings in the network. Redundancy is a particularly important feature for industrial applications since it can be very difficult and time-consuming to locate and replace a disconnected or severed cable. When looking at the specifications of Ethernet switches, be sure to note the details of redundancy recovery times. A specified recovery time may be achievable for smaller networks but not for larger networks.

Real-Time Alerts

Minimize downtime with real-time alerts.

As predictive maintenance (PdM) techniques are designed into a network, engineers should be alerted when action is required to recover the network or prevent it from going down in the first place. There are several ways that networking equipment can provide real-time notification to industrial users. Relay outputs on the device can provide immediate notification of abnormal conditions that can potentially impact the network. SNMP traps can also be set up to deliver system notifications over the network. Network management software and tools are also available that make it easy for engineers to monitor every network device and link. All methods reduce downtime by bringing attention to issues that need to be addressed.

NOTE: Be mindful of the number of alerts that your system generates. You can configure the notifications to avoid an overload of alerts to system managers by filtering only the important instances.

When trying to avoid downtime, device reliability is what it boils down to. Pay attention to the most important characteristics of your industrial networking devices in order to increase the reliability of your system. The more protection each component of your industrial network has, the less you’ll have to worry about unexpected failures.
Acnodes Advanced IIoT Gateway Platform Product Lines

Acnodes  ruggedized  embedded computer systems, and all-in-one Panel PCs can be integrated into control layer which the bridge between the field control device and upper layer data center, These IIoT gateway platform embedded computer  are feature-rich and offer a wide variety of options for scalability and customization.

Embedded Systems Product Lines:

Embedded computer product lines can be integrated into a variety of IoT applications with features including high performance/low power consumption CPUs, anti-vibration features, extend range working temperature and compacted enclosure and more. The rugged and compacted embedded products are designed for a variety of onboard interface ports to connect the legacy RS-232 control device or new IP enabled control device. The embedded computer provide the multiple  in / out interface ports to collect the field data and transfer to the upper lever data center.

All-in-one Touch Panel PC Product Lines:

Touch panel PC product lines offer a HMI interface which used in-field data collection or supervisory applications management and monitoring,  The Panel PC product line is designed to offer a human to machine interface with the touch screen display and GUI interface and multiple interface I/O ports. The slim LCD display and low power consumption process features such as fanless operation, ultra compacted enclosure and IP65 rated protection to suit a variety of industrial uses in harsh working environment.

Article referenced from MOXA