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Double Success At NAB For LEMO®’s Brand New 12G-SDI 4K UHD

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Written by LEMO®

 

Only just launched onto the market, LEMO’s 12G-SDI 4K Ultra-High-Definition connector won straightaway TWO 2023 NAB product of the year awards in Las Vegas!

Our solution came out the best in the following categories:

Camera Support, Control and Accessories
Hardware Infrastructure.

Developed by LEMO’s Swiss R&D team, our award-winning connector is the first ever Push-Pull 12G SDI. Forget complex multiple connections: 12G-SDI 4K UHD is all you need to transport 4K images at 12 Gb/s. Highly compact, rugged and reliable, with up to 12 GHz signal frequency, the new LEMO connector is the perfect solution for your cameras and patch-panels.

NAB Show is produced annually by the National Association of Broadcasters at the Las Vegas Convention center. NAB is the premier advocacy association of America’s broadcasters. The 2023 edition registered over 65,000 visitors.

The official NAB awards program recognizes some of the most significant and promising new products and technologies showcased by exhibitors at the Show. NAB Show Product of the Year Award Winners were selected by a panel of industry experts in 15 categories and announced in a live awards ceremony at NAB Show on April 18.

3 Ways Sensor To Cloud Puts Data To Work For You

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Written by Ciaran Burns

 

We’ve identified the top 3 ways Sensor to Cloud brings benefit to our industrial customers by making use of your data for better decision making, remote access and connectivity.

Now scale this data to an entire year. The amount of information is overwhelming.

To put it to work for you, it has to be tied together and have somewhere to go to be monitored, analyzed and acted upon. If the data is captured and viewed disparately, you won’t be able to discover insights, find potential failure points or manage your overall supply chain. In other words, you’ll be capturing data just for fun. (Which isn’t a good use of resources!)

 

Traditionally, this type of data gathering takes on a pyramid approach: A plant’s sensors and controllers (PLCs or PCs) transfer information to a central, onsite supercomputer or something similar.

 

There are still situations where this method is appropriate, but we’re also entering a world where it’s much simpler to connect devices to supercomputers or virtual servers that sit in the cloud. Instead of data from a factory-floor sensor going through several steps to be processed and analyzed, it’s now more common for a sensor to have its own cellular, wireless and/or wired connectivity that connects it straight to the cloud. (Quick tip: The cloud is simply a group of servers that let you store and access data and applications via the internet.)

 

Although its behind-the-scenes infrastructure can be somewhat complex, Sensor to Cloud brings simplicity to industrial environments. It does what its name implies: Sensor to Cloud uses sensors to accumulate data and then transmits it into a cloud computing infrastructure for information sharing, collaboration, process improvement and decision-making—even across several sites.

 

Sensor to Cloud brings several benefits to industrial plants; we’ve identified and summarized three of the most important here.

 

1. Make Better Business Decisions

In the industrial world, data is always there. Capturing the information is the first step—but it’s only helpful if it can actually be used for something.

When data is collected and shared in real time, decisions can be made on the fly to maximize efficiency, handle predictive maintenance, test different strategies, ensure quality and safety, and improve how the factory floor runs.

All the important decision-making data points a plant needs in order to make informed decisions can be provided by the network. You just need a way to access that data so it can be used to improve automation and efficiency (which is exactly what Sensor to the Cloud provides).

By capturing data in the cloud, you’ll also have access to historical information so you can look for trends and patterns, measure performance improvement or demonstrate compliance over time.

 

2. Improve Communication & Maintenance

Consider maintenance in the wind turbine industry: They often send technicians out in boats to perform specific upkeep on offshore wind turbines. Once the workers get to the jobsite and assess conditions, they may or may not be able to complete the tasks they were sent to do. Or what if they find something else that needs to be done as well? Because they’re offshore and have no connectivity, they often have to wait to get back into their boat and re-establish a useable connection before they can provide updates and ask questions, which creates lots of wasted time. When workers can access data via the cloud, their maintenance work can be more productive.

 

Sensor to Cloud also lets industrial maintenance staff know what’s happening with their devices, systems and processes at all times. Instead of requiring 24/7 monitoring by an employee, Sensor to Cloud lets you capture device data and implement automatic monitoring and analysis; the right people can be notified immediately if something isn’t performing as expected (before it negatively impacts production).

This automated capability is similar to your car’s tire pressure warning. Fifteen or 20 years ago, your car may not have told you when one of its tires needed more air. Instead, you had to manually check it when you filled up with gas or you noticed an issue. Today, your car tells you as soon as there’s a tire-pressure problem so you can address it before a tire wears prematurely, overheats or causes an accident.

 

3. Remote Access

COVID-19 has forced many manufacturers to do what they can remotely to minimize physical contact and maintain social distancing.

When data is captured and shared via the cloud, it can be securely accessed from anywhere at any time: from your desk at work, your living room, on the road, etc.

Remote access supported by Sensor to Cloud also lets you monitor offsite equipment performance, such as wind turbines, from your plant location (or anywhere else).

 

Belden Makes Sensor to Cloud Possible

Belden doesn’t talk about Sensor to Cloud in theory or through hypothetical examples: From sensors and connectivity to cloud solutions, we have the comprehensive portfolio of solutions to really make it happen. And we’re helping industrial plants around the world prepare for this shift.

Our Sensor to Cloud solutions not only help you make use of your data for better decision-making, remote access and efficient maintenance, but they can also bridge OT and IT to bring these two groups together as partners. (More about this in part two of our Sensor to Cloud blog series, coming soon!) Belden acts as your Sensor to Cloud collaborator, making it easy and streamlined for both sides of the table.

Want to learn more about Sensor to Cloud and Belden’s ability to support it? Join us for a six-part webinar series where we’ll discuss:

  1. The market trends driving Sensor to Cloud—and what it takes to create a Sensor to Cloud solution
  2. Standards, best practices and the importance of IO-Link in Sensor to Cloud
  3. Redundancy and infrastructure
  4. Data analytics and edge solutions
  5. Securing sensor data
  6. Managing Sensor to Cloud networks

 

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Do You Need an IP67 Ethernet Switch? Ask These Questions First

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Written by Rick Saro and Mike Krueger

 

In automotive environments, Ethernet switches make it possible to connect essential devices to the network so they can gather data and communicate.

Choosing the right Ethernet switch often comes down to deciding between IP ratings: an IP20 or IP67 switch. Both serve the same purpose but offer different advantages and drawbacks you should consider.

An IP20 switch is installed in a control cabinet, considered touchproof (users won’t make contact with hazardous or energized parts) and prevents ingress of large dust particles.

IP67 switches allow equipment operators to deploy Ethernet-based systems right at a machine, process or factory floor instead of in a cabinet. This allows them to configure, manage and monitor connected machines and devices remotely—outside the control cabinet—without having to run long lengths of cable or install enclosures for switches and powering devices.

Due to many factors—including their space-saving, cabinet-less design—IP67 switches are sometimes considered the automotive manufacturing industry’s go-to option for Ethernet switches. But does your plant environment really need an IP67 switch? Would an IP20 switch work just as well?

In some environments, IP67 switches may be necessary. In other cases, however, IP20 switches may be the more cost-effective choice.

Which IP-rated Ethernet switch is right for your automotive plant? To find out, ask yourself these questions …

 

1. Is There Moisture or Frequent Washdowns?

Water plays a big role in the automotive manufacturing process, and it’s used in a number of different stages in an assembly line.

These applications might include:

  • Paint booths where water is used as a filtration medium
  • Rinsing and metal finishing
  • Processing equipment that must be regularly cleaned with water
  • Body-washing areas where cars are cleaned before leaving the plant
  • Rain test chambers that ensure water tightness

If an Ethernet switch will be deployed in a water-intense production area, then it needs to be protected from water intrusion. To protect against water ingress, IP67 Ethernet switches rely on M12 connectivity instead of the RJ45 connectivity found with IP20 switches.

 

2. Are Dust and Debris Present?

When employees are running the production line, their work often results in large volumes of dust. When a significant amount of dust is present in your manufacturing environment, Ethernet switches need to be able to guard against significant dust intrusion to remain operational.

These types of dust-generating applications can include:

  • Cutting
  • Grinding
  • Machining
  • Plastic processing
  • Rubber manufacturing
  • Stamping
  • Welding

IP20 switches prevent ingress of particles greater than 12 mm in diameter, which provides a reasonable level of protection against dust. IP67 switches are considered completely dust tight, offering full protection from dust and other particulates.

 

3. Do We Need Clear Lines of Sight?

Is having a clear line of sight to production lines important in your plant to support communication, determine when assistance is needed, watch for alerts, maintain productivity or ensure that quality standards are met?

Because IP67 switches can be installed outside protective cabinets and directly on machines, they don’t create any visual clutter that may impede the ability to see production lines or interfere with visual verification.

 

4. Do Control Cabinets Need More Space?

Real estate can be one of the biggest expenses involved with running a plant. Maximizing space inside control cabinets can help reduce the size and footprint of the cabinets themselves, optimize plant square footage and reduce labor and material costs.

If you need to find ways to optimize the space inside your automotive plant’s control cabinets, then an IP67 Ethernet switch’s cabinet-less design can help you do this. When the switch is mounted outside the cabinet and directly at the machine, this also results in shorter cable runs (saving even more labor and material costs).

 

5. Is Maintenance a Concern?

Many U.S. requirements state that electricians must dress in personal protective equipment, including clothing that doesn’t conduct electricity, before accessing a cabinet housing containing 110V service or higher. If an IP20 switch is inside the cabinet, then electricians must be the ones to access it.

IP67 switches eliminate this requirement—and the potential for arc flash—because the switches can be removed from enclosures and cabinets while still ensuring reliable performance in dusty, wet and harsh environments.

Mounting Ethernet switches outside the control cabinet also reduces the amount of time an electrician spends working inside a cabinet, improving life safety.

 

Making the Right Choice

If the factors mentioned above—water and dust ingress, space optimization, maintenance and clear lines of sight—are important to your manufacturing operation, then IP67 switches may be the best choice for your automotive environment.

If these factors aren’t a major concern, however, then IP20 switches can be a practical and cost-effective solution to support your connectivity goals.

For automotive environments that demand IP67 Ethernet switches, Belden offers its OCTOPUS IP67 Ethernet Switch. It allows automotive plants to install reliable, fail-safe networks in demanding conditions. Available in unmanaged and managed versions, they offer a cabinet-less design for easy installation directly on machines, built-in network security and complete protection against dust and water intrusion.

 

Learn more about OCTOPUS IP67 Switches

 

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Are You Ready For The Era Of Private Wireless Networks?

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Written by Steve Carroll

In the next four years, Ericsson predicts that North Americans’ data consumption will increase by 500% per user. In 2026, the average user is expected to consume 48 GB of data monthly by 2026.

Much of this data consumption will occur over carrier networks—the networks that support mobile/cellular connections. Today, mobile networks carry almost 300 times more mobile data traffic than they did in 2011. And the vast majority of this traffic—80%—is now consumed indoors.

What does this all mean for the buildings where the data is consumed?

Adapting properties to support growth in dedicated in-building wireless will be key to keep employees, visitors and guests connected indoors. In fact, many buildings are now being evaluated based on the technology and connectivity they offer to their tenants and occupants. We’ll share more about this concept in a future blog, but there are certification programs that rank new and existing buildings based on their digital infrastructure, future readiness and user connectivity experience. One of the newest categories ranks the in-building wireless capabilities of a facility.

Poor indoor mobile connectivity isn’t something that can be overlooked any longer. But, many times, the building itself prevents a wireless carrier’s cellular signals from coming inside. Material like metal, tinted glass, brick and concrete act as physical barriers that slow down or prevent signal penetration.

In the past, mobile carriers were big investors in wireless infrastructure. If they knew their customers would be located in or near a venue—a high-rise office, arena or shopping district, for example—then they would help fund that facility’s wireless infrastructure to provide customers the best experience possible indoors (sometimes even paying a monthly fee to rent space for the infrastructure). In many situations, it didn’t cost the owner much money to deploy a mobile network.

Today, this approach has changed. Because most carriers no longer have the budgets to continue operating this way, enterprises now have to provide their own in-building wireless. As owners take on these costs, they’re looking for other connectivity options—such as private wireless networks.

In future blogs, we’ll talk about where private wireless networks work best, how they may be positioned to support emerging technology initiatives and best practices to design and deploy private wireless networks. For now, we want to explain what private wireless networks are—and how they’re different.

 

What Is A Private Wireless Network?

The purpose of a private wireless network is to give individuals or organizations the chance to deploy their own connectivity systems. These systems can operate by leveraging a combination of licensed, quasi-licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum. In other words, they can be LTE (the technology behind 4G) or 5G networks. They’re owned and operated by an enterprise, not a mobile carrier.

Globally, each region of the world is at a different stage of enabling its own access to private wireless spectrum. In the United States, private wireless networks can operate within the (CBRS) Citizens Broadband Radio Service and C-Band spectrum.

The CBRS frequency range spans between 3.5 GHz and 3.7 GHz and is licensed to the U.S. Department of Defense.

In 2015, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission decided to make this spectrum range available to a wider variety of users. The spectrum is “shared” between these groups and governed by the OnGo™ Alliance, a coalition of industry organizations focused on shared-spectrum solutions.

 

Why Are Owners Choosing Private Wireless Networks?

There are many reasons why an owner may be considering a private wireless network. One of the biggest reasons has to do with costs, like we mentioned above. In some cases, like in highly populated areas, carriers may continue to help fund infrastructure. In situations where they can’t or won’t, owners will be looking for cost-effective ways to bring mobile connectivity into their buildings.

Other reasons involve privacy and security. In a public network, data traffic travels back and forth to a central network in another location. Private wireless network traffic doesn’t have to do that. This not only improves security and privacy, but also lowers latency and improves speed.

Private networks also allow enterprises to control their own bandwidth distribution. A smart manufacturing plant, for example, may choose to prioritize connectivity for its latency-sensitive production lines over back-of-house systems.

 

Where To Learn More About Private Wireless

Recently, Belden teamed up with Ranplan to lead a discussion on the topic of private wireless.

If you missed it, you can watch Private Wireless Networks Explained on demand. We walk through the basics of private wireless so that you understand its capabilities and benefits in terms of deployment, bandwidth, maintenance and costs.

Because every situation is different, private wireless may not be the exact fit to replace a distributed antenna system (DAS). Belden can help you determine your specific connectivity needs.

To learn more about in-building wireless networks, download this Navigating In-Building Wireless white paper.

Find the original article here

How To Get Ready For Black Friday

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Black Friday is quickly approaching. We need to get prepared for all that is to come, big discounts, long queue’s, overcrowded stores, longer delivery times, and the crazy buzz that comes along with the day. We’ve got some tips on how to get you ready for Black Friday, but the JAYCOR edition.

Follow these 5 easy steps, to get ready for Black Friday, the JAYCOR way:

 

1. Sign Up To Our Newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to make sure you’re staying up to date on all exclusive Black Friday details. Get information on what will be on sale, what flash sales are happening, how you can win competitions and so much more. This will ensure that you are up to date on the latest JAYCOR deals, and that you don’t miss out on any new deals launching that day.

Want to sign up? – Use the link here

 

2. Follow Us On Our Social Media Platforms

We have 4 social media accounts which you can follow us on. We’re on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter, so choose one or more of the accounts on social media that will work best for you and give us a follow. Turn on the notifications to get immediate updates on whenever we post a new deal, a flash sale or any competitions on Black Friday. The sooner you’re aware of what’s happening, the higher your chances are of securing that deal.

All links can be found here – Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter

 

3. Make A Wishlist

Check out our website and make a wishlist on all the JAYCOR products that you’ve got your eye on to see if they’re on sale on Black Friday.

 

4. Think Ahead

You know what your business needs are, and you know what products are frequently bought, so consider buying your most needed business supplies on Black Friday to try and save a buck or two in advance.

 

5. Budget 

Set a budget for Black Friday. You don’t want to overspend on products you don’t need, so set a reasonable budget that you can spend during Black Friday, this advice goes for businesses as well as the everyday customer too. 

Price Increase Notification for Belden Products & Services, Effective January 2022

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Price Increase Notification for Belden Products & Services, Effective January 2022

 

Dear Valued Customers,

As the price of semiconductors and some raw materials has continued to rise, and the demand for these products are still high, Belden has tried their best to source components with minimally increased prices and delivery dates that work best for us, but unfortunately the market situation has forced them to increase their prices varying between 4 and 15%.

The new prices will apply to all orders placed on and after 1 January 2023. All orders placed at the current prices before 1 January 2023, with a shipping request date after 31 December 2022, will be subject to price review and if necessary, a possible price correction.

In light of these increases we recommend you review any current or future demand for Belden products, and place scheduled orders now to take advantage of current prices. If you have any further questions on these processes, please contact us, and we’ll try our best to help you navigate this new pricing increase.

Sincere Regards,

Greg Pokroy
CEO
JAYCOR International (PTY) Ltd

Coaxial Cables – What are they, and how are they used?

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Written by Krista Thresh

What is a Coaxial Cable?

Coaxial cable is a type of cable that has an inner conductor surrounded by an insulating layer, surrounded by conductive shielding (outer conductor), and a protective outer jacket. Electrical signal flows on the center conductor.

 

How is a Coaxial Cable used?

Coaxial cable is commonly used by cable operators, telephone companies, and internet providers worldwide to convey data, video, and voice communications to customers. It has also been used extensively within homes.

Coaxial cable has been around for a long time as a technology (since the early 20th century) and has many singular advantages for reliable, accurate transmission.

It also has limitations that will cause it to be replaced in some cases by fiber optic cable, category cable or, sometimes, by wireless signals.

The key to coaxial cable’s success has been its shielded design, which allows the cable’s copper core to transmit data quickly, without succumbing to interference or damage from environmental factors.

 

What are the two most commonly used Coaxial Cables?

The two most commonly used coaxial cables are RG-6 and RG-11:

  • RG stands for “radio grade”, they are also known as RF cables, which stands for “radio frequency”
  • RG-6 cable is used for drops shorter than 45m
  • RG-11 cable is used for longer drops due to the increased performance over lengths more than 45m
  • Broadband cables used in homes have an impedance of 75 ohms

Coaxial drop cables are most commonly terminated using connectors that are designed to the F-type interface specified by SCTE. Over the years F-type interface has evolved significantly, resulting in several different termination technologies including crimp, screw on, and compression.

To make a connection, a male and female connector of the same type is necessary. Male connectors have a center conductor or pin sticking out, depending on the drop cable type, while female connectors have a receptacle for the center conductor or pin to interface with.

In cases of improper termination craft, damaged materials, or loose connections, it’s good to be aware that the result may be signal ingress or egress. This may cause tiling, fuzzy or snowy signals, or even complete signal loss.

 

The benefits of Coaxial Cables?
There are many benefits of using coaxial cables, but determining whether this cable option is viable for you, depends highly on what the cable can do.

  • Can be used for carrying video, audio, and other forms of data
  • Work better for shorter distances
  • Easy to install
  • Very durable
  • Best suited for home installations or medium-capacity data transfer networks
  • Cost effective

Need Approval? We’ve Got You Covered! – ERVITAL Fire Resistant Cables

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ERVITAL JE-H(St)H…Bd FE180/PH120

Fire alarm systems sit quietly in the background of connected infrastructure as people go about their daily lives. Shopping centres, hotels, offices, airports, and other types of transportation terminals are all responsible for the safety of the people that pass through them. Therefore, sophisticated fire alarm and suppression systems are required to ensure real-time dangers are alerted and addressed immediately.

In the event of a fire these critical safety systems must continue to operate, and this is where fire resistant or ‘circuit integrity’ cables play an important role. Circuit integrity cables connect sensors, alarms and other components of the fire alarm and suppression systems and feed information back to control centres.

There are a wide variety of standard and approvals required depending on the country and region, the application and environment, and at times the also the end-customers design and preference. Ensuring system integrators and contractors both select and procure cables that meet the required standards and approvals and perform accordingly is key to protecting your investments. Low-grade cables manufactured to reduce costs and that are purchased from unknown sources may not perform as expected. To safeguard against this make sure to request a copy of the test certificates specific to the cable batch your purchase came from.

The ERVITAL JE-H(St)H…Bd FE180/PH120 fire alarm cable from Erse Kablo, is manufactured with safety and quality in mind, and meet both local and international flame test standards and approvals, IEC, VDE, EN, and BS EN standards.

 

ERVITAL Fire Resistant Cables

 

Construction:

Conductor IEC 60228; VDE 0295; EN 60228 Class 1
Electrolytic Copper
Insulation Cross-linked Ceramic Forming Polymer Compound
Colour Code VDE 0815
Stranding 2 pair star quad, more than 2 pairs groups in layers
Wrapping Pes Tape + Glass Fibre Tape
Screen Tinned Copper Drain Wire + Al-Pes Tape
Sheath EN 50290-2-27 HFFR Compound
Sheath Colour RAL 3000 Red or RAL 2003 Orange

 

Best places to use fire resistant cables:

  • Indoors where people are densely populated
  • In places where there is electromagnetic interference
  • Instrumentation and control engineering
  • Industrial electronics
  • For signal transmission
  • Indoor communication systems
  • In safety and fire alarm systems
  • In places where human life and valuable materials
    and equipment need to be protected

View the product here – https://www.jaycor.co.za/product/ervital-fe180-ph120-e30-cable-14/

10 Criteria to Consider for Your Industrial Edge Compute Devices

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Witten by Jeremy Friedmar and Matt Wopata

Edge-computing

Industrial edge compute devices make edge computing possible. They offer a way to use and gain value from your data, supporting real-time decision making, enhanced security and faster analytical speeds.

In this new and growing market, there’s a plethora of choices. You’ll quickly find that you have several options to consider when searching for industrial edge compute devices.

To make the selection process faster and simpler, we compiled a list of 10 key criteria to consider when selecting an industrial edge compute device.

1. Compute Resources

Industrial edge compute devices have three main types of compute requirements to consider:

  1. Processor: power (number of cores, performance) and type (ARM vs. x86)
  2. Memory: quantity (GBs) and type (DDR3, DDR4 or DDR3L)
  3. Storage: quantity (GBs) and type (SSD vs. eMMC vs. SD card)

It’s vital to match these compute resources with the needs of the applications that will run on them. For instance, analysis equipment may require better processor performance than asset tracking equipment.

This example from industrial software provider Inductive Automation shows compute resource requirements for projects and applications based on their sizes.

2. Form Factor

When it comes to industrial edge compute devices, there are four types of form factors, offering you different choices in size, shape and other physical specifications:

  1. DIN rail (IP20, IP30 or IP40)
  2. Panel (on machine, IP67)
  3. Wall mount
  4. 19-inch rack

Again, your application will determine the right device size. For example, many small industrial edge compute devices are deployed in DIN rail or panel form factors.

 

3. Temperature Rating

There are two temperature ratings to consider for your industrial edge compute device:

  1. Operating temperature: the temperature range of the environment in which the device will operate (steel/glass manufacturers or baked goods production are heat-intensive environments while medical product manufacturing happens in a colder environment)
  2. Non-operating temperature: the temperature range the device can handle when it’s turned off

Due to the nature of industrial plant environments, industrial edge compute devices often require wider operating temperatures than non-industrial gateways or traditional IT servers. For example, an IT server in an office building doesn’t need to withstand the hot/cold conditions that may be found in a food and beverage processing facility.

You’ll often find common operating temperature ranges like these:

  1. 5 to 40 degrees C: IT rack servers
  2. -20 to 60 degrees C: IT gateways
  3. -40 to 70 degrees C: OT gateways
  4. -40 to 85 degrees C: extreme environments

 

4. Power Requirements

What type of power source do you need for your industrial edge compute device? The answer depends on your industry, region, application and what it requires in terms of device temperature, safety, power universality, device size, etc.

Popular input power voltages include:

  • 12V DC
  • 24V DC
  • 36V DC
  • 48V DC
  • 110/250V DC
  • 60/120/260V DC
  • 24V AC
  • 110/230V AC

You’re most likely to find industrial edge compute devices that support DC voltage ranges from 12V to 48V because industrial panels contain power supplies in that range.

5. Power Distribution

In addition to traditional power supply set-ups, new industrial edge hardware that supports power over Ethernet or power over data line can reduce installation complexity and wiring.

Two popular energy delivery mechanisms are:

  1. PoDL (power over data line)
  2. PoE (power over Ethernet)

Power over data line specifies power distribution over a single twisted-pair link segment. It operates in four types:

  • Type A: optimized for 10BASE-T1S
  • Type B: optimized for 1000BASE-T1
  • Type C: optimized for 10BASE-T1S, 100BASE-T1 and 1000BASE-T1
  • Type E: optimized for 10BASE-T1L

Power over Ethernet specifies power distribution on twisted-pair Ethernet cabling. It operates in four types as well:

  • Type 1: maximum power to port is 15.4W
  • Type 2: maximum power to port is 30W
  • Type 3: maximum power to port is 80W
  • Type 4: maximum power to port is 100W

6. Approvals

Industrial edge compute devices require adherence to safety standards, requirements and approvals that are different than those of non-industrial edge hardware components.

Common approvals for these industrial devices include:

  • cUL508/cUL61010-1/-2-201: safety standards for control industrial equipment
  • cUL1604/ISA 12.12.01/FM3611: electrical equipment in hazardous locations
  • ATEX 100a, Zone 2: hazard location classification
  • IEC 61850-3: communication protocols for devices at electrical substations
  • IEEE 1613: environmental and testing requirements for communications networking devices in electric power substations
  • EN 50155, EN 45545: standards for electronic equipment used on rolling stock for railway applications
  • EN 50121-4: standards for signaling and telecommunication apparatus installed in railway environments

Make sure the device you consider adheres to the requirements and standards of your application.

7. Native Networking Interfaces and Features

Industrial edge compute devices often require interfaces to support traditional IT and specific OT applications.

For example, to support IT applications, the devices may feature Ethernet, fiber, Wi-Fi and/or cellular networking interfaces.

To support OT applications, you may see networking interfaces like serial, IO-Link, Single-Pair Ethernet and/or 900 MHz.

Regardless of the networking interfaces integrated into the device, there are certain features you should look for to support data security and accessibility as well:

  • Firewalling (e.g., IP whitelisting) that permits or blocks data packets based on pre-set security parameters
  • Routing (e.g., LAN to WAN routing, WAN backup, IP masquerading, NAT, port forwarding, L2 bridging) to determine the flow of data transmission
  • Remote access/VPNs (e.g., OpenVPN, IPsec, etc.) so people offsite can retrieve the data they need
  • Redundancy (e.g., PRP, HSR, RSTP, MRP, DLR, etc.) to align availability and network recovery time with your application
  • Protocol support (e.g., EtherNet/IP, Modbus, SNMP, etc.) so the device can interact with different industrial networking protocols
  • Networking diagnostics (e.g., .PCAP exports) so you can find the cause of faults in the network
  • OT-specific features, including support for the emerging time-sensitive networking (TSN) standard

8. Native Edge Application Management

Modern industrial edge compute devices often come preconfigured with container managers and hypervisors that abstract edge applications from underlying hardware and enable users to seamlessly run virtual machines and containers from a variety of OT edge application vendors.

This feature allows you to manage and deploy workloads.

9. Security

Hardware-based security prevents unapproved code from running on the compute hardware and ensures that your sensitive data is securely stored on the device.

To ensure security, look for features like:

  • Secure Boot: a security feature that prevents malicious software from loading so only approved operating systems can boot up
  • TPM (trusted platform module): the ability to store security information on the device to improve tamper resistance

10. Non-Technical Considerations

To ensure that you get the most from your investment, there are a few non-technical points to consider for your industrial edge compute device.

First, examine the warranty and end of life (EOL) date. Industrial edge compute devices are expected to survive in the field for many years longer than traditional IT edge compute devices. Make sure the warranties and EOL dates reflect this. To compare typical lifespans:

  • OT devices: 5-10 years or longer
  • IT devices: 3-5 years max

Next, consider MTBF (mean time between failures), or the average time the device operates between breakdowns. Telcordia SR-332 test results can help predict expected downtime per year and system availability levels so you know what to anticipate.

Finally, take time to get to know the people behind the industrial edge compute device you’re considering. Do they understand your industry and your unique challenges? Can they answer your questions?

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