Advantech EKI-2525I-BE 5-Port Compact Managed Industrial Switch

The Advantech EKI-2525I-BE stands as a robust 5-port compact managed industrial Ethernet switch, engineered to deliver reliable network connectivity in demanding industrial environments. Its primary advantages lie in its industrial-grade design, supporting a wide operating temperature range of -40 to 75°C, and its comprehensive management features, including VLAN, QoS, IGMP snooping, and LACP. Key technical parameters include 5 x 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports, a DIN-rail mountable form factor, and dual 12-48 VDC power inputs for redundancy. The EKI-2525I-BE is designed for straightforward integration and offers advanced network control, making it an ideal solution for various automation and control applications.

Product Specifications

| Feature                | Specification                               |

| :--------------------- | :------------------------------------------ |

| Model                  | EKI-2525I-BE                                |

| Port Count             | 5 x 10/100 Mbps Ethernet                    |

| Management Type        | Managed                                     |

| Operating Temperature  | -40 to 75°C                                 |

| Power Input            | Dual 12-48 VDC                              |

| Mounting               | DIN-rail                                    |

| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 33 x 140 x 95 mm                            |

| Ingress Protection     | IP30                                        |

| Protocol Support       | IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3x, 802.3ad, 802.1Q |

Core Features & Market Positioning

The Advantech EKI-2525I-BE differentiates itself through its compact, rugged design coupled with advanced managed switch capabilities, a combination crucial for space-constrained industrial settings where reliability is paramount. Its industrial-grade components ensure consistent performance under extreme temperatures and environmental stresses, a key selling point against less robust commercial-grade switches. The inclusion of features like Quality of Service (QoS) allows for traffic prioritization, ensuring critical data packets for control systems receive precedence. Furthermore, support for protocols such as IGMP snooping optimizes multicast traffic, vital for applications like video surveillance or digital signage in industrial plants. This feature set positions the EKI-2525I-BE as a high-value solution for system integrators and industrial IT professionals seeking dependable, manageable network infrastructure.

Key Application Scenarios

The versatility of the Advantech EKI-2525I-BE makes it suitable for a broad spectrum of industrial applications. In factory automation, it facilitates robust communication between PLCs, HMIs, and robotic systems, ensuring seamless operation and data acquisition. For transportation systems, such as intelligent traffic management or railway signaling, its wide operating temperature range and DIN-rail mounting are critical for reliable deployment in control cabinets. In energy and utilities, it supports the secure and stable networking of SCADA systems and remote monitoring devices, even in harsh outdoor or plant environments. The EKI-2525I-BE is also adept at connecting IP surveillance cameras for security monitoring in industrial facilities, leveraging its managed features for efficient bandwidth utilization.

Practical System Integration Guidance

Integrating the Advantech EKI-2525I-BE into an existing industrial network is facilitated by its standard DIN-rail mounting and straightforward power connectivity. Wiring the dual DC power inputs in parallel enhances operational continuity; if one power supply fails, the other maintains network operation. Network configuration is typically accessed via a web interface or a dedicated management utility, allowing for the setup of VLANs to segment network traffic, thereby improving security and performance. For example, creating separate VLANs for production data and administrative traffic can prevent interference. The Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) can be configured on applicable ports to combine multiple physical links into a single logical link, increasing bandwidth and providing redundancy for critical connections between network segments or servers.

Operation and Risk Mitigation

Operating the Advantech EKI-2525I-BE involves leveraging its management interface to configure and monitor network traffic. Regular firmware updates are recommended to patch security vulnerabilities and enhance performance, a process typically initiated through the web interface. To mitigate operational risks, ensure stable power supplies within the specified voltage range (12-48 VDC) and implement proper grounding to prevent electrical interference. For common troubleshooting, a port link status LED indicates physical connection and activity, while status LEDs for power and system health provide quick diagnostics. Network loops, a common cause of network outages, can be prevented by enabling Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) or Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) on the switch. In the event of a device failure, the dual power input design offers a critical safeguard against single points of failure.

Scalability & Long-Term Value

The Advantech EKI-2525I-BE offers considerable scalability and long-term value within industrial networking infrastructures. Its managed capabilities allow for sophisticated network segmentation using VLANs, which not only enhances current performance but also prepares the network for future growth by isolating traffic domains. Compatibility with standard industrial communication protocols ensures seamless integration with a wide array of PLCs, sensors, and other automation devices from various vendors. As industries increasingly adopt Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 initiatives, the EKI-2525I-BE's robust networking foundation supports the data collection and communication demands of these advanced systems. Its industrial-grade construction also implies a longer operational lifespan compared to consumer-grade equipment, reducing the total cost of ownership over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What are the main benefits of using a managed industrial switch like the EKI-2525I-BE?

A managed industrial switch provides enhanced control over network traffic, essential for industrial operations. It allows for features like VLANs, QoS, and IGMP snooping to optimize performance and security. These switches are built to withstand harsh environmental conditions, offering superior reliability and uptime compared to unmanaged or commercial-grade devices.

The EKI-2525I-BE specifically offers advanced diagnostics and configuration options that are critical for troubleshooting and maintaining network stability in complex automation systems. Its robust construction ensures it can operate reliably across a wide temperature range, a common requirement in industrial settings.

Utilizing a managed switch enables proactive network management, allowing administrators to monitor bandwidth usage, prioritize critical data, and segment networks to isolate potential issues. This level of control is fundamental for ensuring the smooth operation of industrial control systems.

Q2: How does the EKI-2525I-BE handle extreme temperatures in industrial environments?

The Advantech EKI-2525I-BE is specifically designed with a wide operating temperature range of -40 to 75°C. This capability is achieved through the use of industrial-grade components and robust enclosure design. It ensures reliable network connectivity even in challenging environments like outdoor enclosures or unconditioned factory floors.

Industrial applications often expose equipment to significant temperature fluctuations throughout the day or across seasons. The EKI-2525I-BE's thermal management is engineered to prevent performance degradation or component failure under these demanding conditions.

By selecting a switch rated for such extreme temperatures, businesses mitigate the risk of network downtime and associated production losses, which can be substantial. This feature is a critical differentiator for industrial-grade hardware.

Q3: What are the power requirements and redundancy options for the EKI-2525I-BE?

The EKI-2525I-BE supports dual 12-48 VDC power inputs, offering flexibility in power source selection. This dual-input design is a key feature for ensuring network availability through power redundancy.

By connecting two separate power supplies to these inputs, the switch can automatically switch to the backup power source if the primary supply fails. This prevents network interruptions and enhances overall system reliability.

This power redundancy is vital for critical industrial processes where continuous operation is essential, minimizing the impact of single power supply failures on the production line or control systems.

Q4: Can the EKI-2525I-BE be easily integrated into existing industrial control systems?

Yes, the EKI-2525I-BE is designed for straightforward integration into industrial control systems. It features a compact form factor and DIN-rail mounting, which are standard in industrial cabinets and enclosures.

Its 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports are compatible with a vast array of industrial devices, including PLCs, HMIs, sensors, and actuators. The switch supports common industrial network protocols, ensuring interoperability.

The managed features, such as web-based configuration, allow IT and automation engineers to easily set up and monitor network segments for specific control applications without requiring specialized networking expertise.

Q5: What network management features does the EKI-2525I-BE offer?

The EKI-2525I-BE is a managed switch offering a suite of advanced features for network control and optimization. These include Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) for traffic segmentation, Quality of Service (QoS) for prioritizing data, and IGMP snooping for efficient multicast traffic management.

It also supports Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) to bundle multiple ports for increased bandwidth and redundancy. Ring redundancy protocols, if applicable to its specific firmware, further enhance network resilience.

These management capabilities allow for precise control over network performance, security, and reliability, making it suitable for demanding industrial applications that require predictable data flow and network stability.

Q6: What is the significance of IGMP snooping on the EKI-2525I-BE?

IGMP snooping optimizes the delivery of multicast traffic within an Ethernet network. Instead of flooding multicast packets to all ports, the switch intelligently forwards them only to ports that have requested them.

This prevents unnecessary network congestion caused by multicast streams, such as video feeds or data updates, which is particularly beneficial in industrial environments with limited bandwidth. It improves overall network efficiency and performance.

By reducing the broadcast domain and conserving bandwidth, IGMP snooping ensures that critical control data packets have a clearer path and are less likely to be delayed or dropped.

Q7: How does QoS on the EKI-2525I-BE benefit industrial automation?

Quality of Service (QoS) allows administrators to prioritize certain types of network traffic over others. In industrial automation, this means critical data, like commands to actuators or sensor readings from safety systems, can be given higher priority.

This ensures that time-sensitive data packets are delivered with minimal latency and jitter, which is crucial for real-time control applications where delays can have significant consequences. It guarantees the performance of essential operations.

By implementing QoS, the EKI-2525I-BE helps maintain the responsiveness and determinism of industrial control networks, preventing less critical traffic from impacting the performance of vital automation processes.

Q8: What are the physical dimensions and mounting options for this switch?

The Advantech EKI-2525I-BE features a compact design with dimensions of 33mm (width) x 140mm (height) x 95mm (depth). This compact size is ideal for deployment in space-constrained industrial control cabinets and panels.

It comes equipped for standard DIN-rail mounting, which is a ubiquitous mounting standard in industrial automation and electrical installations. This allows for quick and secure attachment to mounting rails within enclosures.

The combination of its small footprint and easy DIN-rail installation simplifies the physical integration of the switch into existing or new industrial network infrastructure.

Q9: What type of Ethernet ports does the EKI-2525I-BE have?

The Advantech EKI-2525I-BE is equipped with five Ethernet ports, each offering a data transfer rate of 10/100 Mbps. These are standard Fast Ethernet ports, suitable for a wide range of industrial communication needs.

These ports are typically RJ45 connectors, the common interface for Ethernet cables used in industrial settings. They provide reliable wired connectivity for connecting various industrial devices to the network.

While these are Fast Ethernet ports, they provide sufficient bandwidth for many automation tasks, sensor data collection, and HMI communication, especially when combined with the switch's management features for traffic optimization.

Q10: What is the Ingress Protection (IP) rating of the EKI-2525I-BE?

The Advantech EKI-2525I-BE has an IP30 Ingress Protection rating. This rating indicates that the enclosure offers protection against solid objects greater than 2.5mm in diameter and is not protected against water.

The IP30 rating signifies that the switch is suitable for indoor industrial environments where dust and accidental contact are the primary concerns. It should be protected from direct exposure to water or corrosive elements.

This rating implies that the switch should be installed in a control cabinet or protected enclosure to ensure its longevity and reliable operation, shielding it from environmental contaminants.