Description

The Cisco IE-4000-4S8P4G-E is another model in the Cisco Industrial Ethernet (IE) 4000 Series of rugged, high-performance switches designed for industrial and mission-critical environments. These switches are particularly suited for industries where reliability, security, and performance are paramount, such as industrial automation, transportation, energy, and smart cities.

1. General Features and Overview:

• Model: Cisco IE-4000-4S8P4G-E

• Series: Cisco IE 4000 Series Industrial Ethernet Switch

• Type: Managed Ethernet switch for industrial applications, offering a blend of Gigabit Ethernet ports, PoE ports, and SFP fiber-optic ports for flexible, high-performance networking in rugged environments.

2. Ports and Connectivity:

• 4 x Gigabit Ethernet Ports (10/100/1000 Mbps): These are high-speed copper Ethernet ports used to connect various industrial devices such as PLCs, sensors, and other factory floor equipment.

• 8 x PoE+ (Power over Ethernet Plus) Ports:

  • PoE+ (IEEE 802.3at) delivers both data and power over a single Ethernet cable, supporting up to 25.5W per port. This feature is especially useful for powering IP cameras, wireless access points, and VoIP phones in industrial environments without needing separate power cables.

• 4 x Gigabit SFP Ports: Fiber-optic connectivity for long-distance, high-bandwidth uplinks. SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) ports provide flexibility to choose the appropriate fiber module, depending on the distance and bandwidth needs of the application. This is ideal for connecting remote locations or long-range communication.

3. Performance:

• Layer 2 and Layer 3 Switching:

  • Layer 2: Provides standard Ethernet switching, VLAN support, and basic traffic management.

  • Layer 3: Supports routing functionality such as static routing and RIP (Routing Information Protocol), which are needed for more complex network topologies or for routing traffic between different VLANs.

• Switching Capacity: The IE-4000-4S8P4G-E offers high forwarding rates to handle substantial traffic with minimal latency, making it suitable for real-time data transfer in industrial environments where delays can be problematic (e.g., automation, video surveillance).

• Forwarding Rate: The switch is capable of high-speed forwarding, handling large data volumes efficiently, which is crucial for industrial applications that require seamless communication between machines, sensors, and controllers.

4. Redundancy and Reliability:

• Industrial-Grade Durability: Built to operate reliably in harsh industrial environments, the IE-4000 series can withstand extreme temperatures (typically -40°C to +70°C), vibrations, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) that are common in industrial, factory, or outdoor environments.

• Redundancy Features:

  • Ethernet Ring Protection (ERP): Provides fast recovery in case of a failure, ensuring network continuity by quickly re-establishing network paths.

  • Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP): Ensures quick recovery in the event of network topology changes, preventing loops and reducing network downtime.

  • Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP): Ensures high availability by providing automatic failover to a backup router if the primary router fails.

5. Security:

• Advanced Security Features:

  • 802.1X Authentication: Ensures that only authenticated devices can connect to the network, helping prevent unauthorized access.

  • Port Security: Restricts the number of devices that can connect to a given port, offering better control over the network.

  • Access Control Lists (ACLs): Allows fine-grained traffic control, permitting or denying traffic based on IP addresses, improving overall network security.

  • DHCP Snooping: Protects against rogue DHCP servers by filtering out invalid DHCP messages.

  • IPsec: Secure communication between remote sites or devices over the network, preventing unauthorized access or tampering of data.

  • Secure Boot: Ensures that only trusted firmware is loaded on the device, preventing tampering with the switch’s boot process.

6. Management and Monitoring:

• CLI (Command-Line Interface): Full access to advanced configuration and troubleshooting options for network administrators. CLI is a standard way of managing network devices in complex environments.

• Web-Based GUI: Provides a simpler, intuitive interface for monitoring and managing the device, without requiring deep technical knowledge.

• SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol): Enables integration with network management systems to monitor the switch’s performance, uptime, and other metrics. This helps administrators to identify and troubleshoot issues in real time.

• Cisco DNA (Digital Network Architecture): The IE-4000-4S8P4G-E can integrate with Cisco DNA for network automation, analytics, and centralized management. This can improve operational efficiency and allow for proactive management of the network.

7. Power over Ethernet (PoE):

• PoE+ Support: The switch provides 8 PoE+ ports, which can deliver up to 25.5W per port, making it ideal for powering devices like IP cameras, VoIP phones, and wireless access points. By combining data and power over a single cable, PoE+ simplifies deployment, reduces cabling complexity, and lowers installation costs.

• PoE+ Standards: Fully compliant with the IEEE 802.3at standard, enabling the use of a wide range of PoE-powered devices.

8. Safety and Compliance:

• Certifications: The IE-4000-4S8P4G-E meets various regulatory and safety certifications, including:

  • UL (Underwriters Laboratories) certification for safety.

  • CE and FCC compliance for electromagnetic compatibility.

  • RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliant, ensuring it meets environmental standards.

• Industry Standards: The switch supports all standard Ethernet protocols and industrial network standards to ensure interoperability in various environments.

9. Use Cases:

• Industrial Automation: This switch is ideal for use in industrial automation networks, such as connecting PLCs, SCADA systems, and other automation devices. It ensures real-time, reliable communication between control systems and machines.

• Smart Manufacturing: In manufacturing plants with high-speed requirements, the switch can connect machines, sensors, and controllers, ensuring high availability and low latency in operations.

• Transportation and Rail: The IE-4000-4S8P4G-E is suited for deployment in intelligent transportation systems (ITS), connecting traffic control systems, railway signals, and surveillance cameras.

• Energy and Utilities: It is ideal for smart grid applications, managing communication in remote substations, energy monitoring systems, and sensor networks across power grids.

• Industrial IoT (IIoT): Supports the growing number of connected devices in the IIoT space, enabling efficient and secure communication for smart sensors, meters, and other IoT devices in industrial settings.

10. Power Supply:

• Redundant Power Supply: The switch supports redundant power supplies, ensuring that even in the event of a failure in one power source, the switch remains operational. This is essential for high-availability applications where downtime is not acceptable.

11. Form Factor:

• Rack-Mountable: The IE-4000-4S8P4G-E is designed to be mounted in a 19-inch rack, making it a good fit for control rooms, data centers, or industrial network infrastructure that requires rack-mounted equipment.