Applications. Black Box LBH184A, LBH181A, LBH081A, LBH082A, LBH084A, LBH182A

Chapter 2: Introduction

2.6 Applications

The LBH08x and LBH18x are designed to bring future-proof fiber connectivity and widely- used copper connectivity to factory automation control systems, field bus control systems and many other industrial network environments.

Ethernet networks in factory control systems provide interoperability and bandwidth with universal connectivity via 10/100 RJ-45 ports, all at an economical cost. In control system cabinets, a small group of IEDs, PLCs, sensors, WAPs and control devices are co-located and connected into the network using twisted-pair copper cabling. Then, this group of devices is linked into the overall industrial network, typically with a fiber cable for noise immunity and distance. The

LBH08x/LBH18x-Series Hardened Ethernet Switches are ideal for these applications.

Example 1. LBH18x for industrial application

Equipped with lots of useful features including hardened enclosures, a wide spread of DC power supply options, and extended temperature ratings qualifies the

LBH08x/LBH18x Series Industrial switch for any Industrial factory-floor.

In an Industrial environment where the factory floors are networked with

Ethernet based mixed-media LANs and equipped with PLC computers to take readings and data from M/C Client/ Server databases and transport this important data to the central office data warehouses, the LBH08x/LBH18x Series shines. The

LBH08x/LBH18x features handle these kinds of networks very securely and reliably throughout the Factory-floors. The DIN-Rail Mounting options, allow the Industrial

Factory floor user to mount the LBH08x/LBH18x securely anywhere on their Network setup.

724-746-5500 | blackbox.com

Page 15

Chapter 2: Introduction

Where there are existing 10 Mbps hubs or switch users, they can easily be cascaded into any port of the LBH18x. This allows a simple plug-and-play addition of

100Mbps ports to an existing 10 Mbps network without having to change it. Nodes that are capable of 100Mbps speed can be moved to a LBH18x port, and will automatically operate at the higher speed.

The 100Mbps fiber port on the LBH18x can be used for accommodating high performance data transfers, and provides fiber connectivity built-in rather than needing an auxiliary media converter unit. The 100Mbps traffic does not use the bandwidth of the 10 Mbps domain, so overall performance of the network is sustained at the highest possible level.

Example 2. LBH08x for office installation

In this example, the LBH08x Switch is used to serve a small office in a factory with multi-servers, print server, internet access and mixed-speed requirements. The users operate at 100Mbps as well as at 10 Mbps, and utility devices (such as print servers) run at 10 Mbps. High performance users need a high bandwidth up-link for access to a central LAN and central file servers. Any attached node can change speed at any time without affecting network operation or impacting other users. The multi-functional LBH08x switches provide this solution very efficiently and economically. Various features included MDIX, plug-n-play, Din-Rail mountings and dual LEDs make this compact switch a very effective solution for this requirement.

Page 16 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com