Control Network Newsletter
Diagnostic Switch Simplifies Testing
One of the benefits of switched Ethernet technology is that the switch restricts directed messages to only those ports participating in the communication by learning the MAC addresses of the devices. This improves overall network throughput by not burdening end stations with useless traffic. However, this feature makes protocol debugging difficult because a protocol analyzer tool attached to an unused port on the switch cannot observe the directed messages.
The Skorpion Diagnostic Switch solves this issue because it never learns MAC addresses and therefore floods traffic to all ports. This feature is ideal for network troubleshooting because all network traffic can be observed from any port using sniffer tools, such as Wireshark. The Skorpion Diagnostic Switch is great replacement for old "Ethernet Hubs" requiring no additional configuration by the user.
The Skorpion Diagnostic Switch retains all the features of an unmanaged switch, such as auto-negotiation and auto-MDIX, but because it does not learn, it is ideal for troubleshooting. Being able to view all the communication packets helps the user determine why devices are not responding properly.
Designed for the demanding requirements of an industrial automation environment, the Skorpion Diagnostic Switch can be permanently installed or replaced with an unmanaged switch once the system is commissioned. This device can also be useful when developing embedded Ethernet devices because you can connect the Skorpion Diagnostic Switch between two embedded Ethernet devices and view their messages using Wireshark.
Models are available that support gigabit speeds which minimize transfer time and improve the ability to stream high-bandwidth files to connected devices without interference. To learn more, visit the EISK Diagnostic Switch product page.