• Integrated redundancy manager for constructing ring topologies with fast media redundancy Rings consisting of SCALANCE X-300 and X-400 switches can be operated at 1000 Mbps. In rings with SCALANCE X-200 or OSM/ESM it is possible to integrate SCALANCE X-300EEC switches at 100 Mbps.
• Redundant interfacing to corporate networks;
  SCALANCE X-300EEC switches support the standardized redundancy procedures Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) and Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP). This enables a subnetwork to be connected redundantly to a higher level corporate network with reduced requirements for the reconfiguration time (in the order of seconds). By supporting the Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP), a network can also be split into multiple sub-segments.
• Support of virtual networks (VLAN);
  for structuring Industrial Ethernet networks with a fast growing number of users, a physically existing network can be divided into several virtual networks.
• Load limiting when multicast protocols (e.g. Querier, video transmission) are used;
  through learning the multicast sources and targets (IGMP Snooping, IGMP Querier), SCALANCE X-300EEC switches can also filter multicast data traffic and therefore limit the load in the network.
• Time synchronization;
  diagnostic messages (log table entries, e-mails) are time-stamped. The local time is standardized throughout the network by means of synchronization with a SICLOCK time transmitter, SNTP or NTP server or via IEEE1588, thereby simplifying the assignment of diagnostic messages of multiple devices.
• Fast replacement of devices in event of failure, by means of the C-PLUG switching medium

Network topology and network configuration

The SCALANCE X-300EEC Industrial Ethernet switches with degree of protection IP30 can be adapted to the structure of the plant in star, line and ring topologies.

The following network structures and combinations of structures can be implemented:

• Fast Ethernet rings with fast media redundancy;
  to increase network availability, as many as 50 X-200, X-300, or X-400 switches cascaded in line can be connected into a ring with a total length of up to 150 km. On the failure of a transmission link or of a SCALANCE X switch in the ring, the transmission path is reconfigured within 0.3 seconds (0.2 seconds for MRP).
• Several rings can be redundantly linked through the standby function
• Construction of interconnected network structures by means of rapid spanning tree protocol (RSTP)
• At the same time, SCALANCE X-300EEC supports redundant connection of the ring structure to the corporate network with a rapid spanning tree.
• Star topology with SCALANCE X-300EEC switches:
  The SCALANCE X-300EEC switch represents a neutral point that can connect up to nine nodes or subnets with each other.

When configuring the network, it is necessary to observe the following boundary conditions:

• Maximum line length between two modules for multi-mode fiber-optic conductors:
  • 5000 m at 100 Mbps
• Maximum cable length of the TP cable between two SCALANCE X switches:
  • max. 100 m

Commissioning and diagnostics

Setting options on the device itself:

• Redundancy manager RM;
  to establish a ring, a SCALANCE X-300EEC is switched to RM mode. The non-ring ports of the RM can be used freely for the connection of data terminals and networks. If the redundancy procedure MRP standardized by PROFINET is used, the RM is adjusted automatically.
• Signal mask;
  the signal mask is set to the current status of the SCALANCE X-300EEC (setpoint) by pushbutton operation. The signal mask defines which ports and which power supplies are to be monitored. The signaling contact only reports an error when a monitored port or a monitored feeder fails (deviation of setpoint/actual status).

Diagnostic options on site:

• The following status information is displayed by LEDs on site:
  • Port status
  • Port mode (10/100 Mbps, full/half-duplex)
  • Status of the two power supplies
  • Signaling contact status
  • Signal mask (setpoint status)
  • RM mode
  • Standby mode
• The status of the signaling contact is routed externally by means of floating relay contacts. This enables, for example, the module to be monitored via an input module from a controller.
• Monitoring via the Industrial Ethernet network;
  the following possibilities are available:
  • Remote via standard browser (Web-based management):
    Selection of SCALANCE X-300 switches via the network from a PC with browser
  • Remote via SNMP V1, V2c, V3:
    Secure connection of SCALANCE X-300EEC switches via the network to a network management station
  • Remote via PROFINET IO diagnostics:
    PROFINET diagnostic alarms from SCALANCE X-300EEC switches can be displayed using the relevant SIMATIC engineering tools and they can also be processed in the controller. The engineering outlay for the PLC and HMI have been drastically reduced due to the complete integration in the SIMATIC concept for system error messages.

Network management

The network management provides the following functions:

• Password-protected dial-up for "Administrator" (read and write authorization) and "User" (read only)
• Read-out of version and status information
• Setting the signal and standby mask and address information
• Parameter assignment for web management services
• Setting of Rapid Spanning Tree parameters
• Fixed parameterization of the ports (data rates, half/full duplex)
• Security
  • Ports can be connected or disconnected
  • Authentication in accordance with IEEE 802.1x (available soon)
  • Support of Access Control List (ACL) (available soon)
• Parameter assignment for user administration of SNMP V1, V2c, V3
• Output of statistics information
• Diagnosis of data traffic by means of a parameterizable mirror port with a standard commercial network analyzer
• Loading new firmware updates or configuration data via the network from one TFTP server or directly via HTTP/HTTPs with an Internet or Web browser.
• Saving the configuration data or log table via the network on a TFTP server

If faults occur in the network, the SCALANCE X-300EEC switch can independently send error messages (traps) to a network management system or also e-mails to a predefined network administrator.

Remote monitoring (RMON) provides the following functions:
The SCALANCE X-300EEC switch can collect statistics information according to the RMON groups 1 through 4. These include, for example, fault statistics that are kept for each port. This information can be read out through web-based management in the statistics sub-area.