New industrial cellular routers integrate automation, switch, and wireless capabilities.
Sixnet, a Ballston Lake, N.Y., vendor of machine-to-machine (M2M) networking solutions for industrial markets, has added the IndustrialPro Plus to its industrial cellular router product line.
The compact IndustrialPro Plus routers bring together Sixnet’s automation, wireless, and switch competencies to deliver remote connectivity to Modbus-enabled devices in harsh, space-constrained environments. This technology integration simplifies remote management, monitoring, and.
When combined with external I/O modules and management software, Sixnet’s IndustrialPro Plus routers enable users to access remote assets without deploying, managing, and configuring multiple devices at varying locations. With native Modbus support and an optional built-in 5-port Ethernet switch, the cellular routers connect multiple remote terminal units (RTUs), programmable logic controllers (PLCs), meters, and sensors to a centrally located SCADA server. The central server is then able to poll the IndustrialPro Plus directly using a cellular WAN link, eliminating the need for separate Modbus gateways and reducing equipment, space requirements, and site visits.
Supporting 2G, 2.5G, and 3G cellular technologies, the routers can be used as primary WAN or landline backup connections to mission critical sites or devices in industrial environments such as power, oil & gas, water, transportation, and video surveillance.
Additional features of the IndustrialPro Plus include:
Integrated telemetry, routing and switch capabilities
- Modbus gateway functions as master or slave
- Peer-to-peer Modbus transfer enables direct communication between devices
- Message forwarding optimizes communication in Modbus environments
Software Development Kit
- User-programmable using C/C? language
Security
- IPSec/SSL, stateful firewall, packet filtering and Access Control List (ACL) functionality help protect against unwanted intrusion
Managed by Sixnet’s SixView Manager, the IndustrialPro Plus enables management, configuration, and monitoring of multiple devices from a single console. SixView Manager allows customers to remotely update firmware and make field changes to one or many routers.
