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Super Ring - A Redundant Ethernet Network Technology
In a network environment, more than 2 paths are often provided between 2 nodes in order to make sure that data transmission won't be interrupted due to link failures. When you set up the network, however, packets will probably be sent more than twice if a switch finds multiple paths that can be chosen. If this situation gets serious, it could cause packet flooding, and greatly decrease the network bandwidth. The solution is to block one segment of the network. The blocked path will be enabled only when the primary one fails, providing a backup path for data transmission. Protocols that provide redundant paths are as follows:
STP (Spanning Tree Protocol) is a kind of communication protocol for network redundancy
STP provides a protocol for how a switch determines redundant paths. Switches use STP to communicate with each other about which redundant paths to be blocked. When a link failure occurs, switches use STP as well, to communicate with each other about which redundant path to be enabled.
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RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol) offers a fast network redundancy solution
With the development of network technology,network environments get more complicated.When a link failure occurs, the switches over that network often spend much time on exchanging STP messages and synchronization. To avoid the above-mentioned situation, RSTP simplifies the information that is being communicated, improves the communication pattern, and increases the recovery speed of a network backup path. RSTP is fully compatible with STP. A network environment can allow RSTP and STP to exist at the same time. |
Using Media Converters with Super Ring
In a large-scale industrial application, the distance between 2 switches is sometimes longer than 100meters (the maximum transmission distance for a RJ45-CAT5 cable). For this reason, it is necessary to use media converters and fiber converters to extend the transmission distance. Super Ring allows users to adopt media converters (JetCon 2301) and fiber converters to extend the transmission distance. As shown in the figure below, in a Super Ring structure, RJ45 Ethernet cables and fiber are allowed to exist at the same time for the transmission between 2 switches. This design makes it more flexible for users when planning and setting up a Super Ring-structured Ethernet network. |
SUPER RING provides a faster industrial network redundancy solution
RSTP already shortens the STP recovery time from 30 sec to 3 sec, or 60 sec to 6 sec. But for an industrial automation application, the best solution is non-interruption network redundancy.To improve the recovery time to less than 300ms, Super Ring provides the best redundant Ethernet solution for industrial application. With the Super Ring structure, we set up the network as a ring topology. When one of the segments fails, the master switch will find the shortest backup path. And via the Super Ring mechanism, the recovery time improves to less than 300ms. And in terms of physical setup, Super Ring topology is easier to maintain than STP or RSTP. |
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Comparison between STP, RSTP, and SUPER RING
What are the differences among these three protocols when they all provide network redundancy solution? STP and RSTP are suitable for mesh network structure. In other words, there should be at least 2 backup paths to choose from between switches. STP and RSTP are often applied in commercial office environments. Super Ring uses ring topology, which has fast responding time. If your network needs to communicate with STP/RSTP network devices in other networks, select STP/RSTP as your network redundancy solution. If your network (or independent network segment) is set up entirely using Korenix products, then select Super Ring as your network redundancy solution, which will bring you the best system recovery performance. |
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