The Value of Network Management Software for Industrial Automation
More and more, businesses depend on common, basic Ethernet network infrastructures to connect the front office to the plant floor, and use sophisticated network management software to make direct interaction with production equipment possible. Network management software allows system administrators to control and manage their networks and industrial devices from a central location—anytime, anywhere. In this way businesses can cut costs, reduce complexity, and improve the responsiveness and reliability of their networks.
Many businesses benefit from network management software, which enables offsite configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting of their networks. The only way to know if your network is operating as it should is through continuous management. Administrators need to know what is happening on their networks at all times. They need to be aware of real-time and historical information, the network's performance, the status of every device and application, as well as all the data on the network.
If your business depends on your network, then network management is critical to the success of your business.
Top 8 Reasons to Use Network Monitoring
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Know what is going on with easy-to-understand graphical reports |
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Diagnose problems quickly |
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Know when to apply pre and post-disaster salvage solutions |
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Make certain your security systems are operating properly |
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Keep track of your resources |
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Be informed of your network status—anywhere, anytime |
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Ensure maximum uptime |
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Save money! |
Not All Network Management Software is the Same
As Ethernet moves to replace proprietary communications on the plant floor, the demand for an efficient and cost-effective network software solution grows. It is a mistake to assume that any old network support software can provide a cost-effective solution for plant floor devices. There are several reasons for this:
Ease of use
Most network management software is designed for enterprises, and configuration requires the aid of IT experts.
Slow response time
Extended downtime could result if a network administrator is not on the plant floor. During this time, the process or machinery may also be down while waiting for either a resolution or replacements.
User interface is difficult and takes time to decipher
Most network management software employs IP connectivity and table-based UIs, which is targeted at experienced networking experts and requires more time to troubleshoot.
A useful network software solution needs to be cost-effective, user-friendly, support a large variety of IP addressable devices, be easily configured to show all the necessary information to support or replace devices, and allow for troubleshooting in real time.
What NMS Can Do for Your Industrial Automation Network
Integrating Ethernet with industrial automation has challenged both users and suppliers. Mixing network equipment from different suppliers can lead to greater complexity, but specialized network management software and hardware can make a huge difference. With hundreds to thousands of potential data points to monitor on a network, it is vital to be able to access meaningful, accurate, and real-time information at any given time.
Every component in the network has the potential to become a failure point. In fact, many networks today are so complex that if something goes wrong it takes a long time to locate the problem. That's why it is essential to implement redundancy in order to minimize downtime.
Not every problem can be proactively addressed before warning signs are apparent. However, if you proactively monitor your network, you can identify problems before they become full-fledged emergencies. With network monitoring, you should be fully aware of everything on your network and be able to take timely action to correct problems—all without needing to physically watch your network around the clock.
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Qualities of good industrial networking management software: |
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Automatic topology discovery and visualization |
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Real-time configuration, monitoring, event notification, and troubleshooting |
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User-friendly and easy to configure |
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Centralized configuration and firmware management |
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Allows for quick and easy checking of network device availability |
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Provides traffic reports and event logs |
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The ability to integrate with other systems |
Moxa's Industrial Network Management Software: MXview™
Moxa's new, powerful, and easy-to-use network management software, called MXview™, is designed specifically for industrial automation networks. MXview™ allows the topology of entire networks to be viewed as simple and straightforward topology maps. Having a readily available visual representation of your network allows streamlined network monitoring, event handling, and troubleshooting.
Administrators no longer need to worry about mishandling device statuses or interconnectivity on their network because MXview makes it easy to discover and visualize the physical network topology. MXview can discover up to 500 nodes distributed over multiple subnets, and the live-view topology map and historical event database let you check the health of your network and identify problems when troubleshooting with a common web browser such as Internet Explorer
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KEY FEATURES: |
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Automatic discovery and a unique intuitive physical wiring visualization of network devices |
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Can monitor up to 500 networked devices and send a notification in real time when an event occurs |
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Central management of configurations and firmware (for Moxa devices) |
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Historical traffic statistics and comprehensive event logs to simplify troubleshooting |
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Supports Ring redundancy and has the ability to monitor switches and edge devices |
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Manage networks via web browser on your own terms |
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Designed for industrial automation networks |
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Simple to configure and user-friendly |
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Competitively priced |
Why Automation Engineers Prefer MXview™
High Interoperability with Moxa and non-Moxa* Products
MXview is highly compatible and can automatically discover SNMP/ICMP switches, wireless access points, and other networked nodes for network topology visualization. And when using MXview with Moxa Products, there is no need to draw or download device images; MXview provides images for all relevant Moxa products, as shown below.
Auto Topology Visualization
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MXview Solution  |
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Manually drawing topologies |
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Checking and locating switches is complex and time-consuming |
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Automatic physical topology visualization, with details such as properties, IP addresses, and connectivity. |
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Live-view monitoring for quick, pinpoint troubleshooting |
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View redundancy and trunking links |
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Local and Remote Event Notification
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MXview Solution |
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Off-duty or off-site personnel are not informed when events occur |
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Users must periodically check the system |
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Automatically notifies users when pre-defined events occur via: |
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SMS/email to remote users
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sound and/or an external program |
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We want to make your life easier, so we are offering you a 20-node MXview trial version on the house—with no time limitation. You can use it for as long as you like!
Full versions are available under commercial licensing. Contact Moxa for more information.
*MXview can only monitor the connectivity of devices that support ICMP. For other SNMP-enabled devices, MXview supports standard management functions, such as link up, link down, and SNMP MIBII information. For detailed information, refer to the MXview User’s Guide.
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