ENTERASYS A2H124-24FX Industrial Ethernet Switch

1. Product Description

ENTERASYS A2H124-24FX is an industrial-grade Ethernet switch from Enterasys, designed to connect and manage data flow between industrial devices in automation systems. It’s ideal for use in factory floors, power plants, transportation hubs (e.g., rail or port facilities), and process control plants—scenarios where devices like PLCs, HMIs, sensors, and cameras need a reliable, fast network to share data, and downtime from network failures would disrupt operations.

What makes it practical:

Reliable Device Connectivity: Provides 24 ports to link multiple industrial devices at once (e.g., 15 sensors, 5 PLCs, and 4 HMIs). It ensures steady data transmission, so devices can communicate without lag or dropped signals—critical for real-time control (e.g., a PLC sending commands to a conveyor).

Industrial-Grade Durability: Built to withstand harsh factory conditions—resists dust, vibration, and wide temperature changes. Unlike office switches, it works reliably in hot, cold, or dusty areas (e.g., near motors or outdoor control cabinets) without failing.

Easy to Use: Requires no complex network setup for basic use—just plug devices into the ports, and it starts routing data. It also has LED indicators for each port, so you can quickly check if a device is connected and sending data.

It’s perfect for building a network in an automotive assembly line (connecting robots, vision sensors, and HMIs) or a water treatment plant (linking pumps, controllers, and monitoring cameras) to ensure smooth data sharing.

2. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter Category	Specific Details
Number of Ports	24 Fast Ethernet ports (10/100 Mbps, suitable for most industrial devices)
Port Type	Fiber optic ports (FX) – resistant to electrical interference (ideal for noisy industrial areas)
Network Protocols	Supports IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet standard), QoS (prioritizes critical data, e.g., PLC commands over camera feeds)
Operating Temperature Range	-40°C to +75°C (handles extreme cold/hot industrial environments)
Power Supply	24V DC (18V-36V DC wide range, fits industrial power systems)
Protection Rating	IP30 (dust-resistant, suitable for control cabinets or enclosed areas)
Mounting Style	DIN rail (35mm standard) / wall mount – easy to install in industrial cabinets
Size (W×H×D)	130mm×150mm×100mm (compact, saves space in control cabinets)
Certifications	IEC 61010-1, UL 508, CE (meets global industrial safety and network standards)

3. System Integration

The A2H124-24FX acts as a “network hub” for industrial devices—simple to integrate and essential for connected systems:

Data Routing: When a sensor sends data (e.g., a temperature reading), the switch receives it and routes it to the correct device (e.g., a PLC or HMI). It prioritizes critical data (via QoS) to ensure time-sensitive commands (e.g., stopping a machine) aren’t delayed by less important data (e.g., camera video).

Interference Resistance: Fiber optic ports (FX) block electrical noise from nearby motors, power cables, or generators—unlike copper ports, which can pick up interference. This ensures data isn’t corrupted (e.g., a sensor reading of 25°C isn’t mistaken for 35°C).

Fast Setup: Uses standard industrial Ethernet cables (fiber optic) for device connections. It clips onto a DIN rail in a control cabinet, next to power supplies or PLCs, and takes 20-30 minutes to set up—no advanced network engineering needed for basic use.

Status Monitoring: LEDs for each port light up (green) when a device is connected and sending data. A dark LED means you need to check the device’s cable or power—making troubleshooting fast without extra tools.

4. Related Models in the Same Series

Model	Key Differences & Uses
ENTERASYS A2H124-24TX	Copper ports (TX) instead of fiber – for areas with less electrical interference (e.g., office-adjacent control rooms) or devices using copper Ethernet cables.
ENTERASYS A2H048-48FX	48 ports instead of 24 – for large systems with many devices (e.g., a large factory with 40+ sensors, PLCs, and cameras).
ENTERASYS A2H124-12FX-12TX	Mixed ports (12 fiber + 12 copper) – for systems with both fiber and copper devices (e.g., new fiber sensors and old copper-based HMIs).
ENTERASYS A2H124-24FX-POE	Adds PoE (Power over Ethernet) – powers devices like IP cameras or wireless access points via the Ethernet cable (eliminates extra power cables).
ENTERASYS A2H124-24FX-EXT	Extended temperature range (-50°C to +85°C) – for extreme environments (e.g., arctic cold storage or desert-based solar power plants).
ENTERASYS A2H016-16FX	16 ports (compact size) – for small systems (e.g., a small robotic workcell with 10 devices) or tight control cabinets.
ENTERASYS A2H124-24FX-R	Redundant power inputs – for critical systems (e.g., emergency stop networks) where power loss would risk safety; switches to a backup power source if the main one fails.