An industrial Network gateway is used to interface between networks that support different protocols. In both the IT and OT worlds, network gateways make communication possible between the many different resident architectures and protocols. They repackage and convert data going from one industrial network to another so that information can be understood.
1. Industrial Network Gateways Functionality
A network gateway may contain functionality such as protocol converters, impedance matching devices, rate converters, fault isolators, or signal translators as necessary to provide system interoperability. Industrial gateways covered in this report are used to bring networked devices, whether IP-based or not, onto IP-based networks and potentially into the industrial internet.
The industrial gateway functional spectrum is widening with the advent of the industrial internet. Historically relegated largely to simple protocol conversion, the advent of remotely programmable microprocessor-based gateway platforms with standard operating systems and the ability to host IIoT platform agents and resident applications has greatly expanded the gateway’s functional profile.
Due to the focus on potential use as industrial internet edge infrastructure devices, the report specifically focuses on gateways that support IP-based industrial networks. This excludes gateways that support only non-IP-based networks at both the slave and the master level, including the many that interface non-IP based, often serial automation networks to one another.
ARC further excludes network interface cards that connect to a PLC backplane based on an Ethernet-based network protocol. For example, industrial network interface cards designed for use with EtherNet/IP-based PLC backplanes are excluded.
Network routers and switches are typically included in part of the gateway spectrum, but this category of product is specifically excluded from this report and covered in separate ARC network infrastructure deliverables. Media converters, device servers, and dedicated protocol converters are similarly excluded.
2. IIoT versus Automation Gateways
In order to capture the burgeoning functional spectrum of industrial gateways, this analysis separates traditional automation protocol conversion devices from the new class of IIoT gateway devices. Simply put, and for the purposes of this analysis, automation gateways are considered those that function at the lower levels of the architectural stack and emphasize protocol conversion.
IIoT or “cloud” gateways, on the other hand, are distinguished by their emphasis on serving device data up to a cloud or other components of the industrial internet. Differentiating factors include use of a standard microprocessor and operating system, like the Intel IoT platform, as well as support of Representational State Transfer (REST) APIs, Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT), and other IoT data integration and transport protocols. OPC UA (Unified Architecture) may also be used to this end.
In these early days of the industrial internet, a number of suppliers offer integration between their gateway devices and their own private Clouds. Examples include HMS Industrial Networks with Netbiter and its Argos Cloud, as well as Digi International and its Device Cloud. These products, and others like them, are included in the IIoT category.
The latest IIoT gateways support components of higher-level IIoT platforms capable of executing at the edge. These gateways ease the interface between the edge and the Cloud and further enable execution of edge applications, such as analytics. Examples of these edge platform agents include GE’s Predix Machine, found in its Field Agent Gateway and partner devices, as well as Cisco’s unbundled IOx platform resident in its 8x9 Series routers and partner products.
3. Industrial Gateways Network Type
This report presents the gateway market from the perspective of the slave and master networks served. Due to the emphasis on industrial internet applications, all of the master networks must be IP-based, which excludes serial and other non-IP masters. The categories by network type include:
Wireless slave to Ethernet master (any type of wireless network, including Wi-Fi, WirelessHART, or personal area networks such as Bluetooth)
Other slave to Ethernet master (typically serial automation networks)
Wireless slave to Wireless master (again could be any type of wireless, but often is Bluetooth or equivalent to Wi-Fi)
Cellular (any type of slave to a cellular network)
Industrial Network Gateways CPU Architecture
A central processing unit (CPU) is the electronic circuitry or “chip” within a microprocessor-based gateway that performs the basic arithmetic, logical, control, and input/output (I/O) operations. Intel, ARM, and Freescale are the most popular chip suppliers for industrial gateways.
4. Industrial Network Gateways Operating System
An operating system (OS) manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for applications. Operating systems are important distinguishing factors in the realm of industrial gateways because of the trend toward edge-resident applications that must be able to execute in gateways. Linux is currently the most popular OS among IIoT gateway providers, but Windows 10 is emerging as another option, particularly among those customers employing Microsoft’s Azure Cloud.
5. Industrial Network Gateways IPv6 Support
Every device on the Internet is assigned an IP address for identification and location definition. Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) provides a vastly larger capacity address space for identification and location of networked computers and routes traffic across the Internet.
The 128 bit IPv6 was developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) once it became obvious that the number of addresses available under its predecessor, IPv4, would imminently be exhausted. The two protocols are not designed to be interoperable, but software and products exist to allow communication between hosts and interfaces supporting the respective protocols.
As of this writing, most industrial networks do not support IPv6. Many of the new IIoT gateways do, however.
6. Cellular Gateways by Speed
Wireless cellular networks operate via fixed-location transceivers, known as a cell site or base station. Individual cell sites provide coverage to a limited area, while networks of cell sites provide coverage to large geographical areas. Most people are aware of cellular networks due to their personal cellphone usage, but cellular networks are also widely used for remote monitoring and management of a variety of devices.
Most industrial cellular gateways currently operate at either 3G or 4G LTE. The term 4G means the fourth generation of data technology for cellular networks. The acronym LTE stands for Long Term Evolution and is short for a very technical process for high-speed data for phones and other mobile devices. The new LTE M technology is being designed specifically for internet communications.
7. Ethernet Gateways by Support of Industrial Network Protocols
Gateways that interface slave networks to an Ethernet backbone may support one of the available industrial Ethernet network protocols. A number of these protocols exist, but most devices that currently support an industrial network protocol are designed for use with either EtherNet/IP or PROFINET.
8. Industrial Gateways Form Factor
Form factor refers to the gateway’s size, shape, and physical footprint. Many industrial network edge devices are sold in either the DIN rail or the rack/panel mount form factor. Gateways embedded in end devices, such as fan-less industrial PCs or HMIs, are another option. In this latter category, only embedded gateways sold by suppliers that also sell standalone devices are included. Suppliers that market only embedded products are excluded from this research.
9. Industrial Gateways Hazardous Location Classification
Class I hazardous locations are those in which flammable gases or vapors may be present in the air in sufficient quantities to be explosive or ignitable. Class II locations contain combustible dust. Class III locations are areas where ignitable fibers or debris is present, due to the types of materials being handled, stored, or processed.
In addition to the types of hazardous locations, the National Electrical Code (NEC) also concerns itself with the kinds of conditions under which these hazards are present. The NEC has designated normal conditions as Division 1 and the abnormal Division 2. Class I, Class II, and Class III hazardous locations can be either Division 1 or Division 2.
10. Industrial Gateways Environmental Rating
Industrial environments may contain dusts and fluids. Devices may need to be protected to prevent ingress by these contaminates. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association’s (NEMA) environmental rating is used in the United States. Europe and other global regions use the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) environmental standards and “IP code.”
IP20 to IP40 ratings are similar to the NEMA 1 (ventilated) general-purpose specification. IP65 is similar to NEMA 4 for a dust-and-drip-tight specification. IP67 is similar to the NEMA 6 dust-tight and watertight specification. ARC uses the “Other” classification for a device that does not fit into one of the IEC classifications listed above.
