[LUNI] [OT] Ethernet wiring for industrial/factory environment

[mark at msbrepairs.com]

Some questions worth asking the factory workers:

1.Have they experienced problems since it was all installed, or has the problem
developed over time ?  

2.Are the people complaining located on the last (or longest distanced) switch.

3.Does anyone on the other 3 switches experience the same thing.

If you can narrow it down to only one switch, you can really simplify the job.
Also, if the problem is on more than one switch, then you might find a common
denominator, such as a single uplink or a switch closer the the server.

My first temptation was to say the cheapest option would be run new shielded
cables from one single switch in the most central location possible. However,
that could end up being overkill if you can get to the source of the problem by
deduction.

If you find it is emi from the machines, being picked up on the cables locally,
then you could just drop each cable run inside a steel conduit as it passes the
machine (don't forget to ground the conduit) Terminate the conduit with an rj45
outlet and then have a nice shielded patch cable to the computer.

Maybe consider connecting a laptop to the end point and test signal loss.

You are right to suspect the terminations.  If they are that bad, then they
could be disconnecting intermittently.




Hope this helps in some way.