This article will compare two of the top industrial switches by Cisco, IE-4010 vs. IE-5000. While the two products share most of the advanced features, IE-4010 is a better choice for smaller (among industrial) networks, whereas IE-5000 is ideal for more critical applications.
Cisco's contributions to the IT industry have been significant. As a leading networking solutions provider, Cisco products have a wide range of switches tailored to different customer needs. Their switches are known for their reliability, performance, and advanced features.
Why Industrial Switches?
Industries operating in demanding environments have faced limitations with traditional enterprise-grade and business network switches. These switches couldn't meet the rigorous demands of critical infrastructure services, mainly due to the harsh climate and constantly changing weather conditions.
Industries require a robust and dependable solution to ensure long-term reliability and support business continuity.
Recognizing these challenges, Cisco conducted extensive research and analysis to develop the Cisco Industrial Ethernet Switches, specifically designed to cater to the unique requirements of various industries.
These switches effectively address concerns surrounding reliability, security, flexibility, and scalability within the industrial sector.
Cisco Industrial Switches are ideal because they are compatible with the latest IoT and OT demands. They prioritize data flow, network security, and performance metrics for industries and withstand extreme environments.
Head-to-Head Comparison: IE-4010 vs. IE-5000
The Cisco IE-4010 and IE-5000 industrial ethernet switches are both designed for industrial environments and deliver advanced security. However, they have some differences in terms of port density and features.
The IE-4010 offers up to 28 Gigabit Ethernet network ports and 4 1/10 Gigabit Ethernet uplink ports. In comparison, the IE-5000 provides higher port density (up to 28 Gigabit Ethernet network ports and 4 X 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplink ports).
The IE-5000 also has a modular design, allowing for easy expansion and customization.
Regarding security, both switches offer:
· SSH
· SSL
· ACLs
However, IE-5000 additionally supports MACsec encryption and Cisco TrustSec for enhanced security.
These switches are ideal for outdoor use in industrial settings, where network expansion and scalability are difficult.
Cisco IE-4010
The Cisco IE-4010 switches stand out as a robust and adaptable solution in the industrial networking space.
The Cisco IE-4010 is a powerful switch designed for industrial environments. Therefore, it offers cutting-edge features and can help industries address the challenges they face. Extreme temperatures, stress, vibration, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) are all things that the Cisco IE 4010 is designed to withstand.
The switch can address the needs of industrial applications by offering high-performance, non-blocking switching capacity.
The Cisco IE-4010 supports PoE and PoE+. Therefore, it can also power IP cameras, wireless access points, and other PoE-capable devices. It includes robust security measures to guard against threats and unauthorized access.
Its remote security features include:
· Access Control Lists (ACLs)
· Port security
· DHCP snooping
· IP source guard
· Secure Shell (SSH) protocol
Cisco IE-5000
Another resilient, high-performance Cisco Industrial Ethernet switch is the IE-5000.
IE-5000 is designed to resist challenging industrial applications and withstand the harshest industrial environments. It can function efficiently in high temperatures, humidity, and vibration and features a ruggedized metal case.
Additionally, it offers a fanless construction for quiet operation and improved dependability. It supports Power over Ethernet (PoE). Therefore, it can power connected devices like IP cameras, wireless access points, and other devices that use PoE.
Industrial networks must prioritize security. The Cisco IE 5000 provides cutting-edge security features to guard against attacks and illegal access.
Its secure remote management features include:
· Access Control Lists (ACLs)
· Port security
· DHCP snooping
· IP source guard
· Secure Shell (SSH) protocol
Additional connectivity choices are made possible by the modular expansion slots provided by the Cisco IE 5000. Additional Ethernet ports and fiber modules can all fit in these spaces.
Pros:
1. Operational Insights
2. Cyber threat detection
3. Cisco DNA Integrated
4. Scale and automate using Cisco DNA Analytics
5. Upto 10G speed supported
6. Backplane stacking
7. Support for industrial protocols and certifications
8. Powerful & Compact Design
9. PoE & PoE+
10. Advanced Security
11. Industrial protocol support
12. Redundancy & Resilience
13. Scalable
14. Rugged design
15. Layer 3 routing support
16. Modular expansion
17. Operates in -40°C to +75°C temperature.
18. Five-year limited hardware warranty
19. License subscription: Available in DNA Essentials & DNA Advantage
Cons:
1. Expensive
2. Not ideal for the regular enterprise environment
Detailed Technical Specifications (IE-4010 vs. IE-5000)
|
Feature
|
Cisco IE-4010
|
Cisco IE-5000
|
|
Ethernet Ports
|
Up to 28 Gigabit
|
Up to 28 Gigabit
|
|
PoE/PoE+ Support
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Industrial Protocols
|
Supported
|
Supported
|
|
Throughput
|
Up to 48 Gbps
|
Up to 176 Gbps
|
|
Expansion Slots
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Layer 3 Routing
|
Basic Layer 3 routing capabilities
|
Advanced Layer 3 routing capabilities
|
|
Management Interfaces
|
Web-based GUI, CLI, SNMP
|
Web-based GUI, CLI, SNMP
|
|
Redundant Power Supplies
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Hot-swappable Modules
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Advanced Security Features
|
ACLs, 802.1X, IP Source Guard, and more
|
ACLs, 802.1X, MAC address filtering, and more
|
|
Environmental Resilience
|
Ruggedized design
|
Ruggedized design
|
|
Stacking Capability
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Traffic Monitoring and Analysis
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
No. of VLANs
|
1000
|
1005
|
|
Virtualization
|
VRF-Lite
|
VRF-Lite
|
|
QoS
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Temperature Range
|
-40°C to +75°C
|
-40°C to +75°C
|
|
RAM
|
1GB DRAM
|
1GB DRAM
|
|
Mac Address
|
16000
|
16000
|
|
Layer 2 Security
|
Port-Security, DHCP snooping, DAI, IPSG, SCP, SSH, SNMPv3, TACACS+, RADIUS server/client, MAC address notification, BPDU guard
|
Port-Security, DHCP snooping, DAI, IPSG, SCP, SSH, SNMPv3, TACACS+, RADIUS server/client, MAC address notification, BPDU guard
|
|
High Availability
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
STP
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Battle of the Best
Several industrial ethernet switches are available that promote their capacity to function properly under challenging circumstances and meet the demands of particular industries.
However, Cisco products stand out as the best choice. Cisco has spent significant research and development efforts. So, the products have a dedicated design approach and robust hardware construction.
The industrial network's needs and requirements will determine whether to purchase the Cisco IE-5000 or IE4010.
Below are some factors to consider.
1. Scalability & Performance
The Cisco IE 5000 and 4010 both have high-performance switching capabilities.
The IE 4010 offers dependable performance for effectively managing network traffic and is suitable for small to medium-sized industrial applications.
However, the IE 5000 is a better choice to fulfill the needs of mission-critical applications. It is designed for larger-scale industrial settings and provides increased switching capacity. It has modular expansion slots for scalability, enabling future growth and customization.
2. Security
The IE 4010 and IE 5000 both place a high priority on reliable security features. Security is a crucial aspect of industrial networks.
As mentioned earlier, they both provide advanced features to prevent unauthorized access and defend against potential dangers.
Both switches offer a secure infrastructure to transmit critical data and industrial applications.
3. Cisco Resilient Ethernet Protocol
To allow smooth integration of industrial IoT applications and devices, both IE 4010 and IE 5000 support industrial protocols.
These protocols improve the switches' integration potential by enabling connectivity with industrial equipment, sensors, and automation systems.
4. Resilience Against Extreme Temperatures & Vibration
Both switches are designed to survive challenging industrial conditions and provide environmental resilience. They are built to function under high humidity, temperature, and vibration conditions.
These switches are more durable and reliable in demanding industrial environments thanks to their fanless design and ruggedized construction. They are designed to function continuously and sustain network connectivity under challenging circumstances.
Conclusion: Making the Best Choice for Your Industrial Needs
Cisco has contributed substantially to switching technology, helping shape the sector with its cutting-edge features, dependability, and security capabilities.
IE switches have toughened structures and environmental resilience and are made to withstand demanding industrial settings.
The decision between the IE 4010 and IE 5000 ultimately comes down to the requirements of the industrial network.
The IE 5000 excels in larger-scale networks where scalability, advanced capabilities, and high performance are crucial considerations. On the other hand, the IE 4010 is an excellent option for smaller networks that value cost-effectiveness and compact design.
Additionally, it offers a fanless construction for quiet operation and improved dependability. 
