Plant Networking and Managed Switch Basics

Class Details

Through this class students will learn about many networking technologies and how to solve common network challenges we experience in plants.

This class incorporates Allen-Bradley PLCs as control system devices.


Learn about the practical use of:

  • IP addresses
  • Subnet masks
  • Gateway addresses
  • DNS servers
  • Routers
  • IGMP snooping
  • Unmanaged switches
  • Managed switches
  • Network topologies
  • Networking strategy using best practices
  • Node limits
  • Fiber optic connections
  • Optimizing network traffic
  • Plant versus control networks and separating the two
  • Setting up IP control network for Ethernet


Then test yourself with common network challenges including:


  • Setting up a basic copper network with unmanaged switches
  • Setting up and configuring a managed switch network
  • Finding unknown equipment IP addresses on a network
  • Troubleshooting unknown issues on a plant network using software and hardware tools