# Networking hardware for PLC networks **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [March 18, 2022, 12:36am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/networking-hardware-for-plc-networks/57345 "2022-03-18T00:36:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![josborn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@josborn](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/josborn)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 12:36am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/networking-hardware-for-plc-networks/57345/1 "2022-03-18T00:36:53Z")
I have a facility with some very old Cisco din rail mounted switches and OM1 fiber infrastructure that i am looking to upgrade. The switches are most located inside the PLC panels in electrical rooms, a pretty clean environment. The switches would need have up to 12 ports, does anyone have switch like this they have used or would recommend? I had IT spec what they would use, which is a cisco IE-3300-8P2S-E, which does look like a great piece of equipment, but they are pricy at $6,800 a piece and that’s with a discount. ---
**Author:** ![Kevin.Herron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kevin.herron/32/7259_2.png) [@Kevin.Herron](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Kevin.Herron)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 1:10am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/networking-hardware-for-plc-networks/57345/2 "2022-03-18T01:10:21Z")
There was a thread a while back where people seemed pretty pleased with MikroTik switches: [Can anyone recommend a 48 port rack-mountable NAT Switch/Router? - #9 by pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/can-anyone-recommend-a-48-port-rack-mountable-nat-switch-router/32683/9) Not sure if they have what you need exactly, but it could be a starting point. ---
**Author:** ![josborn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@josborn](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/josborn)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2022, 1:23am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/networking-hardware-for-plc-networks/57345/3 "2022-03-18T01:23:15Z")
Thanks @Kevin.Herron their products look promising. I am sure my 100% cisco shop IT would hate it, but they also quoted me over 100k for 9 switches, just hardware. ---
**Author:** ![SKA](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/ska/32/29528_2.png) [@SKA](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/SKA)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 7:45am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/networking-hardware-for-plc-networks/57345/4 "2022-03-21T07:45:46Z")
If you dont NEED/WANT brand new, maybe a refurbed one will work? > **[Switches | Cisco, HP, Dell, EMC | Cheap Networking](https://www.bargainhardware.co.uk/networking-storage/networking/switches)** > > Cisco, HP, IBM and Dell Switches, Routers and Thin Clients available from Bargain Hardware. Professionally refurbished and available for fast shipping. As an example: £180 for Dell PowerEdge M1000e Mellanox M4001 - 16-QSFP+ 56Gbps Infiniband Switch ---
**Author:** ![jonathan.taylor](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/jonathan.taylor/32/4048_2.png) [@jonathan.taylor](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/jonathan.taylor)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 9:38am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/networking-hardware-for-plc-networks/57345/5 "2022-03-21T09:38:25Z")
We have a lot of joy with Moxa switches ---
**Author:** ![peter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/278dde/32.png) [@peter](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/peter)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 1:38pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/networking-hardware-for-plc-networks/57345/6 "2022-03-21T13:38:31Z")
I’ll just leave this here for information only, as I am sure no one would ever expose their switches directly to the internet. 🙄 [Trickbot is using MikroTik routers to ply its trade. Now we know why](https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2022/03/trickbot-is-using-mikrotik-routers-to-ply-its-trade-now-we-know-why/) ---
**Author:** ![josborn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@josborn](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/josborn)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2022, 11:58pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/networking-hardware-for-plc-networks/57345/7 "2022-03-21T23:58:19Z")
@SKA Thanks, that’s not a bad idea. I would preferer new preferably with support. I have a decent budget though paying nearly 1k a port just feels wrong @jonathan.taylor Thanks, those look like exactly what I need! ---
**Author:** ![ryanjmclaughlin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/ryanjmclaughlin/32/4318_2.png) [@ryanjmclaughlin](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/ryanjmclaughlin)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 1:16am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/networking-hardware-for-plc-networks/57345/8 "2022-03-22T01:16:43Z")
Ubiquiti stuff is pretty good up to the mid-size networks and you can’t beat the prices. > **[Ubiquiti | UniFi | Fully managed high-performance switching](https://www.ui.com/switching)** > > Industry-leading user experience and value. ---
**Author:** ![bmusson](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/bmusson/32/87530_2.png) [@bmusson](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/bmusson)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 1:22am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/networking-hardware-for-plc-networks/57345/9 "2022-03-22T01:22:28Z")
> [@josborn](#): > > din rail mounted For panel mount switches we usually use Allen-Bradley's Stratix line, usually the [5700 series](https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/hardware/allen-bradley/network-security-and-infrastructure/ethernet-networks/stratix-5700-industrial.html) (they're just rebranded Cisco switches with dumbed-down firmware and AOPs), or [Hischmann switches](https://hirschmann.com/en/Hirschmann_Produkte/Industrial_Ethernet/index.phtml). ---
**Author:** ![josborn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@josborn](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/josborn)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 1:26am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/networking-hardware-for-plc-networks/57345/10 "2022-03-22T01:26:44Z")
@ryanjmclaughlin Thanks! I did consider ubiquity, but I couldn’t find all of the features that I would like to have. I didn’t include any of this in the OP, thought too much detail would scare people off, I would like stuff like hardwired power input, at least 2 SFP ports, redundant power, contact output. @bmusson both of those look solid, i will dig in. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![lrose](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/lrose/32/62724_2.png) [@lrose](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/lrose)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2022, 2:29pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/networking-hardware-for-plc-networks/57345/11 "2022-03-22T14:29:13Z")
> [@bmusson](#): > > Allen-Bradley’s Stratix line, usually the [5700 series](https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/hardware/allen-bradley/network-security-and-infrastructure/ethernet-networks/stratix-5700-industrial.html) +1 for these Our IT is 100% Cisco as well, and these appease them as they can use their same tools to manage them if need be. They also work well with our 100% AB PLC hardware. I _might_ be a little biased.