In today’s rapidly developing Industry 4.0 era, efficient and stable network connectivity is crucial for the intelligent operation of factories. As a network engineer, I recently completed a factory network renovation project using the SR600 4G industrial router. This project not only greatly improved the factory’s network performance but also laid the foundation for future 5G upgrades. Let me share with you the specific implementation process and insights from this project.Introduction to SR600First, let’s understand the SR600 device.

SR600 Industrial Router

The SR600 is a powerful 4G industrial router with the following features:

1. Supports 4G LTE Cat4 high-speed network, with a maximum downlink rate of 150Mbps
2. Provides four Ethernet ports for easy connection of multiple devices
3. Optional Wi-Fi functionality, supporting 2.4G 802.11b/g/n
4. Supports multiple VPN protocols, including PPTP, L2TP, IPSec, OpenVPN, etc.
5. Adopts an all-metal chassis design, with an operating temperature range of -35°C to +75°C, suitable for various harsh environments
6. Supports Linux OpenWrt system, facilitating secondary development

The SR600 is a powerful 4G industrial router with the following features

Project BackgroundOur client is a large automotive parts manufacturer with a factory covering about 100,000 square meters, with multiple production lines and hundreds of devices requiring network connectivity. The existing network system mainly relied on wired connections, presenting issues such as incomplete coverage, difficult expansion, and high maintenance costs.

The client hoped to solve these problems by introducing a wireless network and prepare for future 5G upgrades.Networking SolutionConsidering the actual situation of the factory and the performance characteristics of the SR600, I designed the following networking solution:

1. Deploy 50 SR600 routers to cover the entire factory area
2. Utilize the four Ethernet ports of the SR600 to directly connect critical devices in each production area to the router
3. Enable the Wi-Fi function of the SR600 to provide wireless access for mobile devices and non-critical equipment
4. Use the VPN function of the SR600 to establish secure connections with headquarters
5. Implement centralized management and monitoring through the STAR DEVICE MANAGER platform

networking solution

Specific Implementation Steps

1. Network Planning First, we conducted a detailed on-site survey and drew the factory’s network topology diagram. Based on the distribution of equipment and network requirements, we determined the installation location for each SR600. We divided the entire network into several subnets, such as production area, storage area, office area, etc., and assigned IP address ranges for each subnet.
2. Hardware Installation When installing the SR600, we paid special attention to the following points:

• Choose locations with good signal for installation, usually high on walls or pillars
• Correctly connect the 4G antennas, ensuring they are vertically upright
• Use industrial-grade power adapters and configure UPS to ensure stable power supply
• For areas with special requirements (such as high temperature or dusty environments), we added extra protection measures for the SR600

1. Basic Configuration After logging into the SR600 through the Web interface (default IP 192.168.1.1), we performed the following configurations:

• Set the WAN port connection method to 4G and configure the correct APN parameters
• Configure LAN port IP address and enable DHCP service
• Enable Wi-Fi function, set SSID and encryption method (using WPA2-PSK)
• Change the default login password to enhance security

1. Advanced Network Configuration To meet the network requirements of different areas, we performed a series of advanced configurations:

• Set up VLANs to isolate different types of devices
• Configure QoS policies to guarantee bandwidth for critical services
• Enable SNMP for subsequent centralized management
• Configure IPSec VPN to establish secure channels with headquarters

1. Security Configuration Considering the importance of industrial network security, we implemented multiple security measures:

• Configure firewall rules to strictly control inbound and outbound traffic
• Set up access control lists (ACLs) to restrict unauthorized access
• Enable intrusion detection features to timely discover potential threats
• Regularly update firmware to fix known security vulnerabilities

1. Testing and Optimization After completing the configuration, we conducted comprehensive testing:

• Test the stability and speed of 4G network connections
• Check Wi-Fi coverage and adjust antenna positions for optimal effect
• Verify the reliability and performance of VPN connections
• Test the isolation effect between different VLANs
• Simulate various fault scenarios to verify the system’s fault tolerance

1. Monitoring and Maintenance To ensure long-term stable operation of the network, we established a comprehensive monitoring and maintenance mechanism:

• Deploy the STAR DEVICE MANAGER platform to achieve centralized monitoring and management
• Configure SNMP Traps and set alarm thresholds for key indicators
• Establish a log server to centrally collect and analyze logs from various devices
• Develop regular maintenance plans, including firmware updates, performance optimization, etc.

Project ResultsAfter a month of intense implementation, we successfully completed the network renovation of the entire factory. The new network system brought significant improvements:

1. Network coverage increased from 80% to 100%
2. Average network speed improved by 200%, from 10Mbps to 30Mbps
3. Network failure rate decreased by 80%
4. Time for new device access reduced from an average of 2 days to 2 hours
5. Network maintenance costs reduced by 50%

The client was very satisfied with the project results, especially praising the stability and ease of management of the SR600.