Siemens SIMATIC NET System Manual page 77

Figure 2-3
● The use of a switch optimizes data throughput in the network. Messages are transferred
only on the star segments between sender and recipient and the segments of the other
nodes remain unaffected by them. If a node fails, the communication between the other
network nodes remains intact.
● Compared with ring or linear bus structures, however, the investment in cabling increases
considerably due to the long distances back to the star center.
The number and technology of the connections to the end nodes (electrical/optical) depends
on the number of relevant ports on the switch: In the example of the displayed topology, the
SCALANCE X005 can support five 10/100 Mbps cables with RJ45 connectors and no fiber-
optic connections.
Typical use cases for star networks are control cabinets, individual machines or
manufacturing cells.
Industrial Ethernet
System Manual, 09/2019, C79000-G8976-C242-10
Star structure with SCALANCE X005
Network structures and network configuration
2.2 Network structures
77