How to optimize network traffic management in industrial networks?

Industrial networks rarely carry just one type of traffic. Automation equipment exchanges operational data, cameras send video, and other IoT devices connect to cloud platforms or remote users. When all these applications share the same connection, high-volume traffic can disrupt time-sensitive operational traffic.

Network traffic management helps control how available network capacity is used. Depending on the situation, traffic can be prioritized, usage can be limited, or different groups of devices can be separated. The right approach depends on where traffic needs to be managed, such as at the network gateway, on the cellular/WAN link, or within the local Ethernet network.

When does industrial network traffic need to be managed?

Traffic management becomes important when different applications share the same network but have different requirements, especially when available capacity is limited.

For example, a remote industrial site may use the same connection for operational data, video surveillance, cloud services, and remote access. When available capacity becomes limited, different applications may compete for the same network resources.

The first step is to understand which traffic is causing the problem and where the competition occurs. From there, the right networking function can be chosen, whether the goal is to prioritize traffic, limit resource usage, manage a cellular connection, or control traffic within the Ethernet network.

When critical traffic needs priority

Not all industrial traffic is equally important. For example, communication between a PLC and a control system can be more critical to an operation than high-volume traffic such as video surveillance.

Quality of Service (QoS) helps manage this difference by classifying traffic and assigning different priorities. Selected hosts, ports, or protocols can be assigned different traffic priorities when network resources are constrained.

For example, Teltonika RUT200 supports QoS rules based on source or destination hosts, protocols, and ports. TRB236 also provides traffic-prioritization capabilities.

A RUT router can be considered when QoS is needed as part of a broader network-gateway setup, while a TRB gateway can be considered when cellular connectivity is central to the installation.

The practical benefit is better use of limited network capacity: traffic that matters most to the operation can be prioritized when competing applications put the connection under pressure.

Managing network traffic under heavy load

Prioritizing traffic is not always enough to maintain good network performance when a connection is heavily loaded. Smart Queue Management (SQM) combines several techniques, including per-packet and per-flow scheduling, Active Queue Management (AQM), traffic shaping, rate limiting, and traffic prioritization, to improve latency and manage traffic under load.

Teltonika RUT200 supports SQM configurations for managing traffic on selected network interfaces. TRB236 gateway also supports SQM configurations, available as an additional software package, for limiting download and upload speeds on selected network interfaces.

While QoS can classify and prioritize traffic based on configured criteria and can also be used for bandwidth limiting, SQM combines multiple traffic-management techniques to control how traffic is queued, scheduled, and transmitted under load. Its prioritization component operates on already marked traffic, while configurable QoS can classify and mark traffic based on defined criteria.

For industrial networks, SQM can help reduce latency and provide more predictable network performance during periods of high traffic.

When several applications share a cellular connection

Remote industrial sites often rely on cellular connectivity where fixed internet access is unavailable or impractical. A single 4G or 5G connection can serve operational equipment, cameras, cloud applications, and remote access at the same time.

When these applications share the same cellular link, the available network capacity becomes a shared resource. Managing that traffic can help limit high-volume traffic and reduce the risk of the cellular link becoming saturated.

Selected Teltonika cellular devices support QoS and SQM, making them suitable for installations that need to prioritize traffic or manage bandwidth over a cellular connection.

A TRB gateway can be considered when cellular connectivity is the primary requirement. A cellular-capable RUT router can be a better fit when the installation also needs a broader router and network-gateway role.

The choice therefore depends on how the cellular connection fits into the overall network architecture and which traffic-management functions are required.

When traffic needs to be managed inside the Ethernet network

Traffic-management requirements can also exist within the local Ethernet network. Cameras, controllers, computers, and other industrial devices may share the same switching infrastructure, so managing traffic closer to these devices can be useful.

A managed Ethernet switch can provide this type of control. Teltonika TSW202, for example, supports QoS as well as traffic-management functions such as rate limiting and storm control. This makes a managed TSW switch worth considering when the traffic-management requirement is within the LAN rather than primarily at the WAN or cellular connection.

Need help choosing the right device? The best traffic-management approach depends on your network architecture, connectivity, and application requirements. Contact Teltonika team for expert guidance on selecting the right devices and configuring your industrial network.

When different device groups need to be separated

Not every network problem is about bandwidth. In some industrial environments, different groups of devices need to operate on separate logical networks.

For example, automation equipment, surveillance cameras, and other systems can share the same physical infrastructure while remaining separated into logical segments. This allows different device groups to be organized without requiring separate physical networks.

Teltonika TSW202 supports tagged and untagged VLANs and allows ports to be assigned to specific segments. This makes it suitable for network designs where different groups of connected devices need to remain logically separated.

VLANs can also be used alongside QoS when both network segmentation and traffic prioritization are required. In this case, VLANs provide network segmentation, while QoS can be used to prioritize selected traffic.

When traffic needs to be managed at more than one point

Larger industrial networks may need traffic management at more than one point in the network. A remote installation could use architecture such as Cellular/WAN – RUT, TRB or TSW – Industrial devices.

In this architecture, RUT or TRB manages traffic associated with the WAN or cellular connection, while the TSW provides traffic-management and segmentation functions within the Ethernet network.

This means routers, gateways, and switches can complement each other when different parts of the network have different requirements. The appropriate combination depends on where traffic needs to be controlled, and which networking functions are required at each point.

How to choose the right approach?

Start with the network requirements rather than the product name.

Capabilities vary between individual models, so the selected device should support the specific connectivity and traffic-management functions required for the application.

Not sure which devices will work best for your industrial setup? Teltonika team can help you evaluate your network needs, identify potential connectivity challenges, and build a reliable traffic-management solution. Get in touch to find the right combination of devices for your application.