Modern industrial communication with ITH network gateways

Nowadays, everything must work quickly and preferably remotely. In industrial plants, on production lines or in distributed automation systems – efficient communication between devices is a must. Just how to control it all? This is where ITH comes in – a company that has been providing proven IT solutions for years. In our offer you will find network gateways, i.e. devices that can connect together machines and systems that “speak” different languages (communication protocols), allowing them to exchange data seamlessly.

In this article, we’ll introduce you to what network gateways from ITH are, where they can be used, and why you should bet on them – especially if you care about a stable connection, data security and holy peace of mind in your daily work.

Modem, router and network gateway – what are the differences?

It’s easy to get lost in the world of network technology – a plethora of terms, abbreviations and devices that seemingly mean the same thing. But if you’ve ever wondered what the difference between a modem and a router is, or what a gateway actually is, you’re in the right place. It’s about to become clear!

Modem – the simplest of the three

A modem is the kind of device that connects your equipment to the Internet or another operator’s network. It can be compared to a translator, which turns signals into a form that your devices and the operator’s network can understand.

Depending on the technology, a modem can change signals from digital to analog (as phones used to do) or transmit them directly over modern networks, such as fiber optics or over LTE and 5G. The modem itself doesn’t manage what’s going on in the network and doesn’t protect your devices – its main role is simply to create a connection between you and the Internet service provider.

Router – support for multiple connections

A router is a device that can not only connect to the Internet, but also distribute this connection to many devices at once. Laptop, phone, printer, TV – everyone gets their own place on the network. What’s more, the router does this on its own, without the need for help from a computer.

But that’s not all. Routers are usually equipped with quite sophisticated software. They can protect the network (firewalls, VPNs, traffic filtering), manage data transmission priorities, and some even analyze network traffic in real time. It can be said that a router is a high-tech modem ready to operate in a home, office or industrial hall.

Gateway – something in between?

A network gateway, or gateway, is such a “translator” or “bridge” between different computer networks. Sometimes different devices or systems speak a slightly different language and can’t get along directly. A gateway helps them understand each other and makes them able to work together.

It’s not just a simple data transmitter like a router – a gateway can convert information from one format to another to make everything work smoothly. In particular, it comes in handy where we have older machines and modern systems that need to work together. With a gateway, everything connects and works seamlessly, and data flows safely to where it needs to go.

ITH network gateways in demanding industrial environments

The devices are designed to operate in harsh environments – high humidity, electromagnetic interference or extreme temperatures. Thanks to their robust design and advanced security features, the network gateways ensure uninterrupted communication between machines, SCADA systems, PLCs and databases.

For example, in production automation, ITH gateways allow the integration of devices with different protocols, such as Modbus RTU with Ethernet/IP, providing seamless data flow and real-time control using the appropriate communication protocols. This allows each device to communicate in a secure and stable manner.

Network gateway – let’s look at it a little closer

In any computer network, devices need to communicate with each other. Hardware that is on the same local network communicates directly, but if any of them tries to connect to something outside the local network, it needs a network gateway (default gateway). This is a device that transfers data between different networks and allows information to be exchanged with devices outside the local structure. In practice, a network gateway operates on different network layers, and some gateways provide packet transfer between networks using different network protocols.

IP address of the default gateway – how does it work?

For everything to work properly, it is necessary to assign an IP address to the network gateway (each gateway must have a specific IP address). It is to this address that the computer directs data to go outside the local network.

When setting the IP address of the default gateway, most often the first available address from the pool of host addresses available on a given subnet is used. This address is not random – it is often closely related to the host address, which is the unique identifier of a particular device on a given network. Without the specified default gateway address, the computer will contact other networks and will only see devices on its own local network.

A gate is more than just a “passage”

In practice, the concept of a network gateway encompasses much more than a simple data transfer point. Depending on the application, a gateway can also:

• Convert data between different protocols (such as IPv4 and IPv6),

• Act as an intermediary server – for example, analyzing and filtering packets,

• Support additional security and routing functions.

This is especially important in more complex systems, such as industrial ones, where control, stability and data protection are needed in addition to a simple network connection.

And what does it look like with addresses?

A subnet mask is something like a filter that helps devices on a network understand whether the address they want to send data to is close by – that is, on the same local network – or somewhere further away, outside of it. This decision is based on the result of comparing the address mask of its own address and the destination IP address.

When you send something over the network, the device compares its address with the address where the package is to go, using just this mask. If both addresses are in the same “group” (that is, in the same subnet), the data goes straight to the recipient. However, if the address is outside this group, the data first goes to a special gateway, which takes care of further sending it to the right place outside the local network. Depending on the size of the network, the number of available addresses for devices can vary. One principle always remains the same: the default gateway must have its own IP address.

If you’re looking for a network gateway that will perform in harsh environments – for example, in industry, transportation or remote control systems, ITH offers reliable devices that are ready to work even in the most demanding places.

The network gateway ties everything together

It gives your local network access to the rest of the world – whether it’s the Internet or another corporate network. Without it, your devices will only work locally, with no way to “go outside.” That’s why it’s a good idea to set the IP address of the default gateway well, choose equipment that fits your needs, and take an informed approach to the entire network design.

And if you are looking for help in selecting the right equipment, contact us. ITH specialists will offer you solutions that make your daily work easier and give you confidence that everything works as it should.

Frequently asked questions about network gateways, or what you need to know!

What is a network gateway and what is it used for?

A network gateway is such a “door” from your network to the outside world, such as the Internet. Computers on your network can talk to each other without a problem, but if they want to send something further, they need this very gateway. Without it, they stay at home and don’t go outside.

How does an IP address work on a network?

An IP address is a unique number that identifies each device on your network. Part of that number tells you “where” your network is, and the other part tells you “who” the device on that network is. It’s a bit like an address: first the city, then the street and house number. Computers look at this address and decide whether to send a message straight to another device on the network, or through a gateway if the message should go somewhere further away.

What is the difference between a network gateway and a router?

They are often confused because they do similar things. But a gateway can be more specialized and, for example, translate data between different systems – like a translator between different languages. For example, between older and newer addressing (IPv4 and IPv6). This allows different networks to understand each other.

What does “default network gateway” mean and how to set it?

This is simply the IP address of the gateway to which all data that is to leave your local network goes. You need to enter it in your network settings so that your computer knows where to send “letters” that are not to your street neighbors, but to the Internet, for example.

How do devices talk to each other and to other networks?

On the local network, they chat directly, like neighbor to neighbor. But if they want to send something further away – then they reach out to a gateway that sends their messages to other places.

How do you go about configuring network interfaces?

When configuring network interfaces, among other things, IP addresses are set, with part of the address identifying the subnet on the local network side. This allows devices to communicate properly.

How do packet transfer gateways work?

A packet-carrying gateway transmits data between different networks, and dedicated network settings are often required to make it work properly.