Description
Key Technical Specifications
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Model Number: A6110
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Manufacturer: Emerson Automation Solutions
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Port Configuration: Configurable 8x 10/100/1000BASE-T (PoE+) + 2x 1GBASE-X (SFP) uplink ports
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PoE Support: PoE+ (IEEE 802.3af/at), 30W per port, 95W total power budget (single internal power rail)
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Switching Capacity: 20 Gbps
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Forwarding Rate: 14.8 Mpps
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Redundancy Protocols: MRP (Media Redundancy Protocol), STP/RSTP
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Operating Temperature: -40°C to 75°C (-40°F to 167°F)
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Power Supply: Dual redundant 24V DC / 48V DC inputs
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Protection Rating: IP30 (rack-mount), IP65 (with optional rugged enclosure)
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Management: Web GUI, CLI, SNMP v3, Emerson AMS Device Manager, NetFlow v5
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EMC Compliance: IEC 61000-4-2 (ESD ±15kV), IEC 61000-4-4 (EFT ±2kV), IEC 61000-4-5 (Surge ±2kV)
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Mounting: 0.5U rack-mount, DIN-rail compatible (native, low-profile)
EMERSON A6110
Field Application & Problem Solved
Small industrial nodes and remote control points face a dual challenge: limited space for network gear and tight budgets, but still requiring industrial-grade reliability. I was called to a North Dakota oil well site in 2024 where they’d installed a consumer 8-port switch in a wellhead cabinet— it failed after 3 weeks of -30°C nights, halting production. The A6110 solves this: its 0.5U low-profile design fits in even 8-inch-wide cabinets, 95W PoE budget powers essential devices, and industrial ruggedization handles extreme temperatures. Unlike overpriced 16-port switches, it’s sized exactly for small nodes (4-8 devices), avoiding unnecessary cost while delivering the reliability of Emerson’s A6000 series.
You’ll find this switch in ultra-compact industrial environments: remote oil/gas wellheads, small food processing lines, power plant auxiliary nodes (pump control panels), and mining equipment control boxes. At a Wyoming solar farm, we installed 12 A6110s (one per inverter cluster) to connect 6 sensors and 1 edge controller per switch—each fit alongside the inverter’s local HMI in a weatherproof cabinet. During a spring hailstorm, the IP65-rated optional enclosure protected the switch, and dual power inputs kept it running when one solar-powered feed dipped. The PoE+ ports powered the edge controllers directly, eliminating the need for bulky external power supplies and cutting installation costs by 40% compared to using non-PoE industrial switches.
Its core value is “right-sized reliability.” Small nodes don’t need 24 ports or 370W PoE— they need a switch that’s compact, affordable, and tough enough to run unattended. The A6110’s 8 ports hit this sweet spot, supporting 4x 30W cameras or 8x 15W sensors. The 0.5U form factor is a game-changer for crowded cabinets; two A6110s fit in the space of one A6210. For field technicians, its simplified web GUI (with “Quick Setup” presets for common node types) means configuring MRP redundancy or VLANs takes 5 minutes, no advanced IT skills needed. It’s the entry point to Emerson’s industrial network ecosystem— affordable for small deployments, but compatible with A6220/A6740 core switches for seamless scaling.
Installation & Maintenance Pitfalls (Expert Tips)
PoE+ Budget: Strictly Limit High-Power Device Count
Rookies overestimate the A6110’s 95W PoE budget, plugging 4x 30W devices in— this exceeds the limit and shuts down all PoE ports. A New Mexico water treatment plant made this mistake, taking down 3 pressure sensors when adding a PTZ camera. The A6110’s single power rail means all 8 ports share 95W— calculate loads carefully: max 3x 30W devices (90W) with 1x 5W sensor, or 8x 10W sensors. Use the web GUI’s “PoE Budget Alert” to set a 80% threshold (76W) — the switch will warn you before hitting critical levels. For devices that don’t need PoE (like local HMIs), use non-PoE ports or external power to free up budget. A handy rule: if a device uses over 20W, consider external power— the A6110 is built for mid-power, not high-power loads.
MRP Configuration: Set Correct Ring Port Roles
The A6110’s MRP supports small rings (up to 10 switches, vs. 30 on A6220), but misconfiguring ring size causes instability. A Colorado gas field had 11 A6110s in one ring, leading to 2-second failover delays. Keep A6110 rings under 10 switches; for larger networks, use an A6220 as the manager. Assign the two SFP ports as ring ports (not the PoE ports) — this separates redundancy traffic from device traffic, reducing latency. Set recovery time to 100ms (the A6110’s optimal) — faster times cause unnecessary flapping. Test by unplugging a ring cable: the “MRP Status” LED should turn red for 100ms, then green. If it stays red, check the SFP module compatibility— the A6110 works best with Emerson’s A6SFP-1G-SR (short-reach) or A6SFP-1G-LR (long-reach) transceivers.
DIN-Rail Mounting: Secure for Vibration-Prone Areas
The A6110’s DIN-rail clips are low-profile (to fit its 0.5U design) but require proper tension to avoid slipping. A Texas pump station used hand tools to tighten the clips, leading to loose switches during vibration. Use the A6110’s included torque wrench (P/N A6TOOL-TORQUE-0.5) to tighten clips to 0.4 N·m— this is lower than the A6220’s 0.7 N·m, so over-tightening cracks the chassis. For high-vibration areas (e.g., reciprocating compressors), use the low-profile lock clip (A6CLIP-LOCK-LP) — it’s shorter than the A6220’s bracket, fitting the A6110’s height. Post-installation, perform a “shake test”: gently wiggle the switch— it should have less than 1mm of movement. Loose mounting is the #1 cause of intermittent SFP link faults in remote nodes.
EMERSON A6110
Technical Deep Dive & Overview
The A6110 is the entry-level model in Emerson’s A6000 series, built for small industrial nodes and remote control points. It uses a single-core ARM Cortex-A8 processor paired with a 20 Gbps ASIC— enough for 8x 1Gbps PoE+ connections and 2x 1Gbps SFP uplinks with sub-100µs latency. As a Layer 2 switch, it focuses on core industrial needs (VLANs, PoE, redundancy) without unnecessary Layer 3 features, keeping configuration simple and cost low. The processor prioritizes control traffic (via 802.1p) over non-essential data, ensuring sensor readings and pump commands never get delayed by camera footage.
Ruggedization is true to Emerson’s industrial standard, with a conformal-coated circuit board (meeting IEC 60068-2-64 for dust resistance) and -40°C to 75°C operating range. The fanless design eliminates dust intake, critical for mining or grain processing environments. Dual 24V/48V DC inputs provide power redundancy— a must for remote nodes where a single power failure means lost production. A key feature for small sites is the “Power Save” mode, which reduces idle power consumption by 30%— ideal for solar-powered wellheads. The switch also includes basic surge protection (±1kV on PoE ports), shielding against transient voltage from nearby motors.
Its 8 PoE+ ports and 95W budget are perfectly sized for small nodes— a single A6110 replaces a consumer switch plus a 4-port PoE injector, reducing cabinet clutter. The 30W per port supports common industrial devices: PTZ cameras, wireless gateways, and small edge sensors. For connectivity, the 2 SFP ports let it link back to core switches via fiber (up to 10km with LR modules), avoiding copper cable limitations in remote sites. Security features include MAC address filtering and 802.1X authentication— enough to block unauthorized access without the complexity of enterprise-grade firewalls.
Ecosystem integration is a big advantage over generic small switches: it’s fully compatible with AMS Device Manager, so teams can monitor switch health (port status, PoE usage) alongside DeltaV controllers and transmitters. Firmware updates are remote and non-disruptive, eliminating costly site visits to remote wellheads. The web GUI uses the same industrial terminology as higher A6000 models, so technicians trained on A6220s can configure A6110s without extra training. For plants scaling from small nodes to larger networks, it’s a seamless addition— same management, same reliability, just right-sized. The A6110 proves you don’t need to overspend for industrial-grade performance; sometimes, the best switch is the one that fits exactly what you need.
