An industrial gateway (or router) is a rugged device that manages traffic between networks or to the outside world; it connects and directs signals as a central point of network convergence. Gateways are able to dynamically learn newly added network devices as well as the fastest path to networked devices within its reach.
Industrial gateways direct packet traffic between factory networks and increasingly to the global internet, perform protocol translation between disparate networks, handle address acquisition and translation, queue and prioritize field mapping, and perform authentication and encryption functions. Industrial gateways are made for dirty, dusty environments where excessive temperatures, vibration, electromechanical interference, and continuous operation in remote locations are required. As a key part of an industrial network, industrial gateways must operate in a real-time, reliable and deterministic manner. Because of their centralized function, gateways have the potential to become a communication bottleneck and therefore should be installed in tandem with redundant gateways.