Allen-Bradley 1783-NATR: Stratix NAT Router

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

Allen-Bradley 1783 Series Technical Notes

The Allen-Bradley 1783 Series, marketed under the Stratix and ArmorStratix product lines by Rockwell Automation, represents the industrial Ethernet switching and routing infrastructure deployed across heavy-process industries globally. Installations span petrochemical refineries, nuclear power generation facilities, offshore oil platforms, pulp and paper mills, and large-scale water treatment plants. The 1783 Series is the de facto standard for EtherNet/IP-based control network segmentation in Rockwell-centric automation architectures, providing managed switching, NAT routing, wireless access, and ring redundancy within a single product family. The 1783-NATR specifically addresses the need for IP address translation between control-layer subnets and enterprise or DMZ networks, enabling machine-level isolation without full network redesign.

The Evolution of 1783 Architecture

The 1783 Series was introduced as Rockwell Automation's response to the convergence of IT and OT networks in industrial environments. Early deployments centered on unmanaged and lightly managed switches (1783-US series) that provided basic Layer 2 connectivity for DeviceNet and early EtherNet/IP topologies. As plant networks grew in complexity through the 2000s and 2010s, Rockwell introduced the Stratix 5700 (1783-BMS) family — a Cisco IOS-based managed switch platform co-developed with Cisco Systems — enabling VLAN segmentation, IGMP snooping for multicast control traffic, and Spanning Tree Protocol for loop prevention.

The introduction of the 1783-NATR NAT Router addressed a specific architectural gap: the need to connect duplicate IP address spaces (common in modular machine designs) to plant-level networks without IP conflicts. This is critical in industries where identical machine cells are replicated across a production floor, each running the same PLC program with the same IP scheme. The 1783-NATR translates between the machine-local subnet and the plant network, preserving address isolation.

Subsequent generations introduced DIN-rail form factors, extended temperature ratings for harsh environments (ArmorStratix), fiber uplink options, and integration with Rockwell's FactoryTalk Network Manager for centralized configuration and monitoring. The series is now in a mature lifecycle phase; Rockwell continues to support existing installations but directs new designs toward the Stratix 5200 and Stratix 5400 platforms for advanced routing and SD-WAN capabilities.

1783 Series Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

NAT Routers

• 1783-NATR: 4-port NAT router for EtherNet/IP subnet isolation and IP address translation between machine and plant networks.
• 1783-NATR6: 6-port variant of the NATR with expanded LAN-side port count for larger machine cell topologies.

Managed Switches — Stratix 5700 (1783-BMS)

• 1783-BMS06SA: 6-port managed switch, 4x copper + 2x SFP fiber, standard temperature, DIN-rail mount.
• 1783-BMS10CA: 10-port managed switch, 8x copper + 2x combo SFP, Cisco IOS, EtherNet/IP diagnostics.
• 1783-BMS10CGA: 10-port managed switch with gigabit copper uplinks, enhanced throughput for high-bandwidth I/O.
• 1783-BMS20CA: 20-port managed switch, 16x copper + 4x SFP, suitable for large panel or control room distribution.
• 1783-BMS20CGA: 20-port gigabit managed switch, high-density Layer 2 switching for process skid integration.
• 1783-BMS06SGA: 6-port gigabit managed switch with SFP fiber uplinks, compact form for space-constrained enclosures.

ArmorStratix — Hardened / Extended Temperature Switches

• 1783-ZMS12T8E2CGR: ArmorStratix 5700, 12-port, IP67-rated, extended temp (-40°C to +70°C), for outdoor or wash-down environments.
• 1783-ZMS12T8E2CGS: ArmorStratix 5700 variant with SFP fiber ports, ring topology support for harsh-area ring redundancy.

Unmanaged Switches — Stratix 2000 (1783-US)

• 1783-US05T: 5-port unmanaged switch, plug-and-play, no configuration required, for simple device-level connectivity.
• 1783-US08T: 8-port unmanaged switch, DIN-rail, 10/100 Mbps, standard temperature.
• 1783-US16T: 16-port unmanaged switch for high-density device connections at the field level.

Wireless Access Points — Stratix 5100 (1783-WAPAK9)

• 1783-WAPAK9: 802.11a/b/g/n wireless access point, dual-band, for mobile HMI and wireless I/O adapter connectivity.
• 1783-WAPBK9: Wireless access point with enhanced antenna options for extended coverage in large plant floors.

Media Converters

• 1783-ETAP: EtherNet/IP tap module for passive network monitoring and port mirroring without traffic interruption.

Sourcing Hard-to-Find & Obsolete 1783 Series Parts

DriveKNMS maintains a dedicated inventory of tested surplus and refurbished 1783 Series modules to support lifecycle extension programs. Our sourcing network covers original-manufacture surplus, decommissioned plant equipment, and factory-reconditioned units. For facilities under long-term service agreements or operating in regulated industries where control system changes require revalidation, sourcing a like-for-like replacement is often the lowest-risk and lowest-cost option compared to a platform migration.

Quality Control for the 1783 Series Range

All 1783 Series units processed by DriveKNMS undergo a structured inspection and functional test protocol prior to dispatch. For managed switches (1783-BMS and ArmorStratix families), testing includes: power-on self-test verification, port-by-port link negotiation at 10/100/1000 Mbps, SFP transceiver compatibility check, VLAN configuration write/read cycle, and Cisco IOS firmware version verification against Rockwell's published compatibility matrix.