Siemens SCALANCE X Series Modules: 6GK1105-2AE00

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

Siemens SCALANCE X Series Technical Notes

The Siemens SCALANCE X series represents the industrial Ethernet switching infrastructure deployed across the most demanding process environments globally — including petrochemical refineries, nuclear power generation facilities, offshore platforms, and large-scale chemical plants. Engineered to IEC 61850 and PROFINET IO standards, SCALANCE X switches provide deterministic Layer 2 communication with redundancy protocols (MRP, RSTP, HRP) that are mandatory in safety-instrumented and continuous-process environments. The series spans unmanaged, managed, and fiber-optic variants, covering copper RJ45, multimode fiber (MM), and single-mode fiber (SM) interfaces. Installed base across global heavy industry exceeds several hundred thousand units, making SCALANCE X one of the most widely referenced Siemens networking components in DCS and PLC spare parts procurement.

The Evolution of SCALANCE X Architecture

The SCALANCE X product line was introduced by Siemens in the early 2000s as a purpose-built industrial Ethernet switch family to replace generic commercial switches in factory automation and process control networks. The first generation (X-100 and X-200 series) established the form factor and DIN-rail mounting standard that persists today. The X-100 series (e.g., X108, X116) provided unmanaged 10/100 Mbps copper switching for basic machine-level networks. The X-200 series introduced managed switching with SNMP, PROFINET IO integration, and ring redundancy via MRP (Media Redundancy Protocol).

The X-300 and X-400 series followed, adding Gigabit Ethernet uplinks, advanced VLAN segmentation, and support for IRT (Isochronous Real-Time) PROFINET — critical for motion control applications. The X-500 series (current generation) introduced full Layer 3 routing capability, IPv6 support, and enhanced cybersecurity features aligned with IEC 62443. Fiber-optic variants across all generations use SC-RJ, SC-D, or BFOC connectors depending on the sub-series. The 6GK1105-2AE00 is a fiber-optic optical switch module within the SCALANCE X-100 family, designed for multimode fiber ring topologies in environments where copper cabling is impractical due to EMI or distance constraints. Units from the X-100 and X-200 generations are now in the mature-to-end-of-life phase; Siemens has transitioned active development to the X-500 platform, but the installed base of earlier series remains extensive, driving sustained demand for spare and replacement units.

SCALANCE X Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

The following SKUs represent verified, commonly sourced models within the Siemens SCALANCE X series. Each entry reflects the module's primary functional role within an industrial network architecture.

6GK1105-2AE00: Optical Switch Module, 2x multimode fiber SC-RJ ports, X-100 series, ring topology support.
6GK1105-2AA00: SCALANCE X-100 unmanaged switch, 8x RJ45 10/100 Mbps copper ports, DIN-rail mount.
6GK1105-2AB00: SCALANCE X-100 unmanaged switch, 4x RJ45 + 2x multimode fiber SC-RJ ports.
6GK1105-2AC00: SCALANCE X-100 unmanaged switch, 4x RJ45 + 2x single-mode fiber SC-RJ ports.
6GK1105-2AD00: SCALANCE X-100 unmanaged switch, 2x RJ45 + 2x multimode fiber BFOC ports.
6GK1108-0BA00: SCALANCE X108, 8-port unmanaged 10/100 Mbps industrial Ethernet switch.
6GK1116-0BA00: SCALANCE X116, 16-port unmanaged 10/100 Mbps industrial Ethernet switch.
6GK5208-0BA10-2AA3: SCALANCE X208, 8-port managed 10/100 Mbps switch with PROFINET IO, MRP support.
6GK5216-0BA00-2AA3: SCALANCE X216, 16-port managed 10/100 Mbps switch, SNMP, PROFINET IO.
6GK5224-0BA00-2AC2: SCALANCE X224, 24-port managed switch, Gigabit uplinks, VLAN, MRP.
6GK5308-2FL10-2AA3: SCALANCE X308-2M, 8-port managed switch with 2x SFP Gigabit fiber uplinks.
6GK5316-0GE10-2AA3: SCALANCE X316, 16-port managed switch, Gigabit backbone, Layer 2.
6GK5324-0GE00-3AR2: SCALANCE X324, 24-port managed Gigabit switch, advanced redundancy.
6GK5408-2FD00-2AA2: SCALANCE X408-2, 8-port managed switch, 2x Gigabit SFP, Layer 2 managed.
6GK5416-4GS00-2AM2: SCALANCE X416, 16-port managed Gigabit switch, modular SFP slots.
6GK5524-0GR00-3AR2: SCALANCE XC-200 series, 24-port managed Gigabit, enhanced cybersecurity.
6GK5748-1GY00-0AB0: SCALANCE X-500 series, Layer 3 managed Gigabit switch, IPv6, IEC 62443 compliant.

Quality Control for the SCALANCE X Range

SCALANCE X modules incorporate proprietary Siemens backplane communication logic and fiber-optic transceiver assemblies that require specialized validation beyond standard Ethernet switch testing. DriveKNMS applies the following test protocol to all SCALANCE X units prior to shipment:

Power-on and boot verification: Unit is powered via 24 VDC DIN-rail supply; boot sequence and LED status indicators are confirmed against Siemens factory specifications.
Port-level continuity test: Each RJ45 and fiber port is tested for link establishment at rated speed (10/100/1000 Mbps as applicable) using calibrated test equipment.
Fiber transceiver optical power measurement: For units with multimode or single-mode fiber ports (including 6GK1105-2AE00), optical transmit power and receive sensitivity are measured with an optical power meter to confirm compliance with Siemens-specified dBm ranges.
MRP ring redundancy functional test: Managed units are configured in a test ring topology; failover switching time is measured and must meet the <200 ms MRP standard.
PROFINET IO enumeration: Unit is connected to a Siemens S7 PLC test bench; PROFINET device name assignment and cyclic data exchange are verified.
Thermal soak: Units are operated at 55°C ambient for 2 hours to screen for latent thermal failures common in aged fiber-optic transceivers.
Firmware version documentation: Installed firmware version is recorded and provided with the shipment certificate.