The invention relates to a communication system for automation and process engineering, having a controller (2) as a data receiver and a sensor (3) as a data source, which use a communication line to exchange digital data as voltage signals based on the IO-Link standard. In order to allow the user to be able to access the data of a sensor that is in the communication system in a simple manner, the communication line is divided into two line sections, and a Y selector switch unit (10) is used at the junction, wherein the Y selector switch unit (10) is provided with a first connection (10a) on the sensor side and with a second and a third connection (10b, 10c) on the controller side, wherein the second connection (10b) has the controller (2) connected to it and the third connection (10c) has a further data receiver (4) connected to it, and wherein the Y selector switch unit (10) comprises a microcontroller (11) in which the sensor (3) is simulated by means of software so that the further data receiver (4) can query data of the sensor (3) without having to directly access or engage with the sensor (3) or the communication thereof with the controller (2).

The invention relates to a communication system for automation and process engineering, having a controller (2) as a data receiver and a sensor (3) as a data source, which use a communication line to exchange digital data as voltage signals based on the IO-Link standard. In order to allow the user to be able to access the data of a sensor that is in the communication system in a simple manner, the communication line is divided into two line sections, and a Y selector switch unit (10) is used at the junction, wherein the Y selector switch unit (10) is provided with a first connection (10a) on the sensor side and with a second and a third connection (10b, 10c) on the controller side, wherein the second connection (10b) has the controller (2) connected to it and the third connection (10c) has a further data receiver (4) connected to it, and wherein the Y selector switch unit (10) comprises a microcontroller (11) in which the sensor (3) is simulated by means of software so that the further data receiver (4) can query data of the sensor (3) without having to directly access or engage with the sensor (3) or the communication thereof with the controller (2).

A switch IHS stacking system includes a plurality of switch IHSs. A least one first switch IHS includes a first processing system and at least one second switch IHS includes a second processing system that is different from the first processing system. A stacking engine is located on each of the plurality of switch IHSs. Following the coupling of the plurality of switch IHSs into a stack and in response to the startup of the plurality of switch IHSs, the each of the stacking engines may exchange capability information with each of the plurality of switch IHSs and determine a control plane processing system affinity and a data plane processing system affinity for each of the plurality of switch IHSs. The stacking engines may then determine a master switch IHS for the stack that has the highest control plane processing system affinity and data plane processing system affinity.