Abstract: A switch device for connecting a plurality of field devices to one single master port of a master device, the master device providing a gateway between the field devices and an upper level network and being configured to control a communication between the upper level network and the field devices, the switch device comprising: a physical master-side port for connecting the switch device to the single master port and for establishing a master communication channel between the same; and a plurality of physical field device-side ports for connecting the switch device to the field devices and for establishing a plurality of field device communication channels between the respective field devices and the switch device; wherein the switch device is configured to transfer data between the master device (3) and the field devices through the master communication channel and the field device communication channels using a single communication protocol for an automation network.

Abstract: A switch device for connecting a plurality of field devices to one single master port of a master device, the master device providing a gateway between the field devices and an upper level network and being configured to control a communication between the upper level network and the plurality of field devices, the switch device comprising: a physical master-side port for connecting the switch device to the single master port and for establishing a master communication channel between the same; and a plurality of physical field device-side ports for connecting the switch device to the field devices and for establishing a plurality of field device communication channels between the respective field devices and the switch device; wherein the switch device is configured to transfer data between the master device (3) and the field devices through the master communication channel and the plurality of field device communication channels using a single communication protocol for an automation network.

Abstract: A method for initializing a computerized system by executing a boot-script having an associated private security key, wherein the computerized system comprises a first secure storage device for storing a plurality of public keys each having a public key index assigned thereto and a second secure storage device for storing a current key index, wherein the boot-script is only executed if a public key selected from the plurality of public keys is uniquely related to the private security key such as to form a unique key pair with the private security key and has a booting key index having a predetermined relationship with the current key index.

Abstract: A method for initializing a computerized system by executing a boot-script having an associated private security key, wherein the computerized system comprises a first secure storage device for storing a plurality of public keys each having a public key index assigned thereto and a second secure storage device for storing a current key index, wherein the boot-script is only executed if a public key selected from the plurality of public keys is uniquely related to the private security key such as to form a unique key pair with the private security key and has a booting key index having a predetermined relationship with the current key index.