MEN Micro Inc., a provider of embedded computing and I/O solutions for mission-critical industrial, mobile and harsh environment applications, now offers an extended firmware package for its rugged Ethernet switches.
The new firmware fulfills all requirements of highly demanding applications. Individual port configuration via the command line interface and SNMP (version 3) as well as through an HTTP web server helps facilitate data management within an embedded system.
MEN Micro's easily customizable, low-power industrial Ethernet switches can be used as stand-alone units or in CompactPCI systems for harsh and mobile environments with intense communication requirements. Typical applications include those found in commercial, transportation, industrial and agriculture environments.
In lab environments, the firmware can easily be configured by a command line environment with full access to all configuration options and status information, while SNMP offers full management access in deployed operation, including hardware traps on exceptional conditions.
The switch configuration data can be stored on an external storage key, which can remain at the device location to allow fool-proof switch replacement without any device interaction.
To ensure safe operation, the firmware monitors all hardware appliances, such as temperature, voltages or load on the PoE-enabled network ports.
Managed switches are equipped with a fully featured software package to professionally manage even complex network infrastructures, including Layer-2 switching functionalities such as VLANs, QoS, LLDP and link aggregation. Dynamic reconfiguration scenarios are managed by protocols including IGMP snooping and filtering, RSTP and DHCP. The switches are available as unmanaged models.
The Ethernet switches are fully compliant with the EN 50155 railway standard and designed for operating temperatures from -40 to +70°C (up to +85°C for 10 minutes) without the need for cooling (fanless operation).
Hardened against shock and vibration, the PCBs have no socketed components and are ready for coating, with some versions conformally-coated as standard.
MEN Micro's SF switch models come in a compact 3U, 18-hp, 19-inch cassette and can be used as stand-alone units or installed in a system rack. The switches are supplied by their integrated, rugged power supply unit (PSU), with a power connector at the front panel. They consume less than 7 W and need no cooling.
The stand-alone RS models are part of the extremely rugged MIPIOS series. Their aluminum enclosure and M12 connectors make these Ethernet switches dust-proof and waterproof according to IP67. They also conform to e1 requirements of the German Federal Motor Transport Authority.
The rugged CompactPCI-based Ethernet switch F302 offers flexibility for complete systems in harsh environments – either with RJ45 or robust M12 connectors. For CompactPCI Serial or hybrid systems, MEN Micro's unmanaged CompactPCI Serial switch G301 can act similarly to a managed version with fixed settings by using an application-specific configuration EEPROM.
Pricing for the switches is dependant upon model and family. Delivery is six to eight weeks ARO.
