Interconnection


The growing importance of Ethernet switches


Whether you refer to it as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) or simply as industrial networking, there is no doubt that connected field systems are becoming increasingly valuable across industries. One of the main components underpinning this connectivity is the Ethernet switch. Once exclusively used in IT environments, these switches now find themselves commonly used in harsh rail, marine, industrial and military environments. Martin Frederiksen, managing director of embedded network computing expert Recab UK, explores the role of Ethernet switches in different markets


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ccording to research firm Gartner, there is expected to be somewhere in the region of 25 billion Internet of Things (IoT) devices globally


by 2021. Most of the devices won’t be domestic smart lighting or security systems, however. The majority will be used for field-level performance and diagnostic data processing and sharing across private networks of critical industrial systems or sharing of image data between security and military devices.


In environments such as these, the speed, security and availability of network communication is imperative. As such, managed Ethernet switches are a staple of modern industrial network architectures, able to promptly relay data between connected devices and wider networks in a way that can be physically and virtually secured. Depending on the industry and application, Ethernet switches — much like all embedded computing components — have specific requirements. As a partner of several leading Ethernet switch manufacturers, Recab UK can recommend and source several switches to meet the requirements of various applications. The first step is understanding the industry and its demands.


Railway switches


In the rail industry, Ethernet switches serve several purposes. They may be required to transfer data from networked sensors, cameras or accelerometers onboard the train itself, or they may be required to handle trackside data transmission. Another common use is for onboard Ethernet switches to provide internet connectivity to passengers. In both cases, high data speed and efficiency is beneficial, and the switch


38 February 2021


itself must be ruggedised to withstand the operating environment. Although Recab UK has extensive experience in developing bespoke railway grade Ethernet switches, one of our go-to off-the-shelf managed Ethernet switches for rolling stock applications is the NL30 series by duagon-MEN.


The NL30 is a fully managed multiport Ethernet switch with a rugged, IP30 rated aluminium enclosure. It has a 29 Gbps switch matrix that allows high- performance layer two switching across all connected interfaces, and layer three protocols are directly integrated into the switch for easy remote management. The NL30 is ruggedised and designed to be low maintenance, with its aluminium housing providing enhanced ruggedness and high port density.


If a switch using a computer-on-module (COM) form factor is required, Diamond Systems’ recent EPSM-10GX4 switch module


Components in Electronics


based on the COM Express Mini form factor is the best choice. It features 24 1 Gbps copper ports and four 10 Gbps SFI ports. There is also the EPS-24G4X full- feature carrier board, which brings out the 1 Gbps ports to latching connectors and the 10 Gbps ports to SFP+ sockets. Depending on whether a switch is intended for on-track or a rolling stock vehicle determines the regulatory standard that must be met. For rolling stock switches like the NL30 and EPSM- 10GX4, the requirement is EN 50155 railway standard, which indicates that the switch is suitable for the temperature ranges, shock and vibration levels encountered in rolling stock applications.


Military switches


Military embedded systems are often tasked with data-intense processes, such as capturing and processing data from


images and video feeds on a military vehicle. This data is processed in the field but is then required to be transmitted back to a command centre. This must be done quickly, efficiently and securely to ensure that a swift decision and response can be coordinated.


Because security is of the utmost importance, military and defence Ethernet switches should include native features to maximise protection of network data. These include features such as port-level authentication, mirroring to support traffic monitoring and mixed media or fibreoptic ports to protect against electromagnetic (EM) snooping.


The switches themselves are also required to be ruggedised, with a wide operating temperature suitability and high shock resistance. Ruggedisation of switches to meet military standards requires consideration of design aspects


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