Interconnection
such as PCB thickness, latching connectors and enclosures, all while considering the size, weight and power (SWaP). An ideal switch that meets these strict criteria is Aitech’s A661 rugged small form factor Ethernet switch. The A661 comprises two 24-port Ethernet switch boards in a rugged enclosure, allowing for 48 ports each with 10/100/1000 Mbps data rates. It can perform layer two and three routing and switching functionality, features port monitoring for non-invasive switch traffic monitoring and includes 802.1X authentication for port-level security. The robust enclosure of the switch provides ingress protection and has an EM interference (EMI) and radio- frequency interference (RFI) protected design, to protect network data from external intrusion. In fact, the A661 has successfully passed space radiation tests and has been installed on the International Space Station. The system’s power and input/output connections are ruggedised MIL-STL-38999 connectors to
ensure regulatory compliance and ensure lasting performance.
In addition to the A661, Aitech has also developed the A664 standalone managed Ethernet switch/router, which is SWaP- optimised to make it an ideal option for military networks where size or weight is limited. Much like the A661, this switch is fully ruggedised to withstand the harsh military environments, but while also including four multimode optical fibre ports that support fibre communications for distances up to 550 metres in applications where copper cabling is unsuitable. The A664 is also readily able to meet another critical requirement for military networks: resiliency. The switch supports improved network resiliency by featuring Spanning Tree (xSTP) and virtual router redundancy (VRRP) protocols.
Marine switches
Increasingly, offshore and marine applications are embracing connectivity as a way of reducing maintenance costs
CIE FEB21 EDAC:Layout 1 15/02/2021 09:06 Page 1
for remote systems or to use unmanned vehicles with lidar or sonar to produce topographic maps of subsea environments. These are just two examples but, in both cases, data needs to be communicated to a network of devices so that engineers can make use of it.
Ethernet switches in marine
environments must be adequately ingress protected to IP67 or higher, as well as be able to operate effectively under the low temperatures for prolonged periods of time. In terms of network functionality, the Ethernet switch should ideally be able to support high numbers of data paths if it is intended to handle data from sonar or radar systems.
With these considerations in mind, we may suggest the new VX6940 6U VPX Ethernet switch from Kontron as an option for VPX platform applications. This is a layer two and three switch designed for long-term applications. It features two front QSFP28 transceivers, which support up to 100G speed optical or passive copper
connections, and each allowing for four 10GB or SFP+ ports.
Kontron’s VX6940 switches are best suited to data intensive applications that require many data paths, such as naval sonar or radar systems, when coupled with Kontron ARM or X86 computing nodes. Far from being confined to IT environments, Ethernet switches are now present in demanding industrial environments across the globe. Of course, not every switch is suited to every potential environment, which is why it’s important to partner with an embedded expert like Recab UK that can recommend or design the right switch.
As the IIoT and network connectivity extends to more industries and applications, Ethernet switches continue to perform a crucial role for years to come. Although often overlooked, their importance cannot be understated — and nor can the importance of making the right choice.
recabuk.com
www.cieonline.co.uk
Components in Electronics
February 2021 39
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