Las Vegas, NV. April 5, 2006, —IFS Communications Products Unit of GE Security has announced the introduction has of its EtherNav D7800 Series of Gigabit managed layer 2 Ethernet switches. By utilizing Gigabit Ethernet, a network can accommodate the higher bandwidth demands of larger surveillance applications. Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Base T) offers a 10 times the bandwidth of traditional fast Ethernet (100 Base T). A managed Gigabit Ethernet switch is a device that segments Ethernet network traffic to enhance performance and for better bandwidth allocation. It has become an essential piece of equipment when local area networks (LAN) are growing and handling more and more devices such as cameras and DVRs and they must be integrated onto larger Gigabit networks. A managed switch allows "virtual local area networks" or (VLANS) to be created that allows networks to be created using software rather than hardware. The IFS EtherNav™ line will consist of 12 models that have up to 16 individual 10/100 Base TX ports and up to four 1000 Base TX electrical or FX optical ports that can be configured with a range from strictly electrical ports to various combinations of electrical, multi mode fiber or single mode fiber ports. As more and more devices are being integrated on to these Ethernet networks, bandwidth can become an issue and by utilizing a Gigabit Ethernet (1 Gbps) provides a significant increase in bandwidth over older Fast Ethernet. This allows devices utilizing EtherNav switches to be easily integrated into larger networks.
GE is one of the first manufacturers in the Security market to focus on Gigabit Ethernet transmission. The EtherNavâ„¢ Series also features Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (IEE 802.1w) for quick data recovery. The EtherNavâ„¢ D7800 Managed Ethernet Switch has several mechanisms to monitor, configure, and manage the VLAN it is tasked to manage. A console interface using a standard RS-232 interface allows for local network control from a standard PC. Alternatively, a web-based graphical user interface or GUI will allow for remote configuration control from anywhere on an Ethernet based network. For Higher Level System Management, the EtherNavâ„¢ line supports SNMP or Simple Network Management Protocol Version 2C and is RFC1213 compliant. The benefit of SNMP is that it allows for a standards based network element management system to be utilized for status monitoring and management of their network.
The EtherNav Managed Ethernet Switch was designed from the ground up to be mechanically and environmentally hardened for use in unconditioned environments. It has passed the rigorous tests and meets the CALTRANS and NEMA test standards. Many of the current competitive models available are not designed for more demanding outdoor and factory installations. The IFS EtherNav™ Series can be configured with a redundant power supply for greater reliability and is one of the only managed switch available with that feature. The IFS EtherNav D7800 Series is designed for use in today’s modern Security, Intelligent Transportation Systems and Industrial Control applications where monitoring and control are taking place in centralized locations." Said Steven Carrozzo, Director of IFS Sales. "These applications are extremely sensitive to variable delays and network congestion, which are unavoidable on a shared Ethernet network. By configuring the devices in a VLAN, sufficient bandwidth can be allocated for each, thereby ensuring effective management of the network devices," continued Carrozzo. All models of the EtherNav Series are FCC and CE compliant and have an operating temperature range of between – 40 degrees C to + 74 degrees C. And like all IFS products, they are backed by an exclusive Comprehensive Lifetime Product Warranty.
