GarrettCom Introduces Magnum ESD42 Dual-Homing Switch
FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- As security and uptime concerns become more prevalent across the industrial landscape, the need for effective redundancy strategies in industrial applications has increased. Industrial engineers can now economically connect any device to GarrettCom(TM), Inc.'s new Magnum(TM) ESD42 Dual-Homing Switch to provide dual-network-access (dual-homing) capability at the edge of any industrial network -- providing high-availability for critical monitoring and control devices.
Typical dual-homing applications include surveillance cameras, substation power relays, badge readers, production scanners, and mission-critical SCADA devices in manufacturing lines where unplanned interruptions can cost upwards of $1 million per minute. With models priced as low as $230, the ESD42 switch dedicates two peer ports to provide two network access points to protect against any single point of failure for those devices located at the edge of an industrial network. Detection of a media connection fault or an upstream switch failure simply causes the ESD42 to transfer upstream network activity to the other port -- typically within 300 milliseconds.
GarrettCom's dual-homing Ethernet Switch allows the dual-homing function to be moved from the edge device into the ESD42 switch. Few manufacturers offer PLCs and IEDs with dual connectivity built in, and the rare dual-NIC devices available -- typically computers and some SCADA devices -- require complex software to manage the NIC-switching logic and have been prohibitively expensive for many applications.
"Older industrial connectivity options such as serial lines did not support redundancy," said Frank Madren, GarrettCom President. "As a result, the typical redundant solutions have been expensive and rare. Today the sophistication, scope, and security requirements of industrial applications have increased. Ethernet is much more accommodating to redundant topologies, and the timing is right for us to introduce plug-and-play dual-homing technology for cost-effective redundant connections wherever required in industrial applications," he said.
GarrettCom has adapted and updated dual-homing technology for industrial applications. To provide redundancy for any device on a network, it is simply plugged into one of the local-device ports of an ESD42 switch, while the two dual-homing Ethernet ports of the switch are connected upstream. GarrettCom's patent-pending technology will detect Link Loss (from a failed wire or a failed upstream switch) on the Operating Port and automatically switch all data transfers to and from the connected devices to the Standby Port (which then becomes the Operating Port).
"We use the ESD42 switch to provide two points of access for remote badge readers in a nuclear power facility," said Greg Wells, Product Development Manager, Nuclear Security Services Corp (NSSC), Willowbrook, Ill. "The readers are sited at all entry points and in many cases are not accessible to the central network ring. Dual-homing gave us the added level of redundancy and increased access security we needed," he said.
Dual homing was used in FDDI topologies of 15-20 years ago where high-availability was required. A complete description of the new Ethernet dual-homing switch technology and its application in ring, dual-ring, and mesh networks is available from GarrettCom by calling 415-438-9071, sending an email request to [email protected], or going to the web site at http://www.garrettcom.com/techsupport/papers/dualhoming_techbr.pdf
About the ESD42 Switch
The Magnum ESD42 Dual-Homing Switch is a member of a versatile and compact family of unmanaged edge switches, about the size of a fist, with a MTBF greater than 30 years. In addition to the two (copper or fiber media) dual-homing Ethernet ports, the ESD42 has four 10/100 RJ-45 ports for connection of local devices that need to be dual-homed.
ESD42 switches have three levels of hardening, from regular (office) to hardened (factory floor) and premium (outdoor). Hardened products use high-grade components and patent-pending thermal techniques. The metal packaging uses passive cooling techniques (no fans) so that the switch can resist dust, dirt, moisture, smoke, and other contaminants. Premium products use premium-grade extended temperature components and the same thermal techniques and mounting options as hardened products.
Power supply options for any of the models include AC or DC with 12V, 24V, or 48VDC terminal blocks, as well as dual-source 24VDC models. Internal power sense monitoring with an alarm contact is available for switches that will be installed in hostile environments.
Pricing and Delivery
GarrettCom products are marketed through a network of resellers, system integrators, and international distributors. List prices for all-copper models of the Magnum ESD42 Edge Switches, with 24VDC power, start at $235. Hardened two-fiber models begin at $530, and premium-rated outdoor two-fiber models begin at $650. All products are available for delivery two weeks ARO. More information is available on the company's website: http://www.garrettcom.com/esd42.htm
