Industrial Ethernet Routing Switch for extreme environments

Westermo Data Communications, has released a range of high performance industrial Ethernet switches with enhanced routing functionality. The RedFox series is designed to build cost effective, secure and reliable networks that would previously have required several different units.

Initially developed for bespoke mission critical applications in the defence, rail, aerospace and sub-sea markets, this new off-the-shelf version of RedFox is based on a proven design that far exceeds normal industrial requirements. This ultra robust DIN rail mountable unit has a heavy duty aluminium enclosure for maximum strength, heat dissipation and resilience to extreme levels of electromagnetic interference (300 A/m).

Refer to picture above: The RedFox series is designed to build cost effective, secure and reliable networks that would previously have required several different units.

Manufactured from industrial grade components and able to operate in temperatures between -40 to +70°C (with no internal fans) RedFox has a MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) of 600,000 hours.  The new switch provides the highest levels of standard compliance for EMC, railway applications, vibration, humidity, shock and altitude. All these features ensure that it can be used in just about any operating environment.

The range offers a number of Ethernet interface combinations, ranging from ten to eighteen 10/100/BaseTX ports, plus the option of four SPF Gigabit and four 1000BaseTX ports. To ensure the network resilience RedFox supports STP (Spanning Tree Protocol) and RSTP (Rapid STP), and also features Westermo's unique FRNT (Fast Recovery of Network Topology) redundant ring functionality. This is the fastest protocol on the market to reconfigure a large network in the event of any line or hardware failure. FRNT is able to reconfigure a redundant ring network consisting of up to 200 switches within 20 ms, regardless of network load. This functionality enables RedFox switches to be used in safety critical applications.

RedFox also supports IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) snooping, which provides filtering techniques to manage the flow of data around the ring in such a way as to optimise the bandwidth. IGMP snooping has also been integrated into FRNT to ensure optimum performance even during a network failure.

Routing is becoming an essential function for the merging infrastructure and factory automation networks. The RedFox's static routing and firewall functions can provide simple segregation to ensure dataflow is controlled between networks. Comprehensive VLAN (Virtual LAN) support allows the physical switched network to be subdivided increasing security and network bandwidth and improving manageability. VLANs can also be allocated to particular switch ports and centrally configured.

Several layers of security are available, vital to prevent both malicious and accidental network failures including an inbuilt firewall and 256 bit AES encryption on IPSEC VPN tunnels. When using NAT (Network Address Translation) the IP address of protected devices can be hidden in a local secure network. RedFox can also act as a VPN server allowing IPsec tunnels to be set up between remote users and a local secure network. Web configuration pages and SNMP can be disabled and the Command Line Interface (CLI) is secured using SSH (Secure Shell Protocol).

Redfox is extremely easy to use, needing no configuration out of the box to allow a simple network to be created. An auto-discovery IP-Configuration tool allows the IP address, subnet mask and gateway address to be set up. A web interface allows configurations such as FRNT ring, VLANs or a basic firewall to be set up. Advanced configuration and monitoring can be achieved using SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). Fine tuning for rigorous applications using the intuitive CLI enables running changes to be made without the need for a reboot.

The units' isolated power supply has an operating voltage range spanning from 16 VDC to 60 VDC and can be fed from two separate supplies of differing voltages.
For further information view website: www.westermo.co.uk/redfoxreg.html

For further information on RedFox, view website: www.redfoxindustrial.co.uk    Refer to next page

New Belden Hirschmann™ BAT controllers for centralized
management and monitoring of large-scale WLAN networks

Belden's three new BAT controllers WLC25, WLC50 and WLC100 from its Hirschmann™ product range ensure fast data communications and optimum network availability. These controllers are designed for use in switch cabinets and can be used to centrally configure and manage 25, 50 or 100 WLAN access points respectively. As these controllers are fully compatible to all Hirschmann™ access points in the BAT series, your existing BAT equipment does not need to be replaced.

These controllers possess four freely configurable Gigabit Ethernet ports plus one USB 2.0 and one serial interface and communicate with the access points via a CAPWAP tunnel. They also support all standard Ethernet LAN and WAN protocols. When the WLAN network is set up the controller automatically finds all the available access points, checks their firmware and configures the equipment appropriately for the installed application. During normal operation the controller provides the administrator with all the necessary network information. In the event that an access point fails, the controller immediately recognizes which device should replace it and automatically integrates it into the network. With their integrated firewall and VPN Gateway function, these controllers can also be used as a security instance between LAN and WLAN or to link a number of wireless networks over large distances. 

Belden's three new BAT controllers WLC25, WLC50 and WLC100 from its Hirschmann™ product range ensure fast data communications and optimum network availability.

New Hirschmann™ BAT controllers also feature extensive management and security functions, IP routing, fast roaming, support for IEEE 802.11n transmission standards, automatic frequency management and a variety of redundancy and backup mechanisms, ensuring fast data communications and high network availability.

With its Hirschmann™ BAT controllers Belden is marketing an entirely new class of equipment that facilitates comprehensive WLAN coverage for the industrial markets. Product Manager Olaf Schilperoort comments: "WLAN controllers are disproportionately expensive for small-scale wireless networks, which still need independent industrial standard access points. But where 25 or more access points are used, the investment will always pay off; because it enables the administrator to manage and monitor the network from a centralized location."

For further information, view website: www.belden-emea.com   Refer to next page

DSM Engineering Plastics and FCI plug in the highest
performance in halogen free reflow soldering applications

FCI, a globally leading supplier of interconnect products, has approved halogen-free V-0 Stanyl® ForTii™ for their FPC Connectors product line of Optical Disk Drives and is currently expanding the usage on various other connectors and sockets.

FCI was looking for a halogen-free housing material for its range of FPC connectors that would meet the stringent material requirements of SMT technology. After testing multiple LCPs and polyamides, Stanyl ForTii was selected for its unique properties which include high retention forces on terminal, minimum chance of warpage before and after reflow process, outstanding toughness and stiffness and compliance to the second best moisture level (MSL 2) according IPC/JEDEC J-STD 020D. Stanyl ForTii is also the material of choice for other SMT connectors and sockets.

FCI, a globally leading supplier of interconnect products, has approved halogen-free V-0 Stanyl® ForTii™ for their FPC Connectors product line of Optical Disk Drives.

Optical disc drives (ODDs) are an integral part of computers and stand-alone consumer appliances such as CD, DVD or latest Blu-ray disk drives. A crucial part of such an optical disc drive is the pickup head, consisting of the laser, a lens for focusing the laser beam, and photodiodes detecting the light reflected from the surface of the disc. The electrical connection to this critical component is made by Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) Connectors.

Motomu Kajiura, Assistant Manager, Product Engineering, at FCI Japan says: "For our latest halogen free, UL94-V0 compliant SFV series we have chosen Stanyl ForTii. Thanks to its excellent thermal and mechanical properties, we were not only able to fulfill our customers' requirement for a flame retardant, halogen free solution, but could also increase robustness and reliability of our surface mount FPC connectors, making them less susceptible to potential housing cracking. FCI and DSM have been cooperating closely to develop this solution. FCI benefited from latest polymer developments and DSM could further expand application coverage with their newest polymer. Together we are able to support the launch of halogen free ODDs by major OEMs in the Electronics industry." 

Masaru Ueno, Business Development Manager Japan for DSM Plastics, who worked intensively with FCI, comments : "With Stanyl ForTii we did not only offer FCI a great material solution, we were also able to improve the application performance further ensuring easy and safe drop-in replacement of applied materials that meet Halogen Free requirements." 

Jimmy Kong, Application Development Engineer at DSM Engineering Plastics adds: "Stanyl ForTii provides a solution to our customers challenge in moving towards halogen free plastics. It is easy to process, can be used for so many different applications and fullfills the most aggressive processing and assembly conditions of reflow soldering."

For further information, view website: www.dsm.com   Refer to page 115