Introduction

MEN's NH30 is a modular turn-key network switch solution with carrier-grade Layer 2 and Layer 3 VLAN routing capabilities offering a seamless throughput of 29 Gbit/s. It is designed for use in trains, trams or industrial environments.

Flexible Built-to-Order Configuration

The high-performance switch device is a modular half 19" CompactPCI® Serial system. Its build-to-order concept offers a wide range of configuration options, resulting in low NRE costs and fast time-to-market. The main switchboard occupies one slot, while six option boards define the front-panel connectivity. This concept allows the NH30 to come with M12, RJ45 and SFP interfaces in mixed fibre/copper configurations. It supports a total of 25 ports. The switch firmware is already installed and is ready for operation.

Powerful and Robust Networking

Using high-speed SFP interfaces ensures robustness against any type of interference signal or other conducted emissions like bursts or flashes. This makes the switch suitable, e.g., for uplink scenarios or backbone solutions in harsh environments. As an option, all copper-based port line cards can act as PoE+ (PoE class 4) power supplies with a maximum of 60 W per card. The NH30 supports IEEE1588v2 and SyncE (as a future extension) timing protocols and EEE as a standard on all ports.

Two PSUs for AC/DC and USP

Two PSU slots, each with its own power source, ensure reliability and redundancy. Single or redundant AC or DC power supplies or an uninterruptible power supply (USP) can be implemented. This hardens the system against power fluctuations or power failures.

Monitoring and Control Functions

The switch comes with three relay outputs. Output 1 drives a "switch alive" signal intended to inform an external monitoring system, e.g., on board a train, about the health of the switch. An optional shelf controller rounds out the switch's self-control and self-monitoring capabilities. It manages lifetime information about, e.g., the shelf fans, power supplies and can be used for a manual shutdown. For security and monitoring purposes, the shelf controller data is available via network interfaces and CLI.

Mounting and Cooling as Needed

The NH30 switch can be wall or rack-mounted and is cooled by natural convection or using an additional fan tray at the bottom of the system. Cooling is independent of the mounting position.