Belden Australia announces the addition of a switch in Hirschmann’s OCTOPUS family. Belden is a global leader in signal transmission solutions for mission-critical applications.
The OCTOPUS OS30/34 is a ruggedised switch that maximises network availability under extreme environmental conditions, and has been specifically designed for transportation, manufacturing and machine building settings.
The OCTOPUS switch series features Gigabit ports for connecting high speed backbones and Gigabit end devices, while its PoE support reduces cabling requirements. A bypass relay meeting the IEC 61375 standard for Ethernet in trains extends the redundancy mechanisms and broadens the functional range of the OCTOPUS series.
According to Belden product manager Rolf-Dieter Sommer, the new OCTOPUS switch series enables businesses to keep pace with the data demands of transportation and manufacturing applications through an unparalleled combination of functionality and serviceability for instant visibility into network performance.
The OCTOPUS switch series includes the popular mid-sized OCTOPUS designed to allow for a maximum of 20 ports, including four Gigabit ports and up to 15 PoE ports; the full-sized OCTOPUS adding eight additional Fast Ethernet ports for a total of 28 ports per switch; and the OCTOPUS OS30/34 available either with Layer 3 software featuring routing functionalities, or with Layer 2 software for switching.
With configurable features in two different housings, engineers and installers now have increased access to high-speed uplink ports and Gigabit ports for local devices powered through PoE, including digital video recorders and WLAN access points.
Key features of the OCTOPUS switch series include option of fibre or copper cabling; high vibration resistance and broad protection to electrostatic discharges; IP67 rating to meet the requirements of routing functions in waterproof and dust-tight housings for mounting outside cabinets; and operating temperature range from -40°C to +70°C.
These features make the OCTOPUS specifically relevant for many transportation applications, including onboard train networks, passenger information systems in train stations, conveyor systems, and traffic surveillance on highways and bridges, and in tunnels.