ComNet, Communication Networks of Danbury, Connecticut, a USA-based manufacturer of fiber optic transmission and networking equipment, is introducing a four-port Self-Managed Ethernet switch, the CNGE2+2SMS. The switch has two copper TX ports and two Gigabit SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) Ethernet ports.

These self-managed switches were designed as a simple, yet cost effective solution to allow IP video to be introduced in multiple locations on a ring network topology without the cost and complexity a managed switch requires.
The unit features Gigabit TX ports that take in IP video and two SFP optical ports that take in data from the previous network device and forward it optically to the next device in a ring topology. This very small sized switch also has a PoE model to provide power to IP cameras requiring power and are ideal for use in confined spaces.

The key benefit to users of the CNGE2+2SMS is its ease of use. It offers management without the cost or user knowledge required for a managed switch. This port-configured Ethernet switch allows the user to create a virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) that manages the Ethernet data being transported, thereby preventing network flooding.

?Our extensive line of self-managed switches has been a huge success. With the introduction of the CNGE2+2SMS self-managed switch, we continue to round out our switch offerings and solve a multitude of challenges our customers face,? said Skip Haight, ComNet VP of Marketing. ?ComNet understands the benefits of Ethernet and with the CNGE2+2SMS, we have removed the complexity and cost associated with these types of IP-video applications,? Haight continued.

The CNGE2+2SMS is pre-programmed and meets the IEEE 802.1w RSTP (Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol) for a true self-healing network in the event of a path failure. The two optical or electrical SFP ports are designed to forward the Ethernet data coming in from the two electrical ports to the next switch, to a PC, or another Ethernet connection.

The CNGE2+2SMS uses SFPs for fiber type, connector type and distance. The CNGE2+2SMS is a cost-effective and easy way to add IP Video to a network and is designed for use in harsh environmental applications.

According to Andrew Acquarulo Jr., ComNet President and COO, ?ComNet has always focused on taking the complexity out of IP video networks. With this new product, in addition to making a ring topology network easy to implement, we?re able to remove a costly element, and giving our customers the opportunity to save about 25% versus using managed switches. The ComNet CNGE2+2SMS is an other example of ComNet understanding the needs of the market.?