Multiport 10G On-Board Ethernet Switch

In the world of railway transportation, the need for reliable, high-speed communication networks is more critical than ever. Lantech, a leader in industrial networking solutions, has stepped up to this challenge with their state-of-the-art Railway Solutions. Their rolling stock EN50155-certified Ethernet switches and routers are specifically designed to meet the demanding needs of modern railway systems, offering robust reliability, high speed, and security.

Future-Proof High Speed Network

Designing a 10G Ethernet network for railway applications is no small feat, as it involves overcoming significant challenges such as heat generation and beyond EN50155 standards for high transient protection. Lantech’s solutions not only meet these rigorous requirements but also excel in providing stable and efficient high-speed communication, ensuring a future-proof network infrastructure for the evolving demands of the rail industry. With a switching architecture of more than 200Gbps, Lantech is providing the needed speed for many future applications, like video on demand, autonomous driving, high speed cameras, Lidar sensors, etc.

Innovative Hardware and Software Solutions

Lantech’s Railway Solutions are built with advanced hardware features that ensure robust performance in the harshest environments. Key highlights in aspects of hardware and software are as follows:

PoE Galvanic Isolation and Transient Protection: Ensuring system stability and safety as well as through POE cabling, Lantech's switches offer galvanic POE isolation and can sustain transient voltages up to 165V.

High PoE Budget and Fast/Perpetual PoE: With a total POE budget ranging from 80W, 120W, 160W and up to 500W, Lantech rail switches can support plenty of PD devices in high-density applications. The POE function supports at and bt standard up to 90W with Fast/Perpetual POE. This can immediately deliver continuous power without waiting for the switch to complete bootup, which is essential for some basic communication.

Environmental Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of switch temperature, input voltage/current and total power load to have  proactive maintenance by setting the thresholds events. 

PTP V2: Supporting precise time synchronization with features such as Hardware based PTP, two step processing, Transparent Clock, Ordinary Clock, and Boundary Clock.

IPv6: Supporting IPv6 is essential for future use of networking demands. That means that all functions working with IPv4 must work also with IPv6. This ensures the compatibility with now und future network design.

On the software side, Lantech integrates features that enhance network management and security:

Cybersecurity Compliance: Adherence to IEC 62443-4-2 standards ensures robust protection against cyber threats in terms of authentication control, use control, data encryption, restricted data flow and timely response. 

L3/L2 Management Features: Lantech’s switches support OSPF/RIP/NAT/VRRP management, offering extensive routing capabilities. 

API interface for seamless integration: The inclusion of RESTful API or OpenAPI facilitates seamless integration with existing central management software to enhance the management capabilities.

Switch Health Diagnostic Snapshot, Auto-feed Configuration and Auto-provisioning:  When the network problem is encountered, health snapshot can collect a series of important switch data for an engineer to quickly identify the possible root cause and ensure continuous and reliable network operation.  Auto-feed configuration ensures that new and replaced switches automatically receive the correct configuration without manual intervention. Auto-provisioning simplifies maintenance by allowing the device to automatically connect to the configured TFTP server upon booting, downloading the pre-configured firmware and configuration file.

Proven Success in Europe

Lantech’s solutions have been implemented successfully across Europe and around the world, demonstrating their versatility and reliability in real-world scenarios.

United Kingdom: The adoption of Lantech's solutions by Avanti West Coast for their upgraded Pendolinos has enhanced the reliability of rail networks, supporting advanced surveillance and monitoring systems.



Germany: Lantech's high-speed connectivity solutions have been instrumental in modernizing the rail systems for Deutsche Bahn (DB), ensuring high bandwidth and low latency communication for their on-board networking systems.

Expert Insights:
An Interview with Günter Meixner

We had the opportunity to speak with Günter Meixner, CEO at Lantech Communications Europe, about the innovative solutions Lantech provides to the railway industry.

What sets Lantech’s railway solutions apart from the competition?

The greatest advantage of our products is their ease of setup and maintenance. Auto-feed configuration and auto-provisioning significantly reduce the complexity of network maintenance. Whether it’s replacing faulty equipment or configuring new devices, the process is very straightforward, saving both time and labor costs, also less skills are necessary.

How does Lantech ensure the reliability and safety of its products?

Our switches provide galvanic isolation and transient protection, which are crucial for stability and safety. We also handle DC-DC conversion internally, allowing us to boost or step down within the switch system to feed power over Ethernet, complying with the PoE 802.3at standard. This capability is integrated into a smaller housing, offering better support and reducing costs. Interfaces are reduced to a minimum, also the weight of the switches are reduced to a very practicable value.

Can you elaborate on Lantech’s approach to cybersecurity and network management?

Security is paramount in our solutions. We adhere to IEC 62443-4-2 standards, providing robust protection against cyber threats. Our advanced management features, such as L3/L3L/NAT management and RESTful API support, enable seamless integration and automation. The health diagnostic snapshot feature ensures continuous and reliable network operations by allowing real-time system health checks.

We have generally to think about new ways to prevent the devices against cyberattacks at all. The lack of human resources forces all companies to automate their services. Pointing out the European Data Act, this will also force the development of data providing to operators. In future Lantech is supporting the industry with new developments with easy to use and scalable systems – always facing the need of automation. Using deep learning and AI, we will provide solutions for predictive maintenance, central automation, mass deployment and condition-based configurations.

Conclusion

Lantech’s commitment to excellence is evident in their ongoing innovation and adherence to international standards. Their solutions are designed to be future-proof, ensuring that railway networks can evolve and adapt to new technologies and challenges. With a focus on security, reliability, and performance, Lantech is at the forefront of transforming railway communication systems.



For more information about Lantech's Railway Solutions and their impact on global rail networks, visit https://lantechcom.eu/

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