GE IS420ESWAH3A Industrial Ethernet Switch with 8-Port 10/100BASE-TX 256 KB Buffer Memory and 4K MAC Addresses for Mark VIe Systems

The IS420ESWAH3A is an IONet Ethernet Switch developed by General Electric (GE) for its Speedtronic Mark VIe gas turbine control system. Designed for demanding industrial and hazardous environments, this Achilles-certified switch utilizes current Fieldbus technology to meet stringent NERC Version 5 Critical Infrastructure Protection reliability standards.

Key Features:

Port Configuration and Performance: The switch is equipped with eight 10/100BASE-TX copper ports featuring auto-negotiation and HP-MDIX auto-sensing for simplified installation. It also includes a 100 Mbps FX uplink port. For efficient data handling, it incorporates a 256 KB buffer memory and supports up to 4K Media Access Control (MAC) addresses.

High Reliability and Robustness: Engineered for critical control applications, the switch boasts an exceptional Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) of over 4 million hours at 35°C. It is protected by a conformal coating for corrosion resistance and is designed to operate reliably across a wide temperature range of -30°C to 65°C and 5% to 95% non-condensing humidity. Its construction meets seismic and vibration standards, including the Universal Building Code (UBC).

Installation and Power: Offering flexible mounting options, the enclosure can be either panel-mounted or DIN-rail mounted, the latter ensuring compliance with vibration and shock requirements. It supports two redundant, diode-OR'd power supply inputs (18-36 V DC) for enhanced system availability and is convection-cooled.

Advanced Diagnostics and Flow Control: Each port features dual-color LEDs that provide clear, real-time diagnostics for link presence, activity, duplex status (full/half), and speed (10/100 Mbps). To maintain network performance, the switch supports IEEE-based flow control; it can receive and honor pause frames and will transmit them only if a port requires congestion management.

Protocol Compliance and Precision Timing: The switch complies with IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, and 802.3x standards. A critical feature for real-time control systems is its support for IEEE 1588 precision timing protocol, which enables the synchronization of packet traffic within a tight 1-microsecond window, ensuring deterministic and synchronized system operation.