Military network system is ready to deploy

The SwitchBox is an innovative single-slot Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) switch housed in a fully ruggedised single-slot chassis.

Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing has developed a new ready-to-deploy military network system: the SwitchBox is an innovative single-slot Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) switch housed in a fully ruggedised single-slot chassis.

At just 305 x 210 x 76mm, the SwitchBox's low-profile provides system designers with unmatched flexibility for distributing fully integrated systems in space-constrained vehicles and operational systems.

The SwitchBox eases the addition of GbE network connectivity to new or existing defence and aerospace platforms.

Because the SwitchBox is fully configured and simple to connect to existing subsystems it reduces development costs and time to integration (TTI) and frees system integrators to focus on the optimal partitioning and segmentation of their application's network.

Designed to ease the deployment of net-centric operations and to extend the reach of transformational networks, the SwitchBox is a fully configured, managed Gigabit Ethernet multilayer switching system.

It is ideal for building interplatform networks (IPNs) for air, land, and sea vehicles.

The SwitchBox features a natural convection cooled chassis designed for use in -40 to +71C operating ambient temperature environments.

Built for harsh environments, the system is rated to withstand 0.15g2/Hz vibration (per MIL-STD-810E) and 40g shock (per MIL-STD-810E).

"The SwitchBox is a perfect expression of Curtiss-Wright's expertise in board and module level design combined with market-leading system integration capabilities", said Darwin Beckel, President and General Manager of Subsystems Solutions, Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing.

"With its VME-680 SwitchBlade host and ruggedised single-slot chassis, Curtiss-Wright puts it all together from hardware to Gigabit Ethernet network management software".

The SwitchBox enables fast, reliable, and deterministic forwarding (switching and routing) of control and data packets with up to 20 wire-speed 10/100/1000Mbit/s interfaces that can be used to connect multiple chassis, cards, or even processors within platform networks.

Using star, dual star, mesh and hybrid network topologies, the SwitchBox provides a flexible cost effective solution that can be used to architect a reliable backbone communications infrastructure for current and future networked platforms.

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