ETHERNET NETWORK SERVICES

BASED ON
NEW SWITCHES AND ROUTERS

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Future-Proof Ethernet Networks
Based on New Selectron Routers and
Managed Switches

Based on its experience, professional team and new switches and

routers, Selectron enables its valued customers with value-adding
networking services

Up until recently, train vehicles have electronically been Traditional fieldbus systems are designed as an easy
managed based on fieldbus communication such as and understandable point-to-point communication. In
CAN, MVB, etc. New operational concepts like CBTC, ATO these types of systems, the built-in components (i.e.,
or ETCS, as well as the passengers need to have additional the underlying hardware with the respective software
information (PIS, Passenger Information System), lead running on it) are essential. In reality, this means that
to the demand for more performance, bandwidth you can deploy two independent devices and link
and flexibility in terms of underlying communication these two elements based on a CAN or MVB bus. This
infrastructure. Traditional pyramid systems in which is the so-called “device-centric” approach, in which the
end devices communicate with nodes that are being network is an outcome of two or more linked elements.
controlled with a central PLC become more and more This changes drastically when talking about an Ethernet
outdated, as all the devices start communicating directly network. Of course, there are various types of networks,
together. Out of this follows that recent trends show nevertheless they have one thing in common: the
a clear and transparent direction to design onboard hierarchy automatically needs to be inverted. Instead of
networks based on Ethernet technology. What, at first starting with a user (CPU1) and linking it with another
glance, appears to be a simple continuation on industrial user (CPU2), in a network environment you first have
development, leads to significant challenges in terms of to design the network and then link the users to this
understanding the network. very network. It becomes evident that the network is an
entity of its own.

Why is this difference important? In the “net-centric”

approach the focus must no longer be on the individual
component level, but on the system level being the
network. The network is not only the sum of its devices,
but an autonomous system that provides services
to its users; that is, the attached devices. If the network
is not designed correctly – taking into consideration
all the potential device behaviors – the reliability and
performance of the network as well as the connected
devices may be jeopardized.

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Selectron has made significant investments and has have to invest in one hardware to get the effect of two
sustainably built-up the expertise to offer a wide range products. It is equipped with double-switched backbone
of networking products and services to its customers. lines protected by bypass relays.
Together with your experts, we help design the right
engineering concept for you and put your needs at the For train backbone activities and 12 Ethernet ports at
forefront. We have an international team of recognized consist level with an additional bypass relay to enable a
networking experts, each of whom have many years of more reliable consist topology implementation. The IEC
experience in his and her field. Customers of Selectron may 61375-2-5 train inauguration procedure is fully supported,
use this expertise when designing a network, during the and it provides an ETBN control interface for TRDP
commissioning phase and also when problems may occur. devices as per IEC 61375 guidelines. On the backbone
Together with our cybersecurity experts, we form a team side, 4 Fast Ethernet or Gigabit ports are available with
ensuring you have the most modern and best-secured hardware bypass for maximum reliability. On the consist
Ethernet network inside your train vehicle. side, 8 Fast Ethernet ports can be equipped with PoE
functionalities, 2 ports (Fast Ethernet or Gbit Ethernet)
Technically, we underpin this service expertise with our come with a hardware bypass (supporting ring topology
new networking products. Our new Ethernet Consist implementations with a higher level of robustness). The
Switch (ECS) comprises the latest hardware technology remaining 2 are Fast Ethernet ports.
and is fully cyber secure. Its built-in security by design is
certified according to Securtiy Level 2 (IEC 62443) and, Selectron is committed to continously developing its
of course, fulfills all requirements according to EN 50155. networking products further into the future. In 2022, we
Its purpose is the implementation of network topologies will present a rack version of both products as well as a
inside the vehicle. 28-port version. Our Ethernet-based Threat Detection
For this, it contains (among other features):
■ Up to 16 Fast Ethernet ports, or
■ 6 Gigabit Ethernet ports + 10 Fast Ethernet ports
■ IPv4 protocol supported
■ 2 hardware bypasses for maximum reliability
■ Spanning tree (STP 802.1D) and
Rapid Spanning Tree (RSTP 802.1w)
■ Link Aggregation Protocol (LACP 802.3ad)
■ Up to 4096 802.1Q VLANs and Inter-VLAN routing
■ Multicast Group Membership IGMP
■ Multicast routing
■ 8 output hardware queues for each port
■ Strict priority or weighted round-robin (WRR) scheduler
■ Inbound/outbound traffic rate limiting/shaping
Solution (TDS) will in future directly be integrated as a
function. Also in 2022, we will start to enable TSN (Time
A true 2-in-1 product is our Train Backbone Switch (TBS). Sensitive Network) functionalities. This will include a
It is both an IEC 61375-Standard Train Backbone Node deterministic network solution, then also redundant
and an Ethernet Consist Switch. This proposal allows control and data paths with zero-delay switchovers.
customers to save onboard space and, at the same time,
improve network robustness to maintain compliance with Based on Selectron’s advanced communication know-how,
standards. It is, of course, also very cost effective, you just you can rest assured you’re in safe hands

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Based on the Selectron Advanced Network Designer (SAND),

designing and configuration of the network was never so simple.

Selectron Advanced Networking Designer configuration elements. These elements are then
(SAND) is an advanced graphic application for applied to the entire group or to network subset.
multiplatforms helping customers to design
and operate in an organic and coherent way its To minimize operational errors and to ensure
Ethernet Train Consist Network using networking data consistency, SAND applies and runs a set
devices manufactured by Selectron Systems AG. of verification rules. All potential errors are
documented with a great number of information,
Network design contains all the activities to plan and guiding the customers on how to fix or optimize
structure the network infrastructure, influencing the the design. SAND can export the networking
overall system performance, reliability and security. architecture in several formats in order to store
This process is fully supported by SAND based on a all the information needed and facilitate the
user-friendly interface. The entire network diagram, production of design documentation.
all the devices (standard or customized devices), the
placement, the cabling structure as well as layer 2 After the design and verification process, the
and security architecture can be planned in great entire design can automatically be distributed
details. Of course, all elements are closely linked and applied to all the devices without additional
and highly integrated. manual interaction, simplifying maintenance and
network management operations.
To compensate for eventual lack of understanding
or experience, SAND contains a broad range of SAND is offering a wide set of utilities such as
templates that may be used as guidance or starting automatic network discovery or verification of the
point for the desired robust topology structure. final result in order to identify gaps, inconsistencies
This prevents failures, minimizes bottlenecks and and possible criticalities.
increases the entire performance.
Using SAND solution, in case of failure, networking
Devices may be configured individually on devices can be easily replaced as the software
device level, or, to maximize reuse and simplify automatically re-configures new hardware
management, in predefined groups of shared elements without the need of experienced staff.

Selectron Systems AG
Bernstrasse 70
3250 Lyss
Switzerland
Phone: +41 32 387 61 61
selectron.ch
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