GarrettCom® Managed Switch Family from Belden® Adds Gigabit Ports to Support Smart Grid Applications

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Belden Inc. (NYSE:BDC), a global leader in signal transmission solutions for mission-critical applications, is rolling out the GarrettCom brand's enhanced IEC 61850-compatible, substation-hardened managed switches targeted for data-intensive power utility applications such as Smart Grid. The Magnum™ 10KG Managed Switches offer up to eight Gb ports to support data-intensive Smart Grid applications.  Magnum is a trademarked product line of Belden's GarrettCom brand.

The product will first be demonstrated at DistribuTECH 2012 in San Antonio, Texas, January. 24-26, in booth 3133. 

The new Magnum 10KG Managed Switches include industry-leading sub-10-nanosecond timing precision for utility applications on all Gb ports, dual hot-swappable power supplies in a 1U or 1.5U rack-mount switch, and up to 16 additional ports which can be configured to meet the needs of each installation.  The 10KG Managed Switches come in a substation-hardened enclosure utilizing new patent-pending advanced thermal design techniques that allow the switches to run cooler and more efficiently.  The switches come with an enhanced version of the field-proven Magnum MNS 6K software with robust security features built-in.

"Smart Grid applications dramatically increase data volume, and the Magnum™ 10KG high availability switches are designed to handle the traffic," said Lee House, GarrettCom General Manager.  "Our configuration flexibility means that our customers can order the port combinations they need at off-the-shelf, rather than custom prices and address these high bandwidth requirements."

FEATURES
Magnum 10KG switches provide the bandwidth, precision and hardening required for optimization of smart grid initiatives in substation environments today.  

Precision timing using IEEE 1588
The 10KG switches offer unmatched time synchronization based on the IEEE 1588v2 protocol to provide the sub-microsecond timing accuracy required in substation applications.  Tests have demonstrated that GarrettCom's patent-pending hardware/software design supports a mean synchronization time accuracy of less than 10 nanoseconds.  The 1588v2 timing features supported include master clock, boundary clock, and transparent clock.  The timing accuracy exceeds the requirements of "next generation" 61850-3 specifications, enabling complex Smart Grid substation networks to perform in harsh environments as technology continues to evolve.

Highly configurable with up to 24 ports, including up to eight Gb ports
Magnum 10KG configurations provide 10 slots for combinations of port types and support up to 16 100Mb fiber and copper ports, and up to eight one-GB ports.  By providing high port density, the 10KG provides the connectivity necessary in today's more IP-intensive substations and reduces the potential points of failure in a substation communications system.

Dual hot-swappable power supplies in a 1U rack-mount switch
With both a backup power supply and hot swappable replacements, the Magnum 10KG offers the highest level of reliability available in substation-hardened switches today.  Power supplies are available with multiple voltage options including 90-250V AC-DC, 125VDC, 48VDC, 24VDC, and universal AC.

GarrettCom has been an industry innovator in efficient convection cooling and brings that expertise to bear in the 10KG Switch packaging.  The enhanced version of GarrettCom's field-proven MNS-6K and MNS-6K-SECURE Managed Software complements the next-generation capabilities of these switches, including software support of 1588 v2 timing protocols as well as security features including VLANs, SSL/SSH, Radius, and TACACS+.

For a high-resolution photo image of the GarrettCom Magnum 10KG, visit http://www.garrettcom.com/images/10KG_300.jpg. 

GarrettCom, Inc., based in Fremont, California, is a leading provider of industrial networking products for specialty and stressed applications with business locations in North America, Europe and India. GarrettCom specializes in mission-critical, customizable and durable products for extreme conditions. It offers premium industrial and substation-hardened networking products such as managed or unmanaged switches, multi-protocol routers, Ethernet and serial media converters, terminal servers, cellular wireless and serial communications. GarrettCom also offers software capabilities in the areas of cyber security, physical security and fault-tolerance for high-availability industrial networking solutions. The company has diversified sales channels with a premier customer base, including 75 percent of the top 100 power utilities in North America and top-tier industrial system integrators worldwide.

About Belden

St. Louis-based Belden Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets cable, connectivity, and networking products in markets including industrial automation, enterprise, transportation, infrastructure, and consumer electronics. It has approximately 6,800 employees, and provides value for industrial automation, enterprise, education, healthcare, entertainment and broadcast, sound and security, transportation, infrastructure, consumer electronics and other industries. Belden has manufacturing capabilities in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, and a market presence in nearly every region of the world. Belden was founded in 1902, and today is a leader with some of the strongest brands in the signal transmission industry. For more information, visit www.belden.com.

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SOURCE Belden Inc.