EtherWAN Systems - Experts & Thought Leaders

Industrial zone and smart factory optimises production by linking assembly-line to monitoring systems Reaching the milestone of 20 years, Secutech will be held from 12th - 14th April, 2017, at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre. As a business platform of global safety and security industry and one of the most influential exhibitions of its kind in Asia, Secutech will house more than 450 exhibitors spanning over 35,800 sq.m. of exhibition space. To consolidate the show’s prestige as a holistic channel for business and information sharing, a comprehensive fringe programme will be launched to facilitate participants’ navigation in the evolving security ecosystem and the diverse vertical markets. Emergence of new technologies Ms Regina Tsai, Deputy General Manager of the show organiser, further elaborated on how Secutech 2017 adapted to the ever-changing technological landscape. “Security ecosystems with the IoT, coinciding with the emergence of new technologies such as big data, cloud computing and machine learning, have bred new business opportunities from the diverse vertical markets and widely expanded product portfolios. However, system integrators are facing challenges like technical integrations, products quality variations, and a lack of comprehensive market understandings. Therefore, the System Integrator Forum and Intelligent Solution Pavilion are the most resourceful platforms for integration and management of the SI supply chain to shed light on these problems,” she explained. Experts from seven prominent technology firms will address trends, innovative applications, and vertical solutions System Integrator Forum The System Integrator Forum will promote cross-industry cooperation driven by the latest technologies of IVS/VCA, automation, biometric, machine learning, security robots, AI and drone. Experts from seven prominent technology firms will address trends, innovative applications, and vertical solutions including: Hard-disk drive manufacturer Seagate and engineering consulting firm Parsons Brinckerhoff will explore potential opportunities in the Asian infrastructure market and opportunities and challenges in the new IoT era.   PA system manufacturer BXB Electronics Co Ltd, video management system providers Milestone and Genetec, big data solution provider Qognify and Ethernet cable supplier EtherWAN will discuss vertical markets and solutions. A Cross-Border Asian SI Pavilion will be set up at the forum to showcase innovative products and solutions for the interests of top Asian system integrators from over 10 countries and regions. Translating customer analytics Meanwhile, the Intelligent Solution Pavilion provides more innovative answers to system integrators, service providers, and end-users in retail sectors, factories, transportation, households, and buildings. The ubiquitous connectivity rewarded by the IoT enhances personalisation, customisation, and the quality of life for all parties to an unprecedented level. Smart retail allows retailers to translate customer analytics collected from tracking chips, smart shelves, and digital signage screens to reshape in-store experiences for shoppers that suit their interests and preferences. The smart retail zone is sponsored by AG Neovo, Hikvision, III-IDEAS, NUUO, RetailNext, Soundwin, Sunmoretek and TIIS. Industrial zone and smart factory optimises production by linking assembly-line robots to monitoring systems. This themed zone is sponsored by EtherWAN, Qnap, and Sick. Under intelligent transportation, traffic data are analysed to improve transportation routes and reduce traffic congestion. For car owners, they can even connect their vehicles to access household features such as turning on the lights and adjusting the air conditioning. The intelligent building zone is co-organised by TTIA and sponsored by Dahua, EtherWAN, Seagate, and V5. Other fringe events include CompoSec and Secutech Awards that display innovative solutions and new insights Intelligent image monitoring Other fringe events include CompoSec and Secutech Awards that display innovative solutions and new insights. The former is a forum highlighting four technology trends in the area of R&D. Award-winning suppliers in the latter will display and review the next generation 4K UHD intelligent image monitoring performance through their demonstration.Secutech is organised by Messe Frankfurt New Era Business Media Ltd and is held concurrently with SMAhome Expo and Fire & Safety.With ten events, Messe Frankfurt is one of the world’s leading organisers of fairs and congresses for the expanding international field of civil security. These platforms provide optimum opportunities for gaining a foothold in dynamic growth markets all over the world. Presently Messe Frankfurt organises events in Germany, Asia, the Middle East, South America, and East Africa.

EtherWAN’s EX78000 Series PoE switches were employed for a subway infrastructure project A massive transportation system in the United States moves millions of passengers daily across its almost 500 stations. With safety as a priority, passengers must have access to up-to-the-minute information, as well as be able to instantly report emergencies. After more than a century of operation, a major metropolitan subway recently found itself using an antiquated system for the reporting of emergencies and information requests. This passenger-help system was troublesome to scale, and required frequent repairs. The city authorities kicked off an initiative to improve this system by collaborating with various vendors to develop the best solution – an integrated IP-based kiosk featuring high-quality voice communications, straightforward deployment, centralised management, supreme scalability, and the robust network performance needed in a public safety solution. Migrating to IP-based kiosks To provide a better passenger experience, the system integrator planned to update the existing analogue intercoms to IP-based kiosks. However, several challenges quickly arose: Power issues: The new system involved many connected network devices such as PoE (Power Over Ethernet) wireless access points and PoE IP cameras, and all of these devices required reliable power. Logistics issues: The networked devices had to be installed inside the kiosk unit, with specific dimensions adapted to subway station architectures. Bandwidth issues: The networked devices had to have the necessary bandwidth to deliver voice, data, and video over IP transmission. Maintenance and durability issues: A key issue was the need to contain operating costs through minimised repair and maintenance requirements for equipment. Deployment spaces in subway tunnels and platforms place harsh physical demands on installed equipment. Underground tunnels are usually damp, and there is often water dripping on platforms. Installed equipment must be able to handle the urban climatic swings between severe cold and heat. Furthermore, there is a constant amount of electrostatic discharge and electromagnetic interference in subway stations. EtherWAN EX78000 Series PoE switches EtherWAN’s hardened EX78000 Series PoE switches were employed for this extensive subway infrastructure project, supplying ample power for wireless access points and surveillance cameras directly through LAN cables. Since there was limited space in the installation areas, EtherWAN offered a customised mechanical design in regards to the physical dimensions and connector placement. The resulting PoE switches fit perfectly inside the new information kiosks. IP-based interactive kiosks Reliable Power over Ethernet: The EX78000 hardened managed Ethernet switch provides 8 ports of 30W PoE per port with IEEE802.3at standard, delivered over Ethernet cables. Efficient Network Management: Network management functions help facilitate data communications efficiently and securely, while reducing maintenance hassles. EtherWAN’s Alpha-Ring self-healing ring technology provides a recovery time of less than 15ms after a fault, ensuring non-stop transmission and minimising packet loss. Network engineers can access management features such as port security, IGMP snooping, port-based VLAN, GARP protocols and link aggregation, via web browser, Telnet, SSH, SNMP, RMON, TFTP, and RS-232 console interfaces. For quick maintenance, an external storage device is available for switch configuration backup and restoration. No moving parts, extended lifespan: EtherWAN’s EX78000 series hardened Ethernet switches are constructed from durable materials, and undergo environmental testing from -40°C to 85°C. The fanless and ruggedised housing provides extra durability against shock and vibration. The switches are also compliant with EN 55022 for high immunity from electrical interference, an important factor in rail environments. Optimised mechanical design: EtherWAN provided customised dimensions and mounting methods to make switch installation compatible with the subway’s unique structure. As a result, 1900 IP-based interactive kiosks were installed and are now successfully serving innumerable passengers throughout subway stations all across the city. Whenever a passenger wants particular information, or needs to report an emergency, he/she can approach one of the kiosks and talk to a subway representative with just the click of a button. With video, voice, and passenger information all communicated as part of a connected solution, passengers reap the benefits of improved punctuality and safety. Related products EX78000 Series, Managed Hardened 8-port 10/100BASE PoE and 2-port Gigabit Ethernet Switch EX76000 Series, Managed Hardened 16-port 10/100BASE PoE and 2-port Gigabit Ethernet Switch EX78900 Series, Managed Hardened 16-port Gigabit (8 PoE) Ethernet Switch Save Save

EtherWAN’s wide range of hardened Ethernet connectivity products ensure long-term operation in extreme environments providing reliable IP connectivity on fire alarm panels The trend of IP migration in the security market has been phenomenal, especially in the video surveillance sector. However, the last decade has seen IP migration for fire systems gradually catching up, especially in installations involving buildings or large event venues, like stadiums or convention centres. Analogue to IP migration Traditional fire alarm systems are based on analogue Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), in which each fire panel is subscribed to two telephone lines for supervising and backup purposes. Fire alarm system providers have developed and added IP-based Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter/Receivers (DACT/DACR) to their fire alarm panels. These types of fire panels may come in modular forms, interconnected via an IP structure, which will allow the fire alarm system to be monitored over the internet. These communicators may also accept existing phone lines as part of the digital network in a fire alarm application. Advantages of IP fire alarm systems Upgrading to IP fire alarm systems presents several advantages: First of all, with IP communications, checks are constantly performed, and event notifications are instantaneous, easily meeting the 10-second alarm/signal time requirement defined by current standards for fire control units. With IP communications, checks are constantly performed, and event notifications are instantaneous, easily meeting the 10-second alarm/signal time requirement defined by current standards for fire control units Secondly, more information is delivered to the central station, including fire location and maintenance notifications. These messages are encrypted and small in size so there is no overall effect on bandwidth. Finally, IP-based systems allow fire, supervisory and trouble alarms to be sent over the internet. Hence, the supervisory or central station can constantly monitor and immediately respond to anomalies. Challenges of IP migration IP migration comes with its own set of challenges. Achieving IP transmission between a building and its central fire station, which may be located kilometres away, requires network equipment with fibre optic connectivity. Fire alarm systems also require high electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), because undesired electrical interference may trigger a false alarm. Additionally, some fire alarm panels are installed in harsh environments that lack air conditioning, and it is critical that Ethernet equipment installed in such environments can withstand extreme temperatures 24-7. Long-term operation in extreme environments To ensure long-term operation in extreme environments, fire alarm systems should feature Ethernet switches, media converters, and Ethernet extenders that are specially designed and engineered for this purpose, such as EtherWAN’s wide range of hardened Ethernet connectivity products. Media converters for these solutions should offer the following features: Compliance with industrial standard IEC 61850 or EN 50130-4 for high electromagnetic resistance, which can prevent the system from falsely triggering an alarm. Ability to operate in temperatures from -45° to 70°C, providing stable performance in critical environments. Availability of versatile fibre optic interfaces, including SC/ST connectors with multi-mode/single mode selections. Physical dimensions and configuration should allow for effortless DIN-rail installation. At installation sites, media converters are connected to fire alarm panels in multiple buildings via CAT5 and fibre optic cables. This provides Ethernet extension from the fire panels to the remote central station. The resulting system design ensures continuous and reliable IP transmission for the fire alarm applications. Save

Ethernet switches are often overlooked andsometimes deemed a cheap connectivity pointwith little to no importance The Ethernet switch is a critical link between cameras, network video recorders (NVRs) and computers that need access to video feeds. The Ethernet switch not only provides the data connectivity but often the power to the IP cameras via Power over Ethernet (PoE). Ethernet switches are the fundamental backbone of a Local Area Network (LAN) and the critical connectivity point for everything that needs to communicate. Computers, laptops, printers, IP cameras, NVRs, IP phone systems (VoIP), WiFi, building infrastructure and access control systems now reside on the LAN. None of these systems could communicate without Ethernet switches providing the connectivity. Cheap switches invite chaos Unfortunately, according to Mark Prowten, vice president of Sales and Marketing at EtherWan Systems Inc., Anaheim, California, for the security industry and more specifically for IP surveillance systems, the Ethernet switch is often overlooked and sometimes deemed a cheap connectivity point with little to no importance. Seeking to lower costs, many security installers look for the cheapest components. This usually results in a system that doesn’t function correctly or reliably, he says. “Security installers using cheap or low-cost unmanaged switches find themselves continually going back to job sites trying to figure out why some cameras are working while others are not,” Prowten says. “With no method to troubleshoot, they start swapping out components, usually replacing one cheap switch with another assuming it is faulty. Typically, the switch is not faulty although it may appear to be on the surface. In many cases it was not specified properly and does not provide the capabilities needed for the system to function correctly.” The role of PoE PoE, according to Prowten, is a key element in making IP surveillance systems easy to install since both power and data run on a single Ethernet cable. “Cheap or low-cost switches typically do not provide the switching bandwidth performance and/or enough PoE capacity to power all the cameras reliably. Low-cost switches are usually unmanaged, meaning there is no option to log into the switch to troubleshoot connectivity or PoE power issues.” "Cheap or low-cost switches typically do not provide the switching bandwidth performance and/or enough PoE capacity to power all the cameras reliably," says Mark Prowten, VP of Sales and Marketing at EtherWan Systems EtherWAN recommends that integrators do the math, he says. “What we mean is to look at the maximum power demand for each camera, add up installed power demand and add 20 percent. Take this total power requirement and make sure to install an Ethernet switch with at least this amount of power. It is a good practice to budget for additional cameras to be added in the future as well.” Here’s an example: 8 camera systems with NVR and uplink to the network backbone would require a 10 port Ethernet switch – typically eight 10/100 Ethernet PoE ports to power the cameras, one Gigabit port for NVR connection and one Gigabit port for network uplink. Camera draw @ 12W each x 8 cameras = 96W + 20% overage (96W x .2) or 19.2W, (96W + 19.2W) = 115.2W total minimum PoE budget recommended. For this system, an Ethernet switch with at least 115.2W PoE power and 10 ports is needed. If there is the possibility for additional cameras or devices in the future, additional ports and PoE power would be needed. Accurate specifications for reliable installation Prowten says professionals managing a campus or large facility with hundreds of network devices need a properly designed specification with quality Ethernet switches that can meet the data demands of the environment and expected bandwidth requirements to ensure reliable network communications. “Using quality products that meet or exceed application requirements results in systems that are reliable from the start,” he says. “This translates into less installation, configuration and troubleshooting during the initial installation, resulting in increased bottom-line profitability. By designing and installing the network correctly with quality products, you also minimise or eliminate repeated visits to the customer site for troubleshooting. This increases the bottom line by minimising follow-up costs. More importantly, you have a satisfied customer who is much more likely to refer the dealer/integrator for other potential opportunities,” Prowten adds.