ERM1

The 1-Port Ethernet A/B switch ERM1 is a network selector for manual and voltage-based control of a single Ethernet connection. ERM1 is suitable for physically switching over 10 Gigabit Ethernet lines or switching them on or off.

For the changeover, the A/B network selector uses bistable relays that maintain their state even during power outages. Existing connections will not be affected.

As all eight contacts of an RJ45 connection are switched over one-to-one, ERM1 can also be used to control serial connections (RS-485, RS-232, RS-422).

Manual changeover from one network connection to another is performed using a 3-way toggle switch at the front of the device. Its position takes precedence over the voltage-based remote control. The current switching status is displayed by three LEDs for visual feedback.

For voltage-controlled switching, ERM1 is equipped with one digital input. A jumper configuration can be used to specify whether the line switching is level- or edge-triggered. The connection status is returned via a digital output, for example to a programmable logic controller (PLC).

ERM1 is designed for use in industrial applications and has no rotating parts. A fan is not required due to the low power requirement.

The ERM1 network selector is available exclusively as a hardware solution. For more demanding control options or more complex circuits, we recommend the 4-Port Ethernet Line Breaker ipELB.

Utilization as an ON/OFF switch

If one of the two ports A/B is left unassigned, the network selector ERM1 is suitable for the physical disconnection of Ethernet connections (Ethernet cut-off switch).

• Emergency shutdown of networks
• Remote maintenance access to siloed systems
• Sealing off conference rooms (e.g. cameras, IP telephony, Wi-Fi access points)
• Switching surveillance cameras on and off (e.g. POE cameras, network video recorders)
• Network kill switch
• Device protection

Application as an A/B switch

• Redundancy coupling for standalone systems
• Redundant ISP Integration
• Changeover to backup networks (e.g. recovery, failover, switchover)
• Shared use of network devices

Features

• 10M/100M/1G/10G Ethernet
• Transparent data transmission
• Conduct-through Power over Ethernet (PoE)
• Telecontrol using digital I/O

The following use cases illustrate potential applications of ERM1.

With ERM1, you can toggle between two Internet service providers (ISPs) easily to maintain smooth access to telecommunication lines even in the event of disruptions and outages of one provider.

While the connection to one of the providers is set active, the other remains disconnected from the network. In case of service quality issues with the active provider, ERM1 can be used to seamlessly switch to the alternative provider.

Switching between the providers can be performed manually using the 3-way hand switch of the ERM1 or automated via the digital I/O interface.

Redundant systems are commonly deployed to ensure the operation and reliability of critical systems. Yet many devices do not meet this requirement. With ERM1 even these devices can be used for redundant operation.

This is achieved by connecting two identically configured devices (e.g. by assigning identical IP addresses) to the Ethernet ports of the ERM1. The passive component remains physically separated from the network. If the active component fails, its connection is cut while the connection to the passive device is activated. Such a redundancy control can be implemented automatically via the digital I/O interface, for example.

With the increasing degree of networking between machines and industrial facilities, the need for remote maintenance access to optimize costs is likewise growing. At the same time, this raises the risk of cyber attacks, especially if systems with deprecated security mechanisms or legacy systems are deployed.

With ERM1, the consequential exposure to attacks can be minimized. If momentarily not required, maintenance connections can be physically disconnected. Thus potential attackers have no opportunity to exploit an idle port to implant malicious code.

To meet higher demands on the monitoring and control options of the ERM1, the integration of ip4Cloud/SEC3IO offers numerous additional functionalities. On the one hand, it enables the automation of the ERM1 network selector using standardized communication protocols (e.g. SNMP, REST, OPC UA, MQTT). On the other hand, the status of an ERM1 1-port Ethernet A/B switch can be monitored and controlled via its integrated web interface.

With the integrated 8x digital I/O interface of the SEC3IO, up to eight ERM1 instances can be managed effortlessly. Additionally, powerful functions are available for data processing, which can be used for capturing and setting switching states to control ERM1.