Expanded family of rugged routers and switches for enhanced Edge computing

Elma Electronic Inc. offers three new models to its NetSys family of rugged, secure networking systems that enable edge computing in various mission-critical applications. The routers provide increased data handling performance by using an onboard encryption module that offloads packet encryption and decryption from the routing engine.

The basis of all three SFF models is Cisco's ESR-6300, which provides IP-based data, voice and video to mobile users with fast and secure network performance. Enterprise-grade Cisco IOS XE routing and switching security features assist in ensuring highly secure voice, video, and data communication.

New models include the NetSys-5310: router with an ARM QuadCore A72 CPU; NetSys-5311: router adds POE and POE+ support and up to 60 GB Flash storage with expansion capability; and NetSys-5312: router also adds two 10GbE ports and either 7GbE or 23GbE ports via an ESS-3300 switch for advanced networking functionality.

Mark Littlefield, senior manager of embedded computing solutions at Elma Electronic Inc., noted, "The dependable architecture provided by the integrated Cisco IOS Embedded Services Routing (ESR) software provides secure connectivity for mobile and remote data applications. Combining this functionality with Elma's expertise in ruggedised electronics means systems designers can confidently employ secure data, voice and video communications in the growing number of applications that require computing at the edge."

To provide data integrity, the included onboard Trust Anchor module, image signing, Secure Boot, and runtime defences make sure that the code running on the ESR-6300 hardware platform is authentic, unmodified and operating as intended.

Based on the company's building block design concept for modular electronics, the Swap-optimised NetSys models are extendable and configurable for cost-effective upgrades in future expansion or system redefinition.

The family brings Cisco Mobile Ready Net capabilities to mobile and fixed IP based network routing capability deployed in extreme environments experienced in drilling and mining operations, commercial air and ground transport infrastructure, mobile ground, energy distribution, shipboard and air defence equipment, and homeland security and emergency services.

The company's other SFF modular embedded computing systems incorporate the ComSys family for communication-based computing and JetSys series for AI-based processing.