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transition networks: Transition Networks Broadens Industrial Portfolio With New Managed All-Gigabit Switch

^{Published on 2009-05-12 06:17:33, Last Modified on 2009-11-03 07:38:17 - Market Wire}
 

MINNEAPOLIS, MN--(Marketwire - May 12, 2009) - Transition Networks Inc., the switching and conversion technology expert, a wholly owned subsidiary of Communications Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: [ JCS ]), today announced the introduction of a new industrial-hardened device designed to offer a Gigabit-speed, built-in migration path to high-availability devices at the network edge in industrial and outdoor environments. The addition of a fully managed 8-port Gigabit switch to Transition's already vast industrial portfolio enables industrial customers to deploy a 100Base solution today with the peace-of-mind that comes from owning a network with a built-in migration path to Gigabit speeds.

The new offering is a fully managed, ruggedized device designed to reliably operate in harsh networking environments found on factory floors, outdoor enclosures or other hazardous environments and is backed by an unsurpassed Lifetime Warranty.

"Many industrial environments today are using 100Base Ethernet, however system administrators at industrial plants are concerned about the cost of upgrading the network in the future to support higher speed devices. The fiber uplinks in this switch, because they support dual speeds, can be migrated to Gigabit speed by simply swapping out the small form pluggable (SFP) modules," said Patrick Schaber, Director of Marketing at Transition Networks. "Especially as revenue-challenged organizations extend their industrial-grade networks, Transition Networks' new all-Gigabit industrial switch offers network administrators an Ethernet migration path at a cost that can be predicted today."

8-port Industrial Managed Gigabit Switch with Redundant Fiber

The SISGM1040-162D-LR is a ruggedized, fully managed switch designed to provide high availability dual-speed fiber connectivity to network devices that may be located in remote, outdoor or factory floor locations. It has 6 x 10/100/1000Base-T RJ-45 ports, plus 2 x 10/100/1000Base-T RJ-45 or 100/1000Base-X SFP combo ports. All of the RJ-45 ports support Auto-negotiation and AutoCross™ (auto MDI/MDI-X), while the SFP ports support both 100Base-FX and 1000Base-X SFP optics.

Software features include support for IEEE 802.1Q VLANs, IEEE 802.1P Class of Service, IGMP for Multi Media applications, X-ring, Dual Homing, Couple and Dual Ring Topologies providing redundant backup and recovery times below 20 milliseconds. The switch can be managed via Telnet and Command-Line interfaces as well as through its built-in Web interface. Support for industry standard SNMP v1/v2c/v3 ensures manageability through third-party open management software packages.

Remote firmware upgrade capability, via the industry standard TFTP protocol, enables future software enhancements. This, coupled with the product's multi-speed, Gigabit-capable network ports and Transition Networks' exclusive lifetime warranty, ensures this switch can become a building block in industrial networks designed for the long-term and for future migration to higher performance.

Offered in an operating temperature range of -10°C to +50°C, this switch also provides dual, redundant, auto-sensing 12 - 48VDC power inputs with reverse polarity power input protection and overload current protection, as well as a relay contact output circuit for controlling external alarms. DIN-rail and wall mount brackets are included as standard.

Product Availability and Configuration

Transition's new industrial-hardened, fully managed all-Gigabit switch is available immediately.

 Product Description ------- ----------- SISGM1040-162D-LR Industrial Managed Gigabit Switch with (6) 10/100/1000BASE-T (RJ-45) + (2) 10/100/1000BASE-T or 100/1000BASE-X SFP Combo Ports 

Please contact Transition Networks at (800) 526-9267 or visit [ www.transition.com ] for the latest information.

About Transition Networks Products

Transition Networks' conversion products are known for their ruggedness and reliability. They have a 99.4 percent customer acceptance rating, meaning that approximately one in 1,000 experience failure in the field. All Transition Networks brand of media converters and switches carry a lifetime warranty.

About Transition Networks Inc.

Transition Networks Inc. offers networking connectivity solutions that make networks perform better, faster and more reliably while helping companies leverage their existing networking infrastructure. The company's Transition Networks brand of media converters make conversion between disparate media types possible, providing conversion technology solutions that offer the necessary adaptations without affecting the performance, nature or appearance of the network. Its complete MILAN portfolio of multilayer switching products is designed to facilitate low-cost network evolution with unique solutions, easing the stress on networks caused by high-bandwidth applications. Based in Minneapolis, Transition Networks distributes hardware-based connectivity solutions exclusively through a network of resellers in 50 countries, including Ingram Micro and Tech Data. Transition Networks is a wholly owned subsidiary of Communications Systems, Inc., a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: [ JCS ]).

Statements regarding the Company's anticipated performance in 2009 are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: competitive products and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.