GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms Raises The Bar For Port Density In 6U VMEbus Gigabit Ethernet Switches

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA December 9, 2008 GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, a unit of GE Enterprise Solutions, today announced the NETernity™ RM980RC and RM982RC 6U VMEbus Gigabit Ethernet switches. The two new products respond to the rapidly growing demand for high performance, high reliability switching and high port density. They extend the breadth and depth of NETernity Ethernet switches, providing engineers with more choice and flexibility as systems continue to rely on more Gigabit Ethernet communications in their architecture.

“Gigabit Ethernet switching is at the heart of today’s sophisticated, demanding network-centric applications,” said Rubin Dhillon, Communications Product Manager at GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, “and these two new products deliver the port density, features and price/performance that customers require. They also support our strategy of developing the industry’s broadest range of embedded switching products, allowing us to offer an appropriate solution for virtually every application and environment.”

The RM982RC is a configuration-managed switch, featuring GE Fanuc’s embedded OpenWare™ Lite management software that allows the switch to be monitored and/or controlled either locally or remotely. Management features include support for VLANs, MSTP, trunking, mirroring and limited SNMP. It can be configured with either 24 copper rear Gigabit Ethernet I/O ports or 22 copper rear I/O ports plus two fiber or copper ports routed to the front panel.

The unmanaged RM980RC provides a lower cost option for customers not requiring a managed switch, and is available in three configurations. The entry level unit supports twelve Gigabit Ethernet ports routed to rear I/O. Alternatively, a 24-port version and 22-port version are available, the latter with two further copper ports with RJ45 Connectors routed through the front panel.

Both the RM980RC and RM982RC are RoHS-compliant, and are capable of Layer-2 switching and routing at wire speed. 12-, 22-, and 24-port rear transition modules are available. Each switch board occupies only a single chassis slot (the 22- and 24-port rear transition modules require two slots) providing maximum port density per slot, and each is able to facilitate communications both within a chassis as well as supporting the external network.

The OpenWare Lite switch management environment is available on selected NETernity configuration-managed Layer 2 Ethernet switches, providing a common control and monitoring environment that can enhance customer productivity. Configuration and monitoring functions are accessible from a serial console or via a network. Supported access methods include Telnet, SSH and SNMP. OpenWare Lite is easy to deploy, and is Linux®-based, allowing faster implementation and easy updates to firmware. A familiar Linux command line interface and remote Telnet user interface support allows users to select how they interact with the switch. It is portable across switch fabrics and processor environments.

For more information about GE Fanuc in the communications market, please visit: www.gefanucembedded.com/communications

About GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms

GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, a joint venture between General Electric (NYSE: GE) and FANUC LTD of Japan, is a high-performance technology company and a global provider of hardware, software, services, expertise and experience in automation and embedded computing, with products employed in virtually every industry, including manufacturing automation, process automation, defense, Automotive, telecommunications, healthcare and aerospace. GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms is a worldwide company headquartered in Charlottesville, VA, and is part of GE Enterprise Solutions. GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms provides a unique foundation of agile, advanced and ultra-reliable technology that customers can trust to ensure their long-term success. For more information, visit www.gefanuc.com