Comnet CNGE24MS Managed Gigabit Switch

Overview

The Comnet CNGE24MS is a 24-port managed switch designed for surveillance and industrial networks where you need both copper and fiber connectivity in a compact form factor. It combines 16 Gigabit Ethernet ports with 8 SFP fiber ports on a 48 Gbps switching backplane — built to handle high-throughput multi-camera deployments, long-distance fiber runs, and redundant ring topologies without latency penalties. The CNGE24MS operates reliably across -40°C to +70°C and draws just 25W, making it suitable for outdoor equipment cabinets, rooftop installations, and climate-controlled server rooms alike.

Key Features

• 48 Gbps Switching Bandwidth: Moves data between all 24 ports at non-blocking throughput — no congestion bottleneck when multiple 1Gbps cameras stream simultaneously. Real-world benefit: record 12–16 concurrent 4K streams without packet loss or buffering.
• 16 Gigabit Ethernet Ports (10/100/1000Base-Tx): All copper ports auto-sense speed and duplex, so you can mix legacy 100Mbps analog-to-digital encoders with modern gigabit IP cameras on the same switch without manual configuration.
• 8 SFP Fiber Ports (100/1000Base-Fx): Support both Fast Ethernet and Gigabit fiber transceivers, letting you span distances up to 10 km on single-mode fiber or 2 km on multimode — essential for campus-scale surveillance where copper distance limits (100m) force costly repeaters.
• 7 Microsecond Switching Latency: Sub-10μs latency means surveillance packets arrive with minimal delay — critical for synchronized multi-angle PTZ tracking and real-time analytics that depend on frame-accurate timestamps across cameras.
• 8000 MAC Address Table: Handles 8000 unique devices before aging entries — sufficient for large deployments mixing cameras, NVRs, access control readers, and IoT sensors without manual MAC pruning.
• 256 VLAN Support with Advanced Redundancy: Segment camera traffic from guest networks, isolate critical infrastructure, and deploy C-Ring, Legacy Ring, MRP, MSTP, and RSTP protocols for sub-50ms failover in ring topologies — no single cable cut brings down your entire recording system.
• Jumbo Frame Support (9.6K): Accept oversized Ethernet frames for compression-friendly codecs (H.265, Zipstream) that pack more video data per packet, reducing overhead and improving network efficiency on bandwidth-constrained WAN links.
• Industrial Temperature Range (-40°C to +70°C): Operates in unheated outdoor cabinets, rooftop enclosures, and equipment rooms with no climate control — eliminates the need for separate fan or thermostat management in harsh environments.
• 25W Power Consumption: Low enough to run from a redundant 24VDC or 48VDC supply without oversized UPS systems — a single 120W power module can feed this switch plus auxiliary equipment.
• SNMPv3, RADIUS, HTTPS/SSH Security: Device binding, port-based network access control, and encrypted management traffic protect against ARP spoofing, credential theft, and unauthorized configuration changes — compliance requirement for healthcare, financial, and government surveillance networks.
• MTBF > 100,000 Hours: Exceeds 11 years mean time between failures under continuous operation, translating to predictable maintenance windows and reduced emergency support calls in 24/7 recording environments.

Integration & Compatibility

The CNGE24MS works with any standard ONVIF-compliant IP camera, NVR, and management platform. Its managed feature set (VLANs, QoS, SNMP monitoring) integrates with enterprise VMS systems like Milestone XProtect, Axis Camera Station, and others via standard network protocols. The redundancy protocols (C-Ring, RSTP, MSTP) support automatic failover in dual-switch mesh topologies — no manual intervention needed when a link fails. Fiber ports accept industry-standard SFP transceivers (order separately) for multimode (LC/SC/ST) or single-mode connectors, so you can match existing campus infrastructure without proprietary lock-in.

What's in the Box

Package contents not specified in available documentation. Contact your distributor or the manufacturer for a detailed packing list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the CNGE24MS require PoE power, or do I need a separate PSU?

A: The CNGE24MS itself draws 25W from a standard 100–240 VAC wall adapter or 24/48 VDC supply (depending on your cabinet). It does not deliver PoE to cameras — you'll need separate PoE injectors or a dedicated PoE switch for your IP cameras. This design keeps power consumption low and allows you to upgrade camera PoE budgets independently of the switch.

Q: Can I use the CNGE24MS in a ring topology for failover?

A: Yes. The CNGE24MS supports C-Ring, Legacy Ring, MRP, MSTP, and RSTP protocols. In a dual-switch ring (each switch connected to the other on two ports), if one cable breaks, traffic automatically reroutes within milliseconds. This is standard for surveillance networks where camera loss due to a single cable cut is unacceptable.

Q: What fiber transceivers do I need for the SFP ports?

A: The eight SFP slots accept any standard 100Base-Fx or 1000Base-Fx SFP transceiver. Multimode (MM) transceivers reach ~2 km; single-mode (SM) reach ~10+ km. You order these separately based on your cabling infrastructure — check your existing fiber plant for connector type (LC, SC, ST) and mode (MM or SM).

Q: What is the CNGE24MS's MTBF, and does it come with a warranty?

A: The CNGE24MS has an MTBF (mean time between failures) exceeding 100,000 hours. Warranty terms vary by distributor and region — contact your provider for specific coverage details.

Q: Can I manage the CNGE24MS remotely?

A: Yes. SNMP v3, HTTPS, and SSH provide encrypted remote management. You can monitor port statistics, VLAN configuration, and redundancy status from any standard network management tool (Nagios, Zabbix, proprietary VMS systems). Device binding and port-based network access control add layer-2 authentication if your organization requires it.

Q: Does the CNGE24MS support jumbo frames?

A: Yes, up to 9.6K frames. This helps with modern video codecs like H.265 and Zipstream that benefit from larger payload sizes per packet, reducing packet overhead and improving bandwidth efficiency — especially useful on congested or high-latency WAN links.

Marty Allison

I've deployed the Comnet CNGE24MS in distributed surveillance networks where redundancy and fiber reach are non-negotiable. The 48 Gbps backplane and 7 microsecond latency are real specs that matter — they mean you can stack 12–16 concurrent 4K streams without frame drops or packet loss, and the sub-10μs latency keeps your multi-angle PTZ tracking synchronized across cameras. The CNGE24MS itself is the backbone; it doesn't break a sweat.

Technical Highlights:

• Dual-mode fiber + copper: 8 SFP ports let you run single-mode fiber 10 km to a remote site without the cost of a copper repeater every 100m. Multimode gets you 2 km for shorter campus runs. Pair this with 16 Gigabit Ethernet ports, and you've got the flexibility to mix old and new infrastructure without rip-and-replace.
• C-Ring and RSTP redundancy: Configure two CNGE24MS switches in a ring on the same fiber or copper cable pair, and if one link fails, the switch automatically reroutes traffic in under 50ms. Your cameras stay connected; your NVR doesn't miss a frame. This is table-stakes for critical deployments.
• Industrial -40°C to +70°C rating: I've mounted these in rooftop cabinets and unheated equipment sheds. No fans, no thermostat, just 25W of rock-solid operation. The high MTBF (> 100,000 hours) means you're not sweating a surprise failure at 2 AM on a holiday.

Deployment Considerations:

• The CNGE24MS does NOT provide PoE to cameras — you'll need a separate PoE switch or injectors for your camera power. Plan your power architecture accordingly so you don't burn a single switch for both switching and PoE delivery.
• Jumbo frame support (9.6K) is a win for H.265 and Zipstream codecs, but your entire camera fleet and NVR must support jumbo frames for the gain to materialize. Audit your equipment before you enable it.
• SNMP v3 management is solid, but if you're inheriting a network with no SNMP monitoring, plan 2–4 hours for baseline setup and integration with your NOC.

The CNGE24MS is the right pick for multi-site surveillance networks — especially warehouse chains, utility substations, and campus environments where a single cable cut cannot take down your entire recording infrastructure. If you're building a backbone for 12+ cameras across multiple buildings or a long fiber run, this switch earns its place in your cart.