Comnet CNGE20FX4TX16MS vs Comnet CNGE20MS: Specification Comparison
Both units are 20-port hardened managed Gigabit switches from Comnet, targeting industrial and transportation surveillance infrastructure where wide-temperature operation, DIN-rail mounting, and managed Layer 2 features are required. The CNGE20FX4TX16MS skews copper-heavy with 16 RJ45 ports and 4 SFP slots, while the CNGE20MS inverts that ratio with 12 SFP fiber ports and only 8 copper ports. Buyers choosing between them are primarily deciding on fiber-versus-copper port density, redundancy recovery performance, and the depth of management and security feature sets.
In This Guide
- Which switch better matches your fiber-to-copper port ratio requirements?
- How do the two switches compare on power budget, environmental hardening, and reliability ratings?
- Which unit offers deeper management, faster ring recovery, and stronger network security features?
- Which should you choose: the CNGE20FX4TX16MS or the CNGE20MS?
- Side-by-Side Specs
- FAQ
Which switch better matches your fiber-to-copper port ratio requirements?
The CNGE20FX4TX16MS provides 16 x RJ45 copper (10/100/1000Base-TX) ports and 4 x SFP slots (100/1000Base-FX), making it the right fit for deployments where the majority of endpoints—IP cameras, access control panels, intercoms—connect via copper Cat5e/Cat6 runs, with a handful of fiber uplinks or long-distance fiber drops.
The CNGE20MS reverses that balance: 8 x 10/100/1000Base-T(x) copper ports and 12 x 100/1000Base-FX SFP fiber ports. This profile suits fiber-rich campus backbones, transportation rings, or harsh-environment runs where most segments already use fiber and only a minority of edge devices need copper. The CNGE20MS also publishes a total switching bandwidth of 40 Gbps and a switching latency of 7 μs; the CNGE20FX4TX16MS does not list either metric in the provided specifications.
How do the two switches compare on power budget, environmental hardening, and reliability ratings?
Both switches share an identical operating temperature range of -40°C to +75°C and storage temperature of -40°C to +85°C, confirming suitability for the same outdoor cabinet or roadside enclosure environments. Power input range is identical: 12–48 VDC. The CNGE20FX4TX16MS explicitly lists redundant power input and specifies both reverse polarity protection and overload current protection—none of these three features are noted in the CNGE20MS specifications as provided.
Power consumption diverges: the CNGE20FX4TX16MS draws 15 W, versus 10 W typical for the CNGE20MS—a 50% higher draw for the copper-heavy unit, relevant in solar or battery-backed cabinets. MTBF is significantly different: the CNGE20FX4TX16MS specifies >220,000 hours versus >100,000 hours for the CNGE20MS. The CNGE20FX4TX16MS also carries an IP-30 metal case rating, CE/FCC Class A EMI, UL61010-2-201 and IEC60950 safety marks, and a full suite of IEC 60068 shock, freefall, and vibration ratings plus NEMA TS2 traffic environmental certification; the CNGE20MS specifications do not list case ingress rating, certifications, or environmental test standards. Operating humidity is 10–95% for the CNGE20FX4TX16MS versus 5–95% non-condensing for the CNGE20MS.
The CNGE20FX4TX16MS carries a stated Lifetime warranty. No warranty term is provided in the CNGE20MS specifications.
Which unit offers deeper management, faster ring recovery, and stronger network security features?
Ring redundancy recovery time is 20 ms for the CNGE20FX4TX16MS versus 30 ms for the CNGE20MS—a meaningful gap in video surveillance rings where a 30 ms outage can cause recorder frame drops or trigger motion-detection false events. Both support standard STP/RSTP/MSTP; the CNGE20FX4TX16MS additionally lists x-Ring Pro as a proprietary fast-recovery protocol.
Management depth is substantially richer on the CNGE20FX4TX16MS as specified: SNMP v1/v2c/v3, Web GUI, Telnet, RMON, TFTP/HTTP firmware upgrade, and SNTP client are all enumerated. VLAN support is equal at 256 groups, and both list VLAN modes; the CNGE20FX4TX16MS explicitly adds Q-in-Q and GVRP. IGMP Snooping v1/v2/v3, MLD Snooping, storm control (broadcast, multicast, unknown unicast), port mirroring, rate limiting (ingress/egress), IEEE 802.3ad link aggregation, 802.1x authentication, and MD5/TLS/TTLS/PEAP encryption are all listed for the CNGE20FX4TX16MS. The CNGE20MS specifications do not enumerate any of these management, multicast, security, or QoS features. MAC table size is equivalent at 8,000 entries on both units. Jumbo frame support is 9,216 bytes on the CNGE20FX4TX16MS and 9.6 KB (~9,830 bytes) on the CNGE20MS.
Which should you choose: the CNGE20FX4TX16MS or the CNGE20MS?
Our take: The CNGE20FX4TX16MS is the stronger choice when copper-dominant edge connectivity, deep managed-switch feature sets, faster ring recovery, and certified environmental hardening are the primary requirements. It delivers a 20 ms ring recovery time versus 30 ms on the CNGE20MS, an MTBF of >220,000 hours versus >100,000 hours, and explicitly documented 802.1x port security, IGMP Snooping v1/v2/v3, SNMP v1/v2c/v3, storm control, and redundant power input—none of which appear in the CNGE20MS specifications as provided. Its 16-copper/4-fiber port layout matches the typical IP camera or access control deployment. The CNGE20MS is the correct selection when the infrastructure is fiber-heavy—12 SFP ports to 8 copper—and the buyer's priority is lower power draw (10 W vs 15 W) or a high fiber port count at the aggregation layer, accepting that its provided specifications do not confirm certifications, security features, or warranty terms.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Spec-for-spec, from manufacturer data.
| Specification | Comnet CNGE20FX4TX16MS | Comnet CNGE20MS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Ports | 20 (16 RJ45 + 4 SFP) | 20 (8 RJ45 + 12 SFP) |
| Copper Ports | 16 x 10/100/1000Base-TX (RJ45) | 8 x 10/100/1000Base-T(x) |
| Fiber/SFP Ports | 4 x 100/1000 SFP | 12 x 100/1000Base-FX SFP |
| Switching Bandwidth | — | 40 Gbps |
| Switching Latency | — | 7 μs |
| MAC Address Table | 8K | 8,000 |
| VLAN Groups | 256 | 256 |
| Jumbo Frame | 9,216 bytes | 9.6 KB (~9,830 bytes) |
| Ring Recovery Time | <20 ms | <30 ms |
| Redundancy Protocols | IEEE 802.1D/w/s STP/RSTP/MSTP, x-Ring Pro | — |
| Power Input | 12–48 VDC, Redundant | 12–48 VDC |
| Power Consumption | 15 W | 10 W typical |
| MTBF | >220,000 hours | >100,000 hours |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to +75°C | -40°C to +75°C |
| Management | SNMP v1/v2c/v3, Web, Telnet, RMON | — |
| Certifications | CE, FCC Class A, UL61010-2-201, IEC60950, NEMA TS2, IEC 60068-2-6/27/32 | — |
| Case / Ingress | IP-30 Metal | — |
| Warranty | Lifetime | — |
| Weight | — | 2.67 lb |
| Dimensions | 7.4 x 10.5 x 15.2 cm | 3.8 x 4.15 x 6.06 in |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which should you choose: the CNGE20FX4TX16MS or the CNGE20MS?
The CNGE20FX4TX16MS is the stronger choice when copper-dominant edge connectivity, deep managed-switch feature sets, faster ring recovery, and certified environmental hardening are the primary requirements. It delivers a 20 ms ring recovery time versus 30 ms on the CNGE20MS, an MTBF of >220,000 hours versus >100,000 hours, and explicitly documented 802.1x port security, IGMP Snooping v1/v2/v3, SNMP v1/v2c/v3, storm control, and redundant power input—none of which appear in the CNGE20MS specifications as provided. Its 16-copper/4-fiber port layout matches the typical IP camera or access control deployment. The CNGE20MS is the correct selection when the infrastructure is fiber-heavy—12 SFP ports to 8 copper—and the buyer's priority is lower power draw (10 W vs 15 W) or a high fiber port count at the aggregation layer, accepting that its provided specifications do not confirm certifications, security features, or warranty terms.
Is the CNGE20FX4TX16MS or CNGE20MS better for a fiber-ring backbone connecting remote surveillance cabinets?
The CNGE20MS is the better fit for a fiber-ring backbone: it provides 12 x SFP fiber ports versus only 4 on the CNGE20FX4TX16MS, so more ring nodes or fiber uplinks can terminate directly without external media converters. However, the CNGE20FX4TX16MS specifies a faster ring recovery time of <20 ms versus <30 ms, which may matter if video continuity during a fiber-cut event is a hard requirement.
Which switch is more suitable for a traffic or transportation deployment that requires NEMA TS2 and vibration certifications?
Based on the provided specifications, only the CNGE20FX4TX16MS lists NEMA TS2 traffic environmental certification and IEC 60068-2-6 vibration, IEC 60068-2-27 shock, and IEC 60068-2-32 freefall test compliance. The CNGE20MS specifications do not include these certifications. For a DOT roadside cabinet or rail-side enclosure where NEMA TS2 is contractually required, the CNGE20FX4TX16MS is the only option confirmed by the available data.
Does either switch support 802.1x port-based access control and VLAN security for a zero-trust camera network?
The CNGE20FX4TX16MS explicitly specifies 802.1x authentication, MD5/TLS/TTLS/PEAP encryption, port security (static and dynamic), 802.1p/IP TOS/DSCP QoS, and 256-group VLANs with Q-in-Q support—a complete Layer 2 security feature set. The CNGE20MS specifications list 256 VLANs but do not enumerate 802.1x, encryption, port security, QoS, or storm control. Buyers requiring documented 802.1x support should select the CNGE20FX4TX16MS based on available spec data.
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