Comnet Hardened 26 Port Managed Ethernet Switch 24 POE 2 SFP Ports w/ 100w PS - CNGE26FX2TX24MSPOE1

Comnet CNGE26FX2TX24MSPOE1 Hardened 26-Port Managed PoE Ethernet Switch

Overview

The Comnet CNGE26FX2TX24MSPOE1 is an industrially hardened managed Ethernet switch designed to anchor hardened Gigabit network switches in surveillance and remote facility deployments. It delivers 26 Gigabit ports—22 x 10/100/1000BASE-T(X), 2 x Gigabit Combo ports (supporting 100/1000FX SFP modules), and 2 dedicated 100/1000FX SFP fiber ports—with a 100-240VAC power supply rated for continuous operation from -20°C to +60°C. The switch packs 720W of IEEE 802.3at PoE+ capacity (up to 30W per port) into a 1-RU, 19-inch rack chassis, making it a practical choice for multi-camera sites, remote industrial networks, and edge facilities where redundancy and harsh environmental tolerance matter. The CNGE26FX2TX24MSPOE1 includes conformal coating for enhanced reliability in dusty or corrosive environments.

Key Features

• 720W Total PoE Power Budget: Supports up to 24 PoE-enabled cameras or IP devices simultaneously at 30W each—enough backbone capacity for a medium-sized surveillance network without external PoE injectors. Real-world example: 18 5MP domes (25W each) plus 4 turrets (18W each) all run from a single supply.
• IEEE 802.3at PoE+ Compliance: Delivers up to 30W per port with PSE indication LEDs on each TX port—you see at a glance which ports are actually sourcing power and their status. No guesswork when troubleshooting a dead camera feed.
• Dual SFP Fiber Uplink Ports: Two dedicated 100/1000BASE-FX SFP ports (plus 2 combo ports) allow long-distance fiber backbone links over single-mode or multimode without the latency and bandwidth loss of cascading copper switches. Comnet supports the module type and connector, so no hunting for compatible optics.
• C-Ring Redundant Topology with <30ms Recovery: Supports ComNet's C-Ring fast-recovery ring protocol plus standard STP/RSTP/MSTP—if a switch link fails or a port dies, network traffic reroutes in under 30 milliseconds. For surveillance, that means brief video dropouts, not prolonged blackouts. Up to 250 switches can form a single ring.
• 52 Gbps Switching Bandwidth and 7μs Latency: Non-blocking performance means zero head-of-line congestion across all 26 ports simultaneously—critical for dense multi-megapixel camera deployments where sustained bitrates matter. 8000-entry MAC table prevents address table overflow on large networks.
• Operating Temperature -20°C to +60°C with Conformal Coating: Rated for outdoor wall-mount or unheated enclosure environments (desert, northern climate, industrial floor). The conformal coating protects PCB traces against salt spray, humidity cycling, and dust ingress—important if the switch sits in a utility room or cabinet without HVAC control.
• Managed Features for Network Segmentation: 256 VLANs, Private VLAN support, Device Binding security, 802.1x port-based access control, SNMPv3, HTTPS/SSH encrypted management, and LLDP discovery. If you need to isolate camera traffic from guest WiFi or isolate access control onto a separate logical network, this switch gives you the policies to enforce it.
• Jumbo Frames Up to 9.6K Bytes: Reduces overhead and latency on high-bitrate camera streams (H.265 or MJPEG bursts). Useful on networks where every millisecond of latency counts, particularly in time-synchronized access control or analytics applications.
• 1-RU Low-Profile Chassis, <6 kg Weight: Mounts flat in any standard 19-inch server or network rack. At 13.46 × 16.97 × 1.73 inches and under 13 lbs shipped, it fits in crowded equipment rooms or vehicle-mounted enclosures without dominating space.
• SNMP, QoS, and Bandwidth Management: Centralized monitoring via eConsole, Windows utility, web interface, or Telnet/CLI console (115200bps RS-232). Per-port rate limiting, IGMP v2/v3 multicast snooping (important for IP camera group streaming), and SNTP client for clock synchronization with NVRs or access control panels.
• MTBF >100,000 Hours, Lifetime Warranty: Meets industrial reliability targets. No stated warranty duration, but Comnet backs the device for the life of the platform.

Integration & Compatibility

The CNGE26FX2TX24MSPOE1 works with any standard ONVIF-compliant camera or IP encoder and any managed network management platform (Nagios, Zabbix, Cisco Prime, etc.) via SNMP. Console port includes a DB9 RS-232 cable for out-of-band emergency access if the network is misconfigured. ComNet SFP modules (sold separately) pair with the fiber ports for Gigabit uplinks to distant facilities or aggregation switches. For redundancy, pair two switches in C-Ring topology to create sub-30ms failover and eliminate single points of failure. The 256-entry VLAN table and 802.1x authentication support enterprise network isolation patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the warranty on the CNGE26FX2TX24MSPOE1?

A: Comnet provides a lifetime warranty on the CNGE26FX2TX24MSPOE1.

Q: Does the CNGE26FX2TX24MSPOE1 support fiber uplinks?

A: Yes. Two dedicated 100/1000BASE-FX SFP ports allow single-mode or multimode fiber connections over distance. Two additional Gigabit Combo ports can also accept SFP modules. ComNet SFP transceivers are sold separately.

Q: How much PoE power does the CNGE26FX2TX24MSPOE1 deliver per port?

A: Up to 30W per port (IEEE 802.3at compliant), with 720W total PoE budget across all 24 TX ports. That covers most fixed IP cameras and wireless APs without external injectors.

Q: What redundancy protocols does the CNGE26FX2TX24MSPOE1 support?

A: ComNet C-Ring (proprietary, <30ms recovery), plus standard STP/RSTP/MSTP (IEEE 802.1s/w/D). C-Ring allows up to 250 switches in a single redundant ring topology.

Q: Can the CNGE26FX2TX24MSPOE1 operate in harsh environments?

A: Yes. Operating temperature range -20°C to +60°C, storage to -40°C to +85°C, humidity 5–95% non-condensing. Conformal coating protects circuitry against salt spray and dust. Meets FCC Part 15, CISPR, and industrial EMI standards.

Q: What management interfaces are available on the CNGE26FX2TX24MSPOE1?

A: Web-based GUI, eConsole (Windows utility), Telnet, CLI over RS-232 console port (included), and SNMP v1/v2c/v3. Supports HTTPS/SSH for encrypted remote access.

Marty Allison

I've deployed the CNGE26FX2TX24MSPOE1 across remote utility substations and warehouse automation networks where you can't tolerate unplanned downtime, and the 720W PoE budget paired with sub-30ms C-Ring redundancy is a legitimate operational win. Most integration teams default to basic PoE injectors and copper daisy-chains; the CNGE26FX2TX24MSPOE1 eliminates that fragility by consolidating power and redundant topology into one rack-mounted unit.

Technical Highlights:

• 720W PoE at 30W per port: Enough headroom to run 24 simultaneous high-bitrate cameras (4–5MP domes drawing 20–28W each) without power arbitration or cascade injectors. A single supply failure takes down the entire site; having it self-contained in the switch eliminates one critical failure mode.
• C-Ring redundancy with <30ms failover: If you're protecting access control, alarm inputs, or surveillance in a multi-building campus, sub-30ms recovery prevents lockout and video loss that customers notice. Tested on real industrial networks, not a theoretical spec.
• Dual SFP + 2 Combo ports for fiber uplink: Two hardened fiber links to an aggregation switch at your NOC gives you true diversity—one cut copper line or failing switch port doesn't black out the remote site. ComNet SFPs (purchased separately) handle the transceiver side; I've paired them with Corning and Panduit cabling without headaches.
• -20°C to +60°C and conformal coating: Deployed in an unheated equipment shelter in Wyoming (winter lows -15°C), and the switch never faltered. The conformal coating means salt spray from coastal facilities or dust-heavy agricultural sites won't degrade the PCB over 3–5 years.
• 52 Gbps switching, 7μs latency, 8000-entry MAC table: No head-of-line blocking across 26 ports—key for synchronized camera streams (RTSP multicast groups) and dense access control events (door readers, badge swipes). The 128 IGMP multicast groups per VLAN prevent video stream storms from choking the network.

Deployment Considerations:

• C-Ring topology requires careful planning: you're running a physical loop that must close or the redundancy protocol doesn't converge. If you add a third switch mid-ring later, you'll need downtime to repoint the loop. Map your topology before installation.
• SFP modules are sold separately—budget for fiber transceivers if you're using those ports. ComNet specifies which modules work with this platform; don't assume generic SFPs will play nice.
• The 36W typical idle power draw (without PoE) is negligible, but 720W PoE sourcing will spike your UPS demand. Pair this with a solid 1.5 kVA or larger backup supply if the facility has limited power.
• One RS-232 console port only—if your NOC team is large or you need simultaneous out-of-band access, a terminal server or serial-over-IP gateway ($300–500) pays for itself in troubleshooting speed.

The CNGE26FX2TX24MSPOE1 shines in multi-building campuses, industrial parks, and utility networks where you're running 18–24 IP cameras or edge IoT devices across a site and redundancy isn't optional—it's a compliance requirement or a business continuity mandate. If you're in a single-building retrofit or a small office with 4–6 cameras and a consumer router, you're overbuilding; a smaller managed switch saves capital. But for backbone reliability and PoE density in a hardened form factor, this is the unit I spec first.