Comnet Hardened 3 Port 1000Mbps + 7 Port 100Mbps Managed Switch Includes Power Supply - CNGE3FE7MS3

Comnet CNGE3FE7MS3 Hardened Managed Ethernet Switch

Overview

The Comnet CNGE3FE7MS3 is a 10-port industrial managed switch engineered for outdoor and extreme-temperature surveillance and network automation deployments. Seven 10/100BASE-T ports handle standard twisted-pair copper runs; three configurable gigabit combo ports accept either copper (10/100/1000BASE-T) or fiber (100/1000BASE-FX via SFP modules) — a real advantage when you need to span distances or isolate electrical noise on isolated fiber legs. Built for -40°C to +75°C operation (functional to +85°C), this switch is designed to NEMA TS-1/TS-2 and Caltrans traffic control specifications, making it suitable for roadside, pipeline, utility, and remote surveillance installations where commercial-grade networking alone won't survive the environment.

The CNGE3FE7MS3 delivers 7.4 Gbps switching bandwidth with sub-7-microsecond latency — tight enough for real-time video streaming across dozens of simultaneous streams without queuing delays that degrade frame delivery to edge analytics or VMS platforms. DIN-rail and wall mounting are both supported, and a power supply is included in the box, eliminating the need to source a separate industrial DC supply.

Key Features

• 7.4 Gbps switching bandwidth, 7 μs latency: All 10 ports can theoretically forward traffic simultaneously with minimal delay. For a 10-camera surveillance network where each camera transmits 8–15 Mbps, this overhead prevents buffer buildup that would cause frame drops or jitter to your VMS or edge recorder.
• 7 x 10/100BASE-T ports + 3 x combo gigabit ports: The seven 100Mbps ports handle the bulk of edge cameras and IoT sensors; the three combo ports scale uplink capacity or connect long-distance fiber links without requiring separate media converters. Auto MDI/MDIX eliminates the guesswork on straight vs. crossover cabling.
• Configurable SFP combo ports (100/1000BASE-FX): Slide in optional multimode or single-mode SFP modules to run fiber legs — critical when you need to isolate electrical noise between buildings, cross parking lots, or reach 2 km+ with single-mode. No external converter box needed; the port itself handles both copper and fiber.
• Operating temperature -40°C to +75°C (functional to +85°C): Unlike commercial switches that fail below 0°C or above 40°C, this unit survives Canadian winters, desert heat, and unheated utility shelters. MTBF >100,000 hours underpins long service intervals in remote locations where service calls cost thousands.
• Layer 2 managed switching with STP/RSTP/MSTP: Ring topologies with sub-250ms failover recovery are supported via Spanning Tree Protocol variants — essential for redundant video backhaul where a single link failure must not black out your network. VLAN tagging (802.1Q) with 4096 VLANs lets you isolate camera traffic from administrative traffic, containing broadcast storms.
• IGMP v2/v3 snooping and IP multicast support: If you deploy multicast video streams (common in enterprise VMS architectures), the switch prevents multicast flooding by snooping IGMP joins — saves bandwidth and prevents video lag across dozens of client subscriptions.
• Quality of Service (802.1p), TOS/DiffServ: Prioritize real-time video and control traffic over background management or backups. Tag video streams with high priority, and the switch will rate-limit lower-priority traffic if congestion occurs — keeps your live feeds moving.
• SNMP v1/v2c/v3, RMON, SNTP, PTP client sync: Monitor port health, packet statistics, and errors via industry-standard SNMP. Synchronize clocks across switches and cameras to PTP (Precision Time Protocol) for forensically accurate multi-camera video correlation. eConsole management tool and web-based or Telnet configuration streamline provisioning across distributed sites.
• SFP DDM (Digital Diagnostic Monitoring): Remotely query the operating voltage, current, and temperature of installed SFP modules — catch a failing fiber transceiver before it silently drops packets.
• Redundant DC inputs, fault relay output: Two power terminals accept 12–48 VDC. If one supply fails, the second keeps the switch running — no downtime. Relay contact closes on alarm condition, triggering external alert systems or failover logic.
• DIN-rail or wall mounting, 2.93 x 4.3 x 6.05 inches, 2.29 lb: Compact form factor fits standard 35mm DIN track in outdoor cabinets or bolts directly to a wall. Lightweight enough for pole or tower mounting without reinforcement.
• 12 W typical power consumption: Minimal heat generation — important in sealed cabinets where cooling is limited. At 12 W under typical load, a 60W industrial DC supply can power 4–5 of these switches plus cameras and sensors.

Integration & Compatibility

The CNGE3FE7MS3 is IEEE 802.3 compliant and auto-negotiates with any standard Ethernet device. It pairs seamlessly with IP cameras, NVRs, managed PoE injectors, and industrial controllers. HTTPS and SSH encryption, plus port-level MAC locking, protect against unauthorized access in shared cabinet environments. The switch is compatible with Moxa Turbo ring topologies — if you're already running a Moxa-based network, the CNGE3FE7MS3 integrates directly.

What's in the Box

1x Comnet CNGE3FE7MS3 managed switch, 1x 12–48 VDC power supply with terminal block connectors, 1x DIN-rail mounting bracket.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to buy SFP modules separately for the combo ports?

A: Yes. The three combo ports default to copper (10/100/1000BASE-T) operation. To use fiber, you must purchase appropriate SFP transceivers separately — multimode for short runs (<2 km), single-mode for longer distances. The port itself supports both; the module you insert determines the media.

Q: Can the CNGE3FE7MS3 be powered by a PoE injector?

A: No. The switch requires 12–48 VDC via terminal block connectors on the rear. A dedicated industrial DC power supply (included) is the only power option. The switch does not source PoE itself — it is a passive Layer 2 switch.

Q: What's the maximum VLAN count, and does it support VLAN tagging?

A: The CNGE3FE7MS3 supports up to 4096 VLANs per IEEE 802.1Q, with full VLAN tagging and GVRP support. This allows you to isolate camera traffic, control traffic, and management traffic on separate logical networks across shared physical ports.

Q: Does the CNGE3FE7MS3 work at temperature extremes like -40°C?

A: Yes. Operating temperature range is -40°C to +75°C, with functional operation possible up to +85°C. This switch is specifically hardened for outdoor, unheated, or extreme-temperature environments — a key differentiator from commercial switches rated only 0–40°C.

Q: Can I use Spanning Tree Protocol for network redundancy?

A: Yes. The CNGE3FE7MS3 supports STP, RSTP, and MSTP (IEEE 802.1D/w/s) with ring recovery time under 250 ms. This enables loop-free redundant topologies with fast failover, essential for mission-critical surveillance backhaul.

Q: Is the CNGE3FE7MS3 wall-mountable?

A: Yes. It supports both DIN-rail (35 mm track) and direct wall mounting. The included bracket accommodates both configurations.

Ted Perry

I've specified the CNGE3FE7MS3 into remote utility monitoring networks, highway toll plazas, and pipeline SCADA sites where commercial switches simply don't survive the environment. The -40 to +75°C operating window is the real draw here — most managed switches fail below freezing or above 50°C. Pair that with the 7.4 Gbps switching bandwidth and sub-7-microsecond latency, and you've got a platform that won't bottleneck real-time video or industrial control data.

Technical Highlights:

• 7.4 Gbps bandwidth, 7 μs latency: All 10 ports forwarding simultaneously with negligible delay — critical when you're running 24/7 video from a dozen cameras plus IoT telemetry. No frame queuing or jitter to the VMS.
• Redundant 12–48 VDC inputs with fault relay: Two power terminals mean if one supply fails, the switch stays up. The relay contact is wired to your site alarm system — you know instantly if power is lost. At 12 W typical draw, a single industrial supply can power 4–5 CNGE3FE7MS3 units plus cameras.
• Three combo gigabit ports (copper or fiber via SFP): Swap SFP modules without power-cycling — scale from 100Mbps runs to 1Gbps uplinks or fiber legs without physical port replacement. This flexibility alone justifies the managed architecture.
• STP/RSTP with <250 ms ring recovery: If you're running a redundant ring topology (common in utility and surveillance), the switch detects a broken link and reroutes traffic through the alternate path in under 250 ms. Zero downtime for a single link failure.
• IGMP v2/v3 snooping, multicast support: Enterprise VMS systems often use multicast for multi-camera playback. The switch forwards multicast only to subscribed ports — prevents flooding and keeps bandwidth available for live streams.

Deployment Considerations:

• SFP combo ports ship as copper (10/100/1000BASE-T). If you need fiber, budget for SFP module cost upfront — multimode (LC/SC) for short runs, single-mode for long-distance or electrically noisy sites.
• At 2.29 lb and 6.05 inches deep, this switch fits tight outdoor cabinets, but plan for airflow — 12 W is low, but sealed metal enclosures can trap heat in direct sun. Passive cooling (DIN mounting on the cabinet wall) usually suffices.
• Telnet, SNMP, and web configuration are all supported, but only HTTPS and SSH encrypt management traffic. If this switch is on an untrusted network, restrict admin access to SSH over a dedicated VLAN or out-of-band management port.

Deploy this switch at the network edge of a distributed surveillance or SCADA network, especially where temperature swings are extreme or power is unreliable. Its combination of industrial hardening, Layer 2 managed features, and redundancy support makes it the right foundation for mission-critical remote video or control backhaul.