Why you need Smart or Managed Automotive Ethernet Switch?
Switches are Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model Layer 2 devices that are responsible for forwarding frames addressed to other ports by using addresses in the layer 2 header (MAC addresses). The most common switch in the market is the unmanaged switch. These require little or no configuration as they learn where to forward traffic by building a table based on the traffic entering the switch. Unmanaged switches are not only a security risk in automotive, they lack features necessary in today’s evolving automotive architectures.
RAD-Pluto (intrepidcs.com/pluto) is Intrepid’s new 5-Port Smart Switch based on NXP SJA1105. Having IEEE 802.1Q™ tag support it can logically separate the network into multiple virtual LAN’s (VLAN) on a single device. Other features of the switch enable many other applications such as a media converter — creating an exclusive connection between two ports and block traffic from all other ports, port mirroring — monitor the traffic on specific ports, gateway functions — enabled by scripting to route messages from one network to another, and modify the contents of the frame as it passes through. Frame mirroring and VLAN tagging for advanced debug and monitoring.
The RAD-Pluto has 3x100BASE-T1 ports, 1x port that can be configurable between 100BASE-T1 or 1000BASE-T, and 1x port switchable between a USB3 GigE bridge or a port connected directly to a scripting processor. The rugged package also integrates 2xCAN FD channel and 1xLIN channel to interface with the rest of the vehicle. All of these network interfaces are combined with an embedded processor to execute real-time function block scripts and C code applications.
Some automotive applications required the additional capability of a managed switch. This switch adds a host processor or embedded core to allow the switch to support advanced functions and protocols. A managed switch may support dynamic VLAN management (MVRP), managing redundant paths, audio video bridging (AVB)/time sensitive networking (TSN) protocols, deep packet Inspection, and ingress policing and limiting. Intrepid’s RAD-Jupiter (intrepidcs.com/jupiter) is a ruggedized 7-port managed switch based on the Marvell 88Q5050 designed specifically for bench and vehicle network development.
The RAD-Jupiter has 5x100BASE-T1 ports, 1x switchable 1000BASE-T or 1000BASE-T1 port, and 1x 1000BASE-T or USB GigE Bridge. In addition, it contains a scripting processor connected to the switch having 2xCAN FD channels with programmable termination and 1xLIN channel to interface with the rest of the vehicle.
