Application Scenarios
At a North American hydroelectric dam,aging serial-based control links between turbine governors and the central HMI caused communication timeouts during peak load shifts.The facility upgraded to an Ethernet backbone using ENTERASYS A2H254-16 switches installed in outdoor enclosures near each generator.Despite ambient temperatures exceeding 65°C and frequent lightning-induced surges,the switches maintained 99.999%uptime over three years—thanks to their wide operating range,metal housing,and robust EMI shielding.This transition enabled real-time diagnostics and remote firmware updates,significantly reducing site visits.
Parameter
Main Parameters Value/Description
Product Model A2H254-16(suffix P0973BK likely denotes packaging/revision)
Manufacturer Enterasys Networks(now Extreme Networks)
Product Family Matrix N-Series Industrial Ethernet Switch
Ports 16×10/100BASE-TX copper RJ-45
Switching Capacity 3.2 Gbps
Forwarding Rate 2.38 Mpps
Management Web GUI,CLI(Telnet/SSH),SNMP v1/v2/v3
Key Features VLAN(IEEE 802.1Q),QoS(802.1p),IGMP Snooping,Port Trunking,STP/RSTP
Redundancy Protocols Spanning Tree,Rapid Spanning Tree;compatible with third-party ring protocols
Power Input Dual DC:12–48 VDC(wide-range);terminal block or pluggable connector
Operating Temperature Standard:0°C to+60°C;Extended:-40°C to+75°C(with conformal coating option)
Mounting DIN rail(35 mm)or wall mount
Enclosure Rating Metal housing,IP30(indoor use)
Certifications UL 61010,CSA,CE,FCC,IEC 61850-3(optional),IEEE 1613(for substation use)
Dimensions(W×H×D)180×130×90 mm
Status End-of-Life(EOL)–but still widely deployed;supported via Extreme legacy programs
Technical Principles and Innovative Values
Innovation Point 1:Deterministic Traffic Handling for OT Networks
Unlike commercial switches,the A2H254-16 prioritizes industrial protocols(e.g.,Modbus TCP,DNP3)using hardware-based QoS and strict queue management—ensuring control traffic isn’t delayed by background IT data.
Innovation Point 2:Dual Power Inputs with Reverse Polarity Protection
Two independent DC inputs allow connection to redundant power sources(e.g.,UPS+battery).If one fails,the switch continues operating without reboot—critical for uninterrupted process visibility.
Innovation Point 3:Optional Conformal Coating for Corrosive Environments
For offshore,chemical,or tropical installations,PCBs can be factory-coated with acrylic resin to resist moisture,salt spray,and sulfur compounds—extending MTBF by 2–3×.
Innovation Point 4:Legacy Protocol Optimization
IGMP snooping prevents multicast flooding from video or historian systems,while port rate limiting protects older PLCs from buffer overflow—key for hybrid IT/OT networks.
Application Cases and Industry Value
In a Chilean copper mine,28 ENTERASYS A2H254-16 switches form the backbone of a conveyor belt monitoring system spanning 12 km.Installed in dust-filled junction boxes with no climate control,the units have operated continuously since 2015.Maintenance logs show zero switch-related outages—attributed to their passive cooling design and wide voltage tolerance(24 VDC nominal,but stable from 18–52 V).
During a European refinery’s cybersecurity audit,the A2H254-16’s support for port security,MAC filtering,and SNMPv3 allowed it to meet IEC 62443 Level 2 requirements without replacement—delaying a costly network overhaul by five years.
Related Product Combination Solutions
Extreme Networks Summit Series:Modern replacement path(e.g.,EX2300-24P)with full backward compatibility.
ABB MasterView/Foxboro I/A Series:Often connected via A2H254-16 for operator station networking.
Redundant Ring Topology:Pair with Turbo Ring(via third-party software)or use RSTP for<50 ms failover.
Managed Media Converters:Extend fiber links from A2H254-16 to remote I/O racks.
Extreme Management Center(XMC):Centralized monitoring tool for legacy Enterasys fleets.
Industrial Firewalls:Deploy upstream to segment A2H254-16 traffic per Purdue Model.
DIN Rail Uninterruptible Power Supply(UPS):Ensures switch operation during brief outages.
Extreme Lifetime Warranty:Available for qualifying legacy units under support contract.
Installation,Maintenance,and Full-Cycle Support
Install the ENTERASYS A2H254-16 on a grounded DIN rail inside a ventilated enclosure.Use shielded Cat5e/6 cables with proper grounding at both ends to minimize noise.Configure VLANs to isolate control traffic from administrative access.Enable port security to lock down unused interfaces.
For maintenance,regularly back up configurations via TFTP and monitor port error counters.Although EOL,firmware updates and security patches may still be available through Extreme’s legacy portal with active support.
We supply tested A2H254-16 P0973BK units with:
Full power-on self-test
Port loopback validation
Configuration reset to factory defaults
Firmware version documentation
12-month warranty
