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Networking in Extreme Conditions?

Posted by Cliff on from the this-article-will-self-destruct-in-5-seconds dept.

222 asks: "Mission: Create an intermediate distribution frame. Difficulty: A few feet away, industrial equipment will be generating roughly 2000 degree heat. Bonus: Keep the network switches inside the IDF from melting. Does anyone have experience in making IT work in such extreme conditions? Is there an enclosure in existence that can handle this type of abuse? This is essentially what I've been asked to accomplish, and now I'm asking my fellow readers for help: Can it be done?"

4 of 89 comments (clear)

  1. Watch out for interference by FooHentai · · Score: 5, Informative

    Having worked on and in a networked environment for a 24-hour steel mill, I can predict that you'll have just as much trouble with interference as you will with heat. Assuming you overcome the heat issue, whatever's generating it will also be generating so much interference you'll be lucky to get 10mbits from a gigabit line.

    Our solution was to use fiber for pretty much everything, to the point that we were using so much that it was simpler to use fiber for every tasks than mix in cat5.

    Regarding the heat issue, if you're based as an IT specialist in an industrial environment, then you have to liase with the site engineers for this kind of task. It's outside of your experience/training/knowledge, so don't succumb to vanity and assume that you have the intelligence to pull through it unaided. Such a place will already have other heat and interference-sensitive equipment which has been installed by engineers on-site, and they'll be able to do the same for your equipment.

    Expect a hefty price tag for installing a suitable thermal casing and ventilation system. Or after due consideration and consultation, if it can't feasibly be done then that's the end of the discussion.

    1. Re:Watch out for interference by Panaqqa · · Score: 5, Informative

      I agree with this. Having installed networking in an ironworks, I can tell you that the way to go is fibre - it will withstand both extreme temperature and extreme EMC/RFI interference. Why don't you take a quick look at Moxa and what they have to offer? They can be a starting point for you.

      Good luck! And I hope your client/employer has the budget for this one - we're not talking commodity priced stuff here.

  2. I endorse this product, service or comment by adamkennedy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The parent summed up the entire scenario for you perfectly.

    I trained as a mechanical engineer, and I work now in IT.

    Once you get into an industrial environment, recognise you don't know what you are doing.

    The site engineers should be quite happy for you to outline the locations and temperature range you need, and work out a solution to that problem. Be specific about the scope of your situation and don't try to solve the problem for them.

    And if you have to, work back up the chain a bit and see if they have alternate paths to send the cable, maybe that will help... The fibre is possibly a necesity too. I'm finishing up an airport project ATM, and everything that is important that needs to travel distances goes by fibre.

    Just remember, YOU'RE the clueless client now. Be clear and specific with exactly what you need achieved, and they should be able to help. :)

  3. Re:Why ? by badfish99 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or 1366 K for those of us who actually use SI units and can add.