First Ethernet Switch In Space

Rebecca will you marry me? writes "The ESA's Columbus laboratory module was added to the International Space Station in February, but Hewlett-Packard has only now chosen to reveal that the LAN onboard Columbus uses a ProCurve 2524 switch." HP admits it was the "most unusual and demanding" project ProCurve has done yet.

Comments

Title is misleading

[N3TW4LK3R]

From TFA: "Two redundant LAN switches, developed by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) Astrium, already operate in the ISS network core and now have been joined by HP's ProCurve 2524 switch"

I sent this in an e-mail to Taco when the article was still in the 'mysterious future' but that message must have been stopped by his spam filter or something.

Yeah yeah, I must be new here ;)

Fortunately,

[Anonymous Coward]

they aren't using Linksys routers as well. Password: defaultshuttle

Cool test methodology

[dreamchaser]

Despite the misleading title (should probably say first OFF THE SHELF switch in orbit), it's pretty cool how they tested these. From TFA:

Switches from Cisco, D-Link, Avaya, 3Com, NetGear and Hewlett Packard were exposed to extreme levels of radiation in a particle accelerator in Villigen, Switzerland under conditions similar to space.

Makes one think more about all the radiation crewmembers get exposed to as well, even within the protective embrace of the Earth's magnetic field. That's one of the big hurdles to travel to Mars of course; long term exposure to varying levels of radiation (mostly from the Sun).

I just think it's geeky-cool that they put them in a particle accellerator for testing though.

Re:Cool test methodology

[brunokummel]

Despite the misleading title (should probably say first OFF THE SHELF switch in orbit)...
not necessarily, since It must be really hard to keep something ON THE SHELF in outer space.. =)
*drum rolls

Re:And this is interesting because?

[thomasdz]

Extended G-forces during launch might be a good test of how well solder joints, connectors, and other components are made.

well....

[KozmoKramer]

I see a job opportunity for a network engineer, or at the very least a network cabling repair guy. Imagine that help desk ticket @ NASA.......

Re:well....

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, I get paid 55 cents a kilometer for service calls. I definitely want this job, although my Honda Civic might have a tough time getting to orbit.

Re:And this is interesting because?

[N3TW4LK3R]

In space, it's exposed to all kinds of radiation that normally gets blocked by the earth's atmosphere.
This is one of the reasons we try to limit the complexity of electronics sent out to space. (and additionally, shield the hell out of everything)
I believe the shuttle uses a computer comparable to a 386, for this reason.

Rebecca! Save yourself!!

[th0mas.sixbit.org]

He's a nerd! Save yourself Rebecca!

(before you mod OT look at submission again ;) )

obligatory

[Lost Penguin]

In space, no one can hear the NIC scream.

The "HAM" sats did it a decade ago

[mbone]

The Amateur Radio satellites went to an Ethernet backbone some time ago - over a decade IIRC.

Re:And this is interesting because?

[Dogtanian]

Is there some reason why a router in orbit would behave differently in any way from a router sitting in a rack in the server room? I suspect there may be some timeout issues due to the network cable connecting them to ground control slightly exceeding the Ethernet spec's maximum length.

Re:And this is interesting because?

[muffel]

• Cooling: No 'natural' convection
• G-Forces, Vibration
• Radiation

Brown....

[mikelieman]

You ever ship anything UPS? If it survive *them*, launching into orbit should be a no-brainer.