With the 7th generation of Micro Switches, MICROSENS consistently evolves the proven installation switch concept that has been successfully established in FTTO networks for decades. Designed for modern Fiber to the Office (FTTO) architectures, the Micro Switch continues to represent the decentralized workstation component, converting or switching optical uplink signals from the central building distributor directly to standardized RJ-45 user interfaces within the office environment.
The 7th generation platform is based on a high-performance Layer-2+ switching architecture with full wire-speed, non-blocking forwarding and Energy Efficient Ethernet according to IEEE 802.3az. Depending on the variant, the Micro Switch provides Gigabit Ethernet or 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks via SFP/SFP+ interfaces (100/1000Base-X or 1/10GBase-R), enabling future-proof bandwidth scalability directly at the workplace.
In addition to the optical uplinks, the devices offer multiple copper downlink and user ports (10/100/1000Base-T). As part of the FTTO cabling concept, selected ports can be used as hidden downlinks within the installation to connect additional infrastructure devices such as WLAN access points, IP cameras, or IoT components without visible cabling.
The PoE+ variants (IEEE 802.3at, downward compatible with IEEE 802.3af) are equipped with PSE ports for powering PoE-compliant end devices directly from the Micro Switch, while on certain variants, one additional port can operate as a Powered Device (PD). This allows flexible power supply concepts, including centralized or decentralized PoE feeding, eliminating the need for local power adapters at the workstation. Due to the PoE power requirements, the devices are supplied with 44–57 VDC (typically 54 VDC) from an external installation power supply integrated into the building infrastructure.
For management and security, the 7th generation Micro Switches are based on a future-oriented Linux operating system and provide comprehensive Layer-2+ features. Access to the device is protected via HTTPS, SSH, and SNMPv3, with support for modern authentication mechanisms such as IEEE 802.1X, RADIUS, and TACACS+. Selected models additionally support MACsec encryption (IEEE 802.1AE) on fiber uplinks, providing line-rate Layer-2 encryption for highly secure enterprise and campus networks.
A hidden USB-C console interface enables direct local management access, while the integrated microSD card slot can optionally be used as a secure backup medium for firmware and configuration data. By exchanging the memory card, the complete device configuration and status can be transferred quickly, supporting efficient device replacement and maintenance.
The Micro Switches are fully integrated into the MICROSENS Network Management Platform (NMP), enabling centralized configuration, monitoring, and firmware management for large FTTO installations. Advanced redundancy mechanisms such as Spanning Tree, ERPS (G.8032v2), and MICROSENS Ring Protocol support highly available network topologies even at the access layer.
Thanks to the compact M45 mounting format, fanless design, and extensive range of installation accessories, the 7th generation Micro Switches can be seamlessly integrated into standard electrical installation systems, floor boxes, wall outlets, or cable ducts—combining high performance, security, and flexibility in a discreet and future-proof FTTO solution
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