Case Study

A physical layer switch fabric consists of electronic and/or electro-mechanical devices that function as automated cable patch panels. These switch devices have been in use, successfully, in US Navy labs for many years and providing efficiencies in “wire once” cable management; reduced wear and tear on cables and equipment; cost savings through equipment sharing and reduced electrical consumption and floor space savings. Some of these switches and their control interface date to the early 1970s and are still in use today. However, over time the manufactures have been bought out; product lines discontinued and/or the company has gone out of business.

The PURVIS Master Switch Controller (MSC) software application was designed as a unified control solution to manage a multivendor physical layer switch environment. The PURVIS MSC controls switches from PURVIS, T-bar, Matrix Systems, ITI, APCON, Astarte, X-com and ITI through a single point and click GUI. The MSC is a network-centric client-server design that allows distributed PC desktops or laptops to control all of the physical layer switches throughout a facility, rapidly and accurately. Utilizing Open Standards, protocols and COTS in the design mitigates obsolescence issues and provides for a sustainable system.

Automated re-configuration eliminates the wear and tear on cables and equipment. Unified control using the MSC provides the confidence the facility is configured rapidly and correctly. The MSC provides the positive feedback that all interfaces for a system configuration are connected or it tells you which ones are not. Complex physical networks are connected and verified in seconds, not hours or days.

Cost savings are achieved through equipment sharing. There is no need to purchase multiple standalone stove piped simulators and stimulators when a single SIM/STIM system can be switched (shared) between labs and test bays. Less equipment translates directly into reductions in electrical consumption and less HVAC further reducing cost and a facilities carbon footprint. When considering new construction or remodeling, less equipment saves floor space so facilities per square foot construction/remodel costs are reduced.

Efficiencies and cost savings in “wire once” cable management means minimal labor dollars are expended to manually re-cabling a device, reconfiguring a patch panel or edge switch. The physical cable plant is neatly managed to present a clean, non-cluttered and safe work environment to the facility end users and guests.

PURVIS Systems has been designing and integrating physical layer switching systems in US Navy RDT&E laboratories for more than 34 years. We have designed and integrated physical layer switches for many of the interface types found in these facilities: MIL-STD-1397, MIL-STD-1553, AC/DC power, analog, synchro, RF, digital, TCP/IP and fiber optic interfaces. We have delivered turn-key solutions that have been in continuous use for more than 30 years. PURVIS has the technology and engineering experience to create the solutions to help you achieve operational efficiencies.