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Over the years, Ethernet switches have become a standard in commercial and industrial applications. They are used to integrate different communication channels within the facility or organization for information centralization and management. Although they work with the same concept of transmitting Ethernet frames between the devices that are connected to them, they largely differ in their construction, design, and implementation. First, the industrial switches have a ruggedized construction and they are designed in adherence to industry standards. Today, their utility is proven in various industries in military and defense. The military Ethernet switches, in comparison to commercial switches, assure reliable, safe, and consistent communication in challenging environments. This paper analyzes the differences between military ruggedized Ethernet switches and commercial Ethernet switches. It also focuses on the applications of military ruggedized Ethernet switches and their adherence to MIL standards.

An optical fiber or fiber optics has emerged as a leading signal transmission medium in data networking applications. It was first proposed as a technology for light transmission in the 1950s. By 1990s the optical fiber technology has gained traction. By 2010, it has taken over the copper cable transmission. Unlike, copper cables, the fiber optics transmits the signals in an optic format that is in the form of light waves. It offers higher data transmission speed, greater data security, and endurance to harsh environmental conditions in comparison to the copper cables. These cables benefit from their design and construction. The fiber optic cables are constructed by bundling multiple glass strands inside a cladding, which is further protected by a buffer tube, which offers protection against environmental conditions. The optic signals are transmitted through these glass strands by the refraction of light principle.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a data transmission technology that has gained immense popularity since the 1990s. It enables data transmission in the form of electronic signals via twisted pair cables, i.e. the copper cables. One of the key advantages of this technology is that a single cable can transmit communication data and electric power at the same time. Out of which, the data packets are transmitted between a transmitter and receiver, whereas the electrical signal powers devices such as Wireless Access Points (WAPs), Voice over Internet Protocol phones (VoIP), Internet Protocol (IP) cameras, etc.

Ethernet networking is successfully employed in residential, commercial, and industrial applications. For several years, Ethernet networking was all about the power supply. However, with the growth of wireless and IP technologies, meeting the power supply requirements and data transmission through a single cable has emerged as a challenge. This is where PoE technology makes a difference. In the absence of this technology, the civil infrastructure would have become extremely complex comprising lots of cables and various power points. 

Fiber optics, being a signal transmission technology, utilizes a transmission media. The transmission media in fiber optics technology is fiber optic cables. Typically, fiber optic cable networks are made of several fiber optic cables. These fiber optics are integrated into a network using specific fiber optic connectors. Since cables and connectors are essential elements of a fiber-optic network, it is important to select the right types of cables and connectors for specific applications. However, the selection of these two elements is a complex process due to the availability of a varying range of types, features, and specifications. With the advancement in technology, the fiber optic cables and connectors have evolved with several beneficial parameters, therefore, the selection becomes a little complex.