HIRSCHMANN MACH104-20TX-FR-L3P Industrial Ethernet Switch
HIRSCHMANN MACH104-20TX-FR-L3P Industrial Ethernet Switch
The Hirschmann MACH104-20TX-FR-L3P is a high-density, rack-mount Layer 3 managed Industrial Ethernet switch. Built for backbones and high-speed aggregation layers in demanding industrial facilities (such as power transmission, railway systems, and heavy production lines), this unit bridges the gap between field-level control networks and enterprise IT networks.
Equipped with Layer 3 Professional (L3P) routing capabilities, it supports high-speed static and dynamic IP routing, hardware-supported multicast routing, and advanced redundancy mechanisms designed to maintain seamless operational uptime.
Technical Parameter List
| Technical Parameter | Specification Value |
| Brand / Manufacturer | Hirschmann (A Belden Brand) |
| Model Number | MACH104-20TX-FR-L3P |
| Order Number | 943 962-101 (Typical base config variant) |
| Total Ports | 24 Ports |
| Copper Fast Ethernet Ports | 20 x 10/100BASE-TX (RJ45 interfaces) |
| Gigabit Combo Ports | 4 x Gigabit Combo Ports (10/100/1000BASE-TX RJ45 or 100/1000BASE-FX SFP slots) |
| Software Level | Layer 3 Professional (L3P Software) |
| Routing Support | Static Routing, Dynamic Routing (OSPFv2, RIPv1/v2), VRRP, Multicast Routing (PIM-DM, PIM-SM, DVMRP) |
| Power Input | Redundant power inputs: 100 VAC to 240 VAC (50/60 Hz) or 110 VDC to 250 VDC |
| Design / Form Factor | 19-inch rack-mount chassis (1U height) |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 448 mm x 44 mm x 308 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 4.38 kg |
Product Features & Core Advantages
High-Performance Layer 3 Routing: Moves processing load off local firewalls and routers by managing local IP subnets, VLAN routing, and inter-network traffic distribution directly at wire-speed.
Resilient Redundancy Architecture: Features FR (Flexible Redundancy) technology. Combines Sub-ring mechanisms, HIPER-Ring, and Rapid Spanning Tree (RSTP) with hardware-based VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol) to ensure no single point of failure in network paths.
Dual Hot-Swappable Power Supplies: Designed for absolute continuous uptime. If one power supply unit fails or loses its mains source, the secondary power supply seamlessly assumes the entire electrical load without packet loss.
Uncompromising Industrial Hardening: Built without moving parts (fanless design) to survive high ambient vibrations, severe electromagnetic interference (EMI), and wide fluctuations in standard utility grid voltages.
Model Classification
The MACH104 platform utilizes a descriptive model structure to specify port configuration and firmware capabilities:
MACH104-20TX…: Indicates 20 dedicated Fast Ethernet copper RJ45 TX ports.
…-FR…: Denotes Flexible Redundancy hardware capabilities, supporting advanced high-speed ring configurations.
…-L3P: Specifies the Layer 3 Professional software package (adds full OSPF, RIP, and hardware-accelerated multicast routing protocols; contrasted with L3OB “Basic” models).
Environmental Tolerance Conditions
Operating Temperature: 0°C to +50°C
Storage/Transport Temp: -20°C to +85°C
Relative Humidity: 10% to 95% (Non-condensing)
Ingress Protection Class: IP20
Safety Approvals: cUL 508. EN 60950-1. CE
Substation / Transport Certifications: Meets IEC 61850-3 and IEEE 1613 specifications for substation automation systems.
Mechanical Robustness: Tested to withstand high mechanical vibration and shock values corresponding to industrial equipment racks inside control rooms and processing environments.
Installation Method
1.Mount the Chassis in the 19-inch Rack:Standard 1U placement。
Align the integrated rackmount flanges with the pre-drilled holes of your 19-inch server or control cabinet. Secure the switch using four standard rack-mounting screws. Ensure there is adequate clearance on the front and back for airflow.
2.Connect Functional Earth (Ground):Safety Grounding。
Locate the grounding terminal screw on the rear panel. Connect a low-resistance grounding copper conductor (minimum 12 AWG) to this screw, and wire it directly to the common ground bar of your rack enclosure.
3.Connect Redundant Power Sources:Redundant high-voltage inputs。
Strip and secure the AC/DC wires to the rear power terminal block connectors. Connect Power 1 and Power 2 to separate, independent mains breakers or UPS outputs to achieve physical power source redundancy.
4.Connect Network Infrastructure Cables:Configure physical links。
Plug standard RJ45 Ethernet patch leads into the 20 Fast Ethernet ports. If using fiber uplinks, insert your industrial-grade SFP transceivers into the 4 Gigabit combo slots and attach your LC fiber connectors.
Operating Instructions & Commissioning
Initial Local Management Access
Serial Console Connection: Connect a PC to the RJ45 console interface on the front panel using a standard RJ45-to-DB9 cable. Open a terminal program configured to 115200 bps, 8 Data Bits, 1 Stop Bit, No Parity, No Flow Control.
IP Configuration: Set up a temporary IP address using the CLI prompt or use the Hirschmann HiDiscovery software tool over an active Ethernet port.
Web Interface Access: Open a web browser (with HTTPS enabled) and enter the configured IP. Log in with the default administrator credentials and change them immediately to satisfy facility security baselines.
Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Matrix
| LED Indicator | Color / State | Operational Meaning |
| Power (P1 / P2) | Green / On | Power supply module is active and supplying healthy voltage. |
| Off | Power input disconnected or module has failed. | |
| Fault (F) | Off | Switch is operating with zero active system-level alarms. |
| Red / On | Active alarm state detected (e.g., link down, power source lost, temperature threshold surpassed). | |
| Ring Manager (RM) | Green / On | The switch is actively functioning as the Ring Manager for the redundant loop. |
| LNK/ACT (Ports) | Green / Solid | A physical hardware connection is active on this port. |
| Green / Flashing | Data frames are actively traversing this physical port. |