GE 336A4940DNP517FX: Industrial Ethernet Switch

Technical Dossier

Product Details And Specifications

GE 336A4940DNP Series Technical Notes

The Evolution of 336A4940DNP Architecture

The 336A4940DNP platform was developed as part of GE's transition from legacy serial fieldbus topologies (Modbus RTU, PROFIBUS DP) toward full Ethernet-based plant networks in the early 2000s. Early variants in the series supported 10/100BASE-TX copper ports with basic store-and-forward switching. Subsequent revisions introduced fiber optic uplinks (100BASE-FX, 1000BASE-SX/LX) to address electromagnetic interference in high-voltage switchgear environments. The 517FX suffix specifically denotes a 5-port configuration with one 100BASE-FX fiber uplink, a topology common in ring-redundancy architectures using RSTP or proprietary GE ring protocols. Later generations added VLAN segmentation, QoS prioritization for GOOSE messaging, and SNMP v3 management — aligning the series with IEC 62443 cybersecurity requirements for industrial control systems. As GE's industrial division transitioned through its merger with Baker Hughes and subsequent divestitures, long-term firmware support for this series has been consolidated, placing many SKUs in the extended lifecycle or end-of-active-production phase. Replacement pathways typically route toward GE Grid Solutions' MDS and Multilin networking product lines.

336A4940DNP Full Catalog & Functionalities (SKU List)

The following SKUs represent the documented range of the 336A4940DNP series. Each unit is classified by port configuration, media type, and primary application role:

336A4940DNP517FX: 5-port switch, 4x 100BASE-TX + 1x 100BASE-FX fiber uplink, unmanaged ring topology node
336A4940DNP508TX: 8-port unmanaged 10/100BASE-TX copper switch, DIN-rail mount, standard process LAN segment
336A4940DNP516TX: 16-port managed 10/100BASE-TX switch, SNMP v2c, VLAN support, rack-mount
336A4940DNP524TX: 24-port managed copper switch, QoS, RSTP, IGMP snooping, substation LAN backbone
336A4940DNP502FX: 2-port 100BASE-FX fiber media converter/switch, point-to-point fiber segment extension
336A4940DNP504FX: 4-port 100BASE-FX fiber switch, inter-building or inter-panel fiber ring node
336A4940DNP508FX: 8-port 100BASE-FX fiber switch, high-density fiber aggregation in MV/HV substations
336A4940DNP516FX: 16-port 100BASE-FX managed fiber switch, RSTP ring, SNMP v3, IEC 61850 GOOSE-ready
336A4940DNP524FX: 24-port 100BASE-FX managed fiber switch, full Layer 2 feature set, nuclear-grade environments
336A4940DNP512TX2FX: 12x copper + 2x fiber combo switch, mixed-media plant floor aggregation
336A4940DNP508TX2FX: 8x copper + 2x fiber combo, standard hybrid topology DCS segment switch
336A4940DNP516TX4FX: 16x copper + 4x fiber, high-port-count hybrid managed switch, control room backbone
336A4940DNP504TXPOE: 4-port PoE-enabled copper switch, powers IP cameras and wireless APs in field panels
336A4940DNP508TXPOE: 8-port PoE managed switch, IEEE 802.3af/at, VLAN, QoS, DIN-rail
336A4940DNP516TXPOE: 16-port PoE+ managed switch, high-power budget, suitable for IP intercom and safety systems
336A4940DNP524TXPOE: 24-port PoE+ managed switch, centralized power distribution for field instrumentation networks

Quality Control for the 336A4940DNP Range

Industrial Ethernet switches in the 336A4940DNP series present specific test challenges due to their integrated backplane bus architecture, fiber transceiver alignment sensitivity, and managed switch firmware state. DriveKNMS applies the following test protocol to every unit processed: (1) Visual inspection of PCB, connector pins, SFP/fiber port housings, and DIN-rail mounting clips for mechanical damage. (2) Power-on test at rated input voltage (24VDC or 48VDC depending on variant) with current draw verification against factory specification. (3) Port-by-port Ethernet link negotiation test using calibrated traffic generators — each copper port verified at 10/100 Mbps full/half duplex; fiber ports tested with matched wavelength sources (1310nm or 1550nm). (4) Managed switch variants undergo VLAN configuration write/read cycle, SNMP trap generation test, and RSTP topology convergence timing measurement. (5) Burn-in test at elevated ambient temperature (55°C, 4 hours) to screen latent component failures. (6) Final functional test with pass/fail report issued per unit. Units failing any stage are quarantined and not offered for sale.