ES520 Deployable Mesh Point

Overview

ES520 Deployable Mesh Point 360° View

The ES520 Deployable Mesh Point

The Fortress ES520 Deployable Mesh Point brings quickly deployable secure wireless communications to environments with no available infrastructure through a self-forming, self-healing mesh network. The ES520 offers strong FIPS 140-2 validated security and is upgradeable to NSA Suite B algorithms. Delivered in a small and rugged form factor with an integrated eight-port Ethernet switch and industry-leading radio range, the Fortress ES520 provides secure voice, video and data communications for rapidly deployable kits, vehicle-based networks, emergency response or situational awareness.

Any wireless network used in tactical, small-unit environments must support mobility of the nodes. Mesh networks allow nodes to move within the area of operation, forming links with new neighbors and dropping links with old neighbors. With best-in-class range and Fortress FastPath Mesh™, Fortress Secure Wireless Bridges ensure high performance networking under highly mobile conditions, allowing individuals and assets to move within the network and to seamlessly leave and join the network.

In military operations, when personnel, sensors, supplies, soldiers and vehicles are introduced into an austere operating environment, Fortress Secure Wireless Bridges allow these distributed assets to connect to the network without the installation and management constraints associated with traditional wired networks.

Fortress Deployable Mesh Points provide secure, net-centric, wireless communications in an easily deployable form factor engineered specifically for harsh outdoor environments.

Features

Superior Performance

Fortress Mesh-Points use hardware crypto FPGA and hardware TRNG to provide fast, deterministic performance that is unmatched in the industry. They are equipped with powerful radios that can operate in 802.11 a/b/g/n modes, providing superior range and performance.

Comprehensive Security

The central component of DoD and other sensitive network solutions is the ability to ensure data security at all times and at all levels. Fortress products support the most advanced security implementations in the industry. Using standards based, interoperable and compliant security protocols certified to FIPS-140-2 and upgradable to NSA Suite B cryptography, Fortress is a leader in secure wireless networking. Fortress products are unique in that they support built-in RADIUS, advanced Wi-Fi WPA2 security with EAP-TLS, use a hardware crypto implementation and have a hardware based True Random Number Generator (TRNG) ensuring the richest security with the highest performance.
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FastPath Mesh™

Fortress FastPath Mesh technology provides a self-forming, path optimizing, self-healing network architecture designed from the ground up to support truly mobile and often transported networks, elegantly addressing the needs of dynamic tactical networks. FastPath Mesh is link protocol agnostic and utilizes all interfaces and radio links to reach a destination using the lowest cost path. The resulting network is a unique mix of proactive and reactive protocols designed to work together to improve network performance and address moving nodes.
Overlaid on the mesh is end-to-end encryption and capabilities to eliminate multicast/broadcast flooding for improved overall network performance. Fortress’s implementation includes a fully distributed DNS capability and is IPv4 and IPv6 multicast-aware.

Dynamic Frequency Selection

Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) allows automatic detection of radar signals and switching to another channel in less than 10 seconds as per the IEEE 802.11h standard. Fortress products are the only solution to support DFS in both Infrastructure and Mesh mode.
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usa

Made in the USA

Fortress products are designed and manufactured in the USA to maintain the highest levels of quality with oversight to provide manufacturing design assurance. All software or programmable hardware devices are built from source code that is controlled in house.

MTBF

To ensure products can be deployed for years in tough operating environments where failure is not an option, Fortress products are designed to have a very low failure rate and a Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) greater than 100,000 hours or 11 years of continuous operation.
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4.4 GHz Licensed C Band for US Military and NATO Use

Fortress products can operate in the 4.4 GHz C Band a licensed band allocated to US and NATO military use. Operating at 4.4 GHz in the C Band offers several advantages. 4.4 GHz is a licensed band restricted to military use, so it offers an additional level of security, and less crowded use of the spectrum.

Wi-Fi Alliance

Fortress products are certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance for interoperability including; WPA™- Enterprise and Personal, WPA2™- Enterprise and Personal, and Extensible Authentication Protocols; EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS/MSCHAPv2, PEAPv0/EAP-MSCHAPv2, PEAPv1/EAP-GTC, and EAP-SIM.
Applications

Typical applications where the ES520 would be an appropriate solution







Expanding the Network through Fortress OEM Integration

Fortress extends its capabilities by offering embedded systems for integration into other equipment manufacturer’s platforms.
Fortress’ flexibility to design embedded mesh point or embedded client solutions into network systems or intelligent device platforms, leverages our core technology and delivers value to our customers and partners. OEM integration partnerships drive incremental utility to existing systems, optimizing SWAP+C and accelerating the adoption of wireless technology more broadly across the market. Fortress designs and controls the entire implementation and collaborates with strategic partners to uniquely adapt and integrate secure wireless mesh capabilities into a variety of solutions.

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Specifications

Mechanical

Dimensions:
• 8.8" x 8.2" x 2.7"

Weight:
• 4.9 lbs

Mounting:
• Tool-less Mast Mounting
• Direct Wall Mount

Environmental

Operating temperature:
• -10⁰C to +55 ⁰ C
  (14⁰ F to +131 ⁰ F)

Storage Temperature:
• -10⁰C to +55 ⁰ C
  (14⁰ F to +131 ⁰ F)

Cooling:
• Convection cooled (no fans)

Humidity:
• 5% - 95% non-condensing

Power

Voltage:
• 10 to 30 VDC
• POE (802.3af)
• PSE sourced power to 50W

Interfaces

Ethernet:
• 8 x RJ45 Ethernet
  10/100BT

WAN:
• 1 x RJ45 Ethernet
  10/100BT

USB:
• 1 x USB host connector

Serial:
• 1 x RJ45 connector

Antenna:
• 2x N-Type Connectors

Security

FIPS:
• FIPS 140-2 level 2

Encryption:
 • AES-CTR-128/192/256
• AES-GCM-128/256
• AES-CCM-128
• WPA2 (802.11i)
• IPsec (Suite B and Legacy)
• NSA Suite B Upgradeable*

Performance

Sustained FIPS
Crypto Throughput
50 Mbps

Management

Access:
• Secure Browser-based GUI
• Serial CLI (physical access)
• SSH (network)
• SNMP monitoring

Indicators:
• Power
• Clr
• Status 1
• Status 2
• Radio1 Up
• Radio1 Down
• Radio2 Up
• Radio2 Down
• Ethernet link/activity

Control:
• Reset Button

Networking

IP Compatibility:
• IPv4 and IPv6
• Integrated DHCP and DNS

Wireless:
• Self-forming, self-healing,
  and path optimizing Fortress
  FastPath Mesh™

RF

ES520-35:
• Radio 1:
   500mW 802.11a/b/g
• Radio 2:
   750mW 802.11a

ES520-34:
• Radio 1:
   250mW 802.11a/b/g/n
• Radio 2:
   800mW 802.11n 4.4GHz

Certification

Safety and Emissions:
• CE, FCC, ETSI, CB Test, IC,
  RoHS

Environmental:
• ROHS-6

DFS:
• FCC, ETSI

NIST:
• FIPS 140-2 level 2

JITC:
• UCAPL Certified

Wi-Fi Alliance:
• Wi-Fi a/b/g

HERO/HERF/HERP:

Weather Resistance
Protection Rating:
• IP56, NEMA 4
• Watertight Enclosure
  Lightening Arrestors

MTBF:
• 100,000 hrs

Manufacture & Warranty

Manufacturing Origin:
• USA

Warranty:
• Includes 1 year of
  limited warranty

 

* NSA Approval Required

Technology

Hardware Crypto FPGA and TRNG

Fortress products deliver much higher performance by using a hardware crypto FPGA that enables fast, deterministic performance to protect against timing attacks. Our hardware-based true random number generator (TRNG) is especially critical for devices that do not have user interaction from which to collect entropy to reliably generate random numbers. A fast, reliable hardware implementation is critical in supporting real-time applications such as encrypted voice and video, as well as scaling to handle increasing application throughput and bandwidth needs. Fortress' cryptographic implementation has passed rigorous examination and been approved by NIST.
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Suite B Capable

The NSA Suite B initiative is a common set of cryptographic algorithms to create products that meet the widest range of US Government needs. Suite B Cryptography is built on COTS information-assurance products using Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and is under evaluation by the NSA to protect information up to the SECRET level. Fortress products are NSA Suite B capable and can be upgraded where approval is achieved.

FastPath Mesh™

Fortress FastPath Mesh technology provides a self-forming, path optimizing, self-healing network architecture designed from the ground up to support truly mobile and often transported networks, elegantly addressing the needs of dynamic tactical networks.

FastPath Mesh is link protocol agnostic and utilizes all interfaces and radio links to reach a destination using the lowest cost path. The resulting network is a unique mix of proactive and reactive protocols designed to work together to improve network performance and address moving nodes.

Overlaid on the mesh is end-to-end encryption and capabilities to eliminate multicast/broadcast flooding for improved overall network performance. Fortress's implementation includes a fully distributed DNS capability and is IPv4 and IPv6 multicast-aware.
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Multicast

Fortress FastPath Mesh products are optimized to minimize multicast and broadcast traffic, improving the performance of the network. FastPath Mesh snoops Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) and Multicast Listener Discovery (MLD) requests, subscribes to the streams on behalf of the listeners and forwards traffic only on relevant interfaces. Minimizing multicast and broadcast traffic frees up bandwidth for other uses, increased throughput and better latency.

RF Performance

Fortress products offer Industry-leading Wi-Fi range and performance. Using industry standard 802.11 a/b/g and n, Fortress radios operate in the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz Wi-Fi bands and optional 802.11a-type communications in the 4.4 GHz and 4.9 GHz bands. Fortress has demonstrated performance with distances in excess of 32 miles.
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Photos
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Other Info

Product Datasheet

Product Ordering Information

    Part No. Description

    ES520-35

    Secure Wireless Access Bridge with one 2.4 / 5.8 GHz & one 5.8 GHz Radio
    ES520-34

    Secure Wireless Access Bridge with one 2.4 / 5.8 GHz & one 4.4 GHz Radio 
    SWO-SB

    Suite B Enhanced Security Software Option
    (Licensed on a per device basis) 
    SWO-FPM

    FastPath Mesh Software Option
    (Licensed on a per device basis) 
    SWO-MV

    MeshViewer Software Option
    (Licensed on a per installation basis)

Product Certifications