Protecting 1Gb Ethernet From Lightning Strikes

Wed Aug 14 00:45:34 UTC 2019

I would try to isolate it with something like the RBFTC11 or similar if you can.  They’re great boxes, but as with all things lightning you usually can’t protect from everything.  I’ve had a lightning hit cause some major issues before at a tower site.

You do what you can and keep suitable spares at the ready.  You never know why there will be a failure.

- Jared

> On Aug 13, 2019, at 7:56 PM, Matthew Crocker <matthew at corp.crocker.com> wrote:
> 
>  
> Could you use a transceiver for the 1000Base-T?  copper <-> fiber <-> copper that will create an ‘air gap’ on the data circuit.   You still run the risk of a lightning strike entering through the transceiver power.   You could filter that through a -48VDC power supply, rectifier/inverter pair.
>  
>  
> From: NANOG <nanog-bounces at nanog.org> on behalf of Javier J <javier at advancedmachines.us>
> Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at 2:23 PM
> To: "nanog at nanog.org" <nanog at nanog.org>
> Subject: Protecting 1Gb Ethernet From Lightning Strikes
>  
> I'm working with a client site that has been hit twice, very close by lightening.
>  
> I did lots of electrical work/upgrades/grounding but now I want to focus on protecting Ethernet connections between core switching/other devices that can't be migrated to fiber optic.
>  
> I was looking for surge protection devices for Ethernet but have never shopped for anything like this before. Was wondering if anyone has deployed a solution?
> They don't have a large presence on site (I have been moving all of their core stuff to AWS) but they still have core networking / connectivity and PoE cameras / APs around the property.
> Since migrating their onsite servers/infra to the cloud, now their connectivity is even more important.
>  
> This is a small site, maybe about 200 switch ports, but I would only need to protect maybe 12 core ones. but would be something I could use in the future with larger deployments.
> it's just a 1Gbe network BTW.
>  
> Hope someone with more experience can help make hardware recommendations?
>  
> Thanks in advance.
>  
> - Javier