HIAWATHA, Iowa–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Crystal Group, Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of rugged computing and electronics hardware, today announced its first VMware Validated Virtualization-enabled server configuration. As part of the Crystal Group Energy Series™ product line, the CMS-01171 is the first iteration of the ES373S17 substation server. This software-independent, hyperconverged system combines real-time automation, remote management, cybersecurity, automatic failover, and zero-trust security features for utilities as they pursue major network modernization efforts electric.
Working with Intel and VMware, Crystal Group has developed its VMware Validated Solution to consolidate the work of multiple discrete hardware solutions into a single hyperconverged system. Virtualization dramatically reduces the overall substation control footprint and infrastructure requirements while maximizing physical and cyber protections. The integration of validated hardware and software, based on open standards, provides utilities with a complete, out-of-the-box solution that supports and simplifies their current and evolving development needs, including power relay applications. virtual protection.
“Updating substations with a software-defined global control system will bring significant benefits now and in the long term to utilities and their customers,” said Kathy Willett, program manager at Crystal Group. “With the ability to monitor and manage substation performance in real time, utilities can make system adjustments or release critical updates on demand to one or more sites from a centralized location . This saves valuable time, resources, and costs, while keeping power generation, transmission, and distribution smooth and uninterrupted.
“Combining Crystal Group’s proven rugged hardware with VMware Edge Compute Stack creates a robust, highly reliable, and secure hyperconverged edge platform capable of supporting real-time virtual machines and containers. As utilities strive to modernize America’s smart grid, they now have a leading-edge compute platform that can serve as the foundation for all substation workloads, including Virtual Protection software Relay,” said Muneyb Minhazuddin, vice president Edge Computing at VMware.
Equipped with a VMware Edge compute stack and one or two 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors with hardware-enhanced security technologies, this IEC 61850-3 certified server includes critical cyber protections including data-at-rest encryption, full memory encryption, software protection extensions, and networking defined by software. Intrusion detection services and stateful packet inspection firewalls monitor traffic between virtual servers to identify and prevent cyberattacks. In the event of a server failure, VMware Edge Compute Stack automatically migrates that server’s workload to other servers without disruption. Crystal Group will showcase the new system at booth #735 at DISTRIBUTECH International 2022 in Dallas, Texas.
“Faced with unprecedented levels of demand, escalating cyber threats, and the integration of renewable resources while remaining affordable, utilities need smart, versatile technology solutions that enable them to do more and do more. more with less, and that’s exactly what this VMware Validated Solution does, says Willette.
As part of the Crystal Group Energy Series (ES) product line, the substation solution delivers reliable power and performance in a rugged chassis designed and tested to withstand extreme conditions, such as extreme temperatures, harsh weather, humidity, electromagnetic interference, power transients, and dust, inherent in remote locations. Additional ES servers and on-board computers will feature Crystal Group’s industrial design standards for intelligent virtualization platforms that deliver long field operational life, seamless operation, and reliable accuracy inherent in all solutions of Crystal Group.
About Crystal Group, Inc.
Crystal Group, Inc. is a technology leader in rugged computing hardware, specializing in the design and manufacture of custom and commercial rugged servers, embedded computing, networking devices, displays and storage data for high reliability in harsh environments. A small, employee-owned company founded in 1987, Crystal Group provides the defense, government and industrial markets with integrated solutions that bring seamless, real-time artificial intelligence, autonomy and cybersecurity to demanding edge applications. .
Crystal Group products meet or exceed stringent IEEE, IEC and military standards and are backed by a five-plus year warranty. All products are manufactured in company facilities certified to ISO 9001:2015/AS9100D quality management standards.
©2022 Crystal Group, Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Design and specifications are subject to change.
Intel, the Intel logo, and other Intel marks are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries.
