HIRSCHMANN m4-8TP-RJ45 Ethernet Media Module
Product Overview
The Hirschmann M4-8TP-RJ45 (Part Number: 943 863-001) is an 8-port Gigabit Ethernet media module designed for the MACH4000 series of high-density modular backbone switches. It expands copper connectivity inside industrial control rooms, substations, and enterprise backbones by offering high-bandwidth Gigabit Ethernet connections over standard twisted-pair cables.
Technical Parameter List
| Parameter | Specification Details |
| Product Model | M4-8TP-RJ45 |
| Part / Article Number | 943 863-001 |
| Compatible Mainframe | Hirschmann MACH4000 Switch Chassis Series (e.g., MACH4002) |
| Port Count & Interface | 8 × RJ45 Sockets |
| Transmission Rate | 10/100/1000 Mbit/s (Gigabit Ethernet) |
| Transmission Medium | Twisted Pair (TP) cable (Cat5e / Cat6) |
| Cable Modes | Auto-crossing, Auto-negotiation, Auto-polarity |
| Power Supply | Internal backplane power via MACH4000 host chassis |
| Power Consumption | ~2 W |
| Diagnostic LEDs | Power, Link Status, Data, Auto-negotiation, Full Duplex, Ring Port, LED Test |
| Mounting Type | Hot-swappable module slot insertion (MACH4000 chassis) |
Key Features & Advantages
High-Density Gigabit Connectivity: Offers 8 Gigabit copper ports in a single module slot to reduce rack footprint.
Hot-Swappable Design: Can be installed or replaced without shutting down the host MACH4000 switch chassis, ensuring zero downtime for non-affected network links.
Auto-Sensing Intelligence: Features Auto-MDI/MDI-X (auto-crossing) and auto-negotiation, eliminating the need for crossover cables.
Low Power Consumption: Operates efficiently drawing only ~2 W directly from the backplane.
Comprehensive LED Diagnostics: Provides per-port status LEDs for quick visual troubleshooting on the panel.
Model Classification & Module Variants
The M4-8TP-RJ45 belongs to the Hirschmann M4 media module family for MACH4000 modular switches. Common variants within this family include:
M4-8TP-RJ45 (943 863-001): Standard 8-port 10/100/1000Base-TX Gigabit RJ45 module.
M4-FAST 8TP-RJ45-PoE (943 873-001): 8-port 10/100Base-TX RJ45 module with IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet support.
M4-GIGA 8-SFP: 8-port Gigabit SFP optical fiber expansion module.
M4-FAST 8-SFP: 8-port Fast Ethernet SFP optical fiber module.
Environmental Tolerance Conditions
| Condition | Rating / Standard |
| Operating Temperature | $0^\circ\text{C}$ to $+60^\circ\text{C}$ ($32^\circ\text{F}$ to $140^\circ\text{F}$) |
| Storage Temperature | $-40^\circ\text{C}$ to $+70^\circ\text{C}$ |
| Relative Humidity | 10% to 95% (non-condensing) |
| Safety Certifications | cUL 508 (Industrial Control), cUL 60950-1 (IT Equipment) |
| Marine & Shipbuilding | DNV / Germanischer Lloyd approval |
Installation Method
Prerequisite: Ensure static safety precautions (ESD grounding wrist strap) are followed before handling network modules.
Locate Slot: Identify an open media module slot on the front of the Hirschmann MACH4000 chassis.
Align Rails: Line up the module circuit board edges with the guide rails inside the slot.
Insert Module: Slide the module firmly into the slot until the backplane connector locks in place.
Secure Fasteners: Tighten the captive mounting thumb screws on both sides of the module front panel to ensure solid grounding and mechanical connection.
Connect Cables: Plug standard RJ45 Cat5e/Cat6 Ethernet cables into the 8 ports.
Operating Instructions
Power-On Verification: Once inserted into an active MACH4000 chassis, check that the Module Power LED turns solid green.
Link Status Checking: Observe the LED indicators above each RJ45 port:
Link/Data LED: Solid green indicates an active link; blinking green indicates data traffic.
Duplex/Speed LED: Displays line rate (10/100/1000 Mbps) and full-duplex operation status.
Software Configuration: Access the MACH4000 Switch Management Web Interface or CLI via console/SSH. The newly inserted module will automatically register in the port overview, allowing VLAN assignment, port mirroring, or bandwidth throttling.