1.
5 Things to Know about the
Railway Data Center menRDC

2.
Done by MEN
menRDC is an open computer platform based on modern IT standards
that covers all data processing and communication on a train and in
train-land communication, and meets all the requirements of EN 50155.
In the spirit of “Mobility 4.0”, the menRDC is
a “connected device” that interacts with the
participants in the IoT (Internet of Things).
menRDC Railway Data Center

3.
1. Is menRDC just a single piece of hardware – or more?
2. What are the key factors that make menRDC innovative for the
railway market?
3. Why would a train need an IT infrastructure which has similar
functions like an office IT environment?
4. How are significant cost savings achieved with menRDC?
5. What are these “office-like” applications on board of train?
menRDC Railway Data Center

4.
1.
Is menRDC just a single piece of hardware -
or more?

5.
1. Is menRDC just a single piece of hardware - or more?
menRDC has a modular structure consisting of a central server, a storage
computer, a network computer and different – central or decentral – input/
output extensions, and as such is scalable and can be adjusted to suit the
requirements of the application.
menRDC possesses all the qualities of a typical office IT environment and
thus brings all of the advantages of virtualization into trains. As a system
with any number of virtual machines, a hypervisor can be used to comple-
tely abstract underlying PC-based hardware from the application software.

6.
2.
What are the key factors that make menRDC
innovative for the railway market?

7.
With menRDC, all of the advantages that were previously reserved for the office IT environment
can now finally be used in mobile applications. For this, the individual computer components had
to be developed in accordance with the requirements of EN 50155 to function reliably on a train.
Unlike the previously common practice of marrying each application to its own computer,
menRDC offers the possibility of bundling all IT applications together on one single platform.
For this to work, not only must the platform support virtualization, but also consistently apply
recognized standards to hardware, middleware and operating systems: PC architecture, Linux
(Windows), (Linux) hypervisor.
Thanks to the “new openness”, the train-specific applications will finally be independent of a
computer system, which also results in independence from individual manufacturers. This also has
a positive effect on the working life of the application: Discontinuations of hardware will no longer
influence the function of the train software – which can now be used for a practically unlimited
period of time.
2. What are the key factors that make menRDC innovative for the railway market?

8.
3.
Why would a train need an IT infrastructure which
has similar functions like an office IT environment?

9.
Due to the increasingly harsher competition in intermodal transport,
measures to increase the attractiveness of passenger rail transport must
be reinforced. In the end, it is the train operators who, on the one hand, are
advancing digitalization with regards to passenger comfort and efficiency,
but at the same time must also reduce their costs.
The sensitivity of this issue is reflected in different initiatives in the rail
sector, some of which are funded by the EU, such as the Shift2Rail initiati-
ve, for example. As an open and virtualization-enabled computer platform,
menRDC offers a whole range of cost-reducing arguments.
3. Why would a train need an IT infrastructure which has similar functions like
an office IT environment?

10.
4.
How are significant cost savings
achieved with menRDC?

11.
1. Acquisition costs must only be paid for one computer system for all applications –
instead of the previous practice of one computer for each application.
2. This also reduces installation costs – as there are fewer cables, less weight, and reduced
space requirements (resulting in lower energy consumption).
3. It also reduces the cost/effort required to install the application software.
4. In addition, virtualization allows for strict separation of more sensitive and less sensitive
applications on the same system.
5. Virtualization also enables the configuration of applications that are running redundantly.
6. If required, the configuration of high availability systems can also be simplified.
7. Maintenance and the necessary expertise are limited to one system.
4. How are significant cost savings achieved with menRDC?

12.
8. At the same time, new, additional or modified application software does not require any
other or additional hardware.
9. The life cycle management of an open system is limited to the exchange of individual PC
components, without affecting the functionality of the overall system.
10. Virtualization also means that the application only sees the virtualized hardware –
independent of the “real” hardware (which must be replaced after a certain period of
time).
11. Therefore, the life cycle of the application/s is practically unlimited.
12. This independence from the supplier ultimately encourages migration from a purely
investment-oriented business model to a modern, service-oriented business model.
4. How are significant cost savings achieved with menRDC?

13.
5.
What are these “office-like” applications
on board of train?

14.
Based on Intel server performance in an EN 50155 compliant environment,
menRDC is application-ready for all kinds of non-vital train functions.
Thanks to its scalability menRDC is also able to host any desired mixture of
operator and passenger service applications.
Diagnosis tasks can make sense in combination with efficiency manage-
ment functions. Going further, both may share their common hardware
platform with one or more typical passenger service functions such as PIS
content management and distribution, or video surveillance. As all these
kinds of applications are required to talk to each other, to other vehicles and
to the back office, again the same platform can also host and manage the
complete rolling-stock and-wayside communication.
5. What are these “office-like” applications on board of train?

15.
» Passenger services:
passenger information system (PIS), entertainment, wireless access to
in-vehicle Internet, video surveillance, data recording and storage
» Maintenance center:
diagnosis server, data analysis, storage and exchange with central
maintenance station, predictive maintenance
» Communication center:
train to train, train to back office, train to wayside functions
» Efficiency management:
fleet management, energy management, driver assistance systems
5. What are these “office-like” applications on board of train?

16.
www.men.de/rdc