Backplane for use in a push-in rack for peripherals

A backplane for use in a push-in rack for peripherals, the backplane comprising:

• at least one slot including plug connectors configured to connect with peripherals that are pushed into the push-in rack, wherein the slot plug connectors are configured to connect to at least two types of peripherals having different electrical signal properties;
• at least one optical signaling device, wherein each optical signaling device is assigned to a respective slot;
• at least one further plug connector configured to connect the backplane to at least one control apparatus, wherein the at least one further plug connector is configured to connect to at least two different types of control apparatuses having different electrical signal properties and the further plug connector being connected via the backplane to one or more of the slot plug connectors to facilitate interchanging of signals between the control apparatus and the peripherals pushed into the push-in rack;
• and
• a monitoring device comprising:
• a first detector operable to detect a type of each peripheral connected with a corresponding slot plug connector;
• a second detector configured to detect a type of control apparatus;
• and
• a comparator configured to compare the type of each peripheral detected by the first detector and the type of a respectively connected control apparatus detected by the second detector to predetermined type combinations so as to determine whether each peripheral is incompatible with the control apparatus, and the comparator is further configured to activate each optical signaling device assigned to a respective slot including a slot plug connector that is connected to a peripheral that has been determined to be incompatible with the control apparatus.