November 29, 2005 Paris, France -- Alcatel has introduced its OmniSwitch 9000 family of high-performance 10-Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) core switches, which include support for voice-over-IP, video collaboration, and database applications, with a chassis incorporating Broadcom's Strata XGS III family of fully-integrated Ethernet switch chips.
According to Alcatel, the switches are built on a new architecture that provides resiliency and security features through the Alcatel Operating System (AOS) combined with the Broadcom Ethernet semiconductors. Alcatel says the OmniSwitch 9000 platform is optimized for use in the network core and aggregation layer where large amounts of user data are consolidated for 10-Gbit connections.
The switches deliver wire-rate processing for IPv6 and support multicast applications, and are also capable of supporting future requirements at the network's edge as GbE to the desktop becomes commonplace and demand for power-over-Ethernet capabilities increase. High availability is ensured through component redundancy; security features are provided through the company's OmniVista Quarantine Manager, which identifies and isolates viruses and unauthorized users before they can corrupt the network, automating the response for a self-healing network.
"We are very pleased that our industry-leading Ethernet switch chips have become the solution of choice to combine with Alcatel's world-class software in the Alcatel OmniSwitch 9000 core switch family," says Ford Tamer, senior vice president and general manager of Broadcom's Networking Infrastructure Group.
"By combining the strong features and capabilities of our AOS with the most advanced Ethernet switch silicon solutions available in the market today from Broadcom, the Alcatel OmniSwitch 9000 family is able to support the convergence of voice, video, and data and other applications at the best price available today," adds Eric Penisson, vice president of marketing and software engineering for Alcatel's network infrastructure activities.
Alcatel says the OmniSwitch 9000 family features a completely redundant configuration priced starting at $23,995. The OmniSwitch 9700 model is available in a 10-slot chassis with a dedicated high-performance management and switching-fabric module. Initial choice of modules will include a two-port 10-GbE (XFP) module, a 24-port GbE copper (10/100/1000 RJ-45) module, and a 24-port GbE fiber-optic (SFP) module. The larger OmniSwitch 9800 chassis as well as additional modules, including a six-port 10-GbE (XFP) module, a 24-port GbE copper (10/100/1000 RJ-45) with power-over-Ethernet support modules, and a dedicated high-performance management and switching-fabric module, are set to follow the platform's initial release.