MAY 24, 2007 -- Foundry Networks Inc. (search for Foundry Networks) says its new BigIron RX-32 is "the world's most powerful and energy efficient routing switch" for data center, high-performance computing (HPC), and Internet exchange point (IXP) applications. The platform features 1,536 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) ports or 128 10-Gigabit Ethernet (10-GbE) ports and approximately 2.2 billion packets per second (Bpps) of throughput.
To minimize ongoing opex in data centers, HPCs, and lXPs, the BigIron RX-32 has been designed to excel in such areas as line card compatibility, system cooling needs, and power consumption. A BigIron RX-32 with 1,536 wire-speed 10/100/100 ports will consume 11.1 kW of power, versus 46 kW (and associated cooling power) for competing alternatives that Foundry asserts typically require 12 chassis in a multi-stage configuration.
To further decrease total cost of ownership, the BigIron RX-32 utilizes the same software image and same standard interface modules used across the entire BigIron RX Series.
"Enterprise data center and high-performance computing traffic is growing significantly worldwide due to more data intensive applications," said Tere' Bracco, senior research director for enterprise markets for Current Analysis. "With the introduction of an ultra-high capacity switch like the BigIron RX-32, Foundry reinforces its position in the enterprise switching market with the a solution that promises to enable enterprises to increase their data accessibility considerably while reducing their overall networking costs."
With approximately 2.2 Bpps of IP switching and IPv4, IPv6 routing, the BigIron RX-32 is powered by what Foundry describes as a resilient non-blocking 5.12-Tbit/sec switch fabric based on a multi-stage Clos fabric architecture.
The BigIron RX-32 routing switch features redundant management, redundant switch fabric, power supplies, and cooling components. The fabric design ensures continued operation even under low-probability high-impact events, including multiple partial/full fabric failures where the system continues to operate in Degraded Capacity Mode, tuning its performance gracefully to the remaining fabric capacity. To complement these features, the BigIron RX-32 offers hitless Layer 2/3 management failover, hitless Layer 2 software upgrades, and resilient protocols including Metro Ring Protocol (MRP)/MRP2 to enhance end-to-end availability.
The BigIron RX-32 Base System costs $194,995.
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