19 June 2003 Portland, OR Lightwave -- APCON Inc., provider of network solutions and intelligent physical layer switches for Fibre Channel, Ethernet, and SONET, has unveiled its new IntellaPatch 16 Physical Layer Switch. Joining the APCON IntellaPatch family of layer-1 switches, the new IntellaPatch 16 switch provides an effective, low-cost connectivity solution for interoperability test labs within telecom/datacom, network and storage, and military environments.
The new IntellaPatch 16 is based on modular, single-slot design that allows engineers to use a variety of different protocol and data-rate specific blades. This provides an inexpensive means of enhancing system connectivity for engineers who work with a variety of specifications, say company representatives.
"We have customers who are asking for a single blade switch to provide initial network evaluation and test connectivity," reports Richard Rauch, APCON president and chief executive officer. "At the same time they want to maximize their investment. With our modular product family, they can employ the same technology, blades and software from switch to switch, all the way up to our nine-blade 144-port unit."
The IntellaPatch 16 supports APCON's entire technology range, including 1-, 2- and 10-Gbit/sec Fibre Channel, 10/100/1000/10-Gigabit Ethernet, and SONET OC-3, OC-12, and OC-48, by using either SFP or XFP transceivers. One of the IntellaPatch 16's primary applications is to remotely automate connectivity tasks, such as lab setup and system configuration. The layer-1 switch is an optimal solution for system integrators and test engineers who need to manage configurations between various servers, storage systems, peripherals, and operating systems, says the company. "Wire-once" technology eliminates manual patching and re-patching and provides non-blocking, any-to-any connections at wire speed.
The modular, single-blade unit joins a family of APCON physical layer switches available in 16 and 32 fixed-port models, and 64-, and 144-port multi-bladed switches. The APCON IntellaPatch 16 Physical Layer Switch is now shipping with prices beginning at $3,995 for a fully loaded model. SFP or XFP transceivers are required and sold separately.