DECEMBER 19, 2006 -- Alcatel-Lucent (search for Alcatel-Lucent) has announced the availability of two new stackable Ethernet switch products for the enterprise. The Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch 6850L and the Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch 6850-U24X, which are software upgradeable to Gigabit Ethernet, are part of the Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch 6850 family.
The new, low-priced Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch 6850L is designed to preserve the customer's initial investment, as it requires no additional hardware to provide Gigabit Ethernet desktop connections. Additionally, all OmniSwitch 6850L models remain stackable with any other version, whether the model has been upgraded or not. The OmniSwitch 6850L models are available with a choice of power options, in either AC/DC or power-over-Ethernet (PoE). The Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch 6850L is available in 24- or 48-port stackable Layer 2/Layer 3, 10/100-Ethernet workgroup switches that can be upgraded through a software key to become a full-featured 10/100/1000 switch.
The Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch 6850-U24X, which the company says is ideal for use as an aggregation switch or in small enterprise cores as well as in wiring closets, is an all-fiber model with 24 small form-factor pluggable (SFP) ports for a wide variety of optical transceivers. This new switch includes two 10/100/1000 combo ports, two built-in XFP ports for 10-Gigabit Ethernet links, and two 10-gigabit stacking ports. Although usable in the wiring closet, this switch is intended for use as an aggregation switch or in small enterprise cores.
All of the models in the family are stackable with other OmniSwitch 6850 models and perform wire-rate Layer 2 switching and Layer 3 routing for both IPv4 and IPv6 with optimal quality of service (QoS) for mission critical applications. The company asserts that these switches excel at the edge where they deliver line-rate gigabit switching and routing performance along with network security features, enabling corporations to realize the full potential of secured networks.
"The OmniSwitch 6850 family now offers many models that mix and match to meet the needs of enterprises and at a price that is very attractive," said Tom Burns, for Alcatel-Lucent's enterprise network infrastructure activities. "With power-over-Ethernet capabilities, the OmniSwitch 6850 family is ideal for use in wiring closets or branch offices."
"Enterprises are embracing high-bandwidth, real-time applications such as video to the desktop, VoIP, and multimedia applications that will warrant Gigabit Ethernet speeds to the desktop to fully support them," said Katie Trippet, industry analyst, Synergy Research Group. "The OmniSwitch 6850L provides the cost-conscious network administrator with affordable, Fast Ethernet speeds today and an inexpensive upgrade path to full Gigabit Ethernet in the future."
The OmniSwitch 6850L switches are available immediately from Alcatel-Lucent resellers. Prices start at $2,995.
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