product focus: switches

July 1, 2003

Cisco Systems introduced its next generation of intelligent-network capabilities and interfaces for the Catalyst 6500 series multiplayer switch. The Catalyst 6500 comprises the Catalyst 6500 Supervisor Engine 720, high-performance two-port and four-port 10-Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) modules, and two 48-port 10/100/1,000 Ethernet modules. The modules are supported across all Catalyst 6500 chassis and interfaces to maximise existing network investments. They enable hardware-accelerated services such as IPv6, MPLS, and Network Address Translation. The additions also enable customers to cost-effectively deploy 10/100/1,000 Mbits/sec in wiring closets and migrate from multigigabit to 10-GbE in the core of their networks to better accommodate a broader range of applications. "The Catalyst 6500," says Luca Cafiero, senior VP, Cisco Switching, Voice, and Storage Technology Group, "is a platform that allows customers to seamlessly add next-generation intelligent services and interfaces using their existing network infrastructure to create the industry's most feature-rich integrated Layer 2 through Layer 7 switch—from the wiring closet to the WAN edge, including metro Ethernet environments."
www.cisco.com

Tellabs announced the second phase of its data migration strategy, adding Layer 2 switching and guaranteed quality of service (QoS) to its next-generation SDH portfolio. The enhanced 6300 managed transport series enables operators to support advanced Ethernet private networks, providing differentiated carrier class data services to their business customers.

"The integration of MPLS takes SDH into a strong evolution path for the optical network," notes Mark Lum, director of RHK's Optical Networks: Europe program. "This approach merits the most serious business consideration from multiservice providers and network operators." RHK believes that Tellabs is the first vendor to deliver MPLS-managed Layer 2 virtual-private-network services on a single SDH platform that also features generic framing procedure, virtual concatenation, and link capacity adjustment scheme resiliency.

The Ethernet solution uses MPLS to provide a guaranteed QoS not available with standard Ethernet equipment. Instead of relying on simple Ethernet prioritisation mechanisms, the 6300 series manages and delivers the committed bandwidth within a multipoint network for each data flow.
www.tellabs.com

The PHAST-12N is a highly integrated SONET/SDH overhead termination device designed for TDM and Ethernet over SONET/SDH (EoS) applications that can terminate a single STM-4/OC-12 line or four STM-1/OC-3 lines. Clock synthesis and clock recovery for these lines are incorporated. The device provides regeneration/section and multiplexer/line overhead processing, high-order pointer tracking and retiming, and SPE path overhead processing and performance monitoring. It is a powerful solution for OC-12 and multi-OC-3 telecommunications applications, especially those requiring carrier grade protection capability. PHAST-12N also provides a full 36×36 nonblocking STS-1-level crossconnect, allowing line/path (UPSR/SNCP) protection. An APS line port may be utilized for applications such as MSP 1+1, 1:1, and 1:n architectures. It is designed to interface directly with the EtherMap-12 Ethernet mapper for EoS applications.
www.transwitch.com

Atrica made three additions to its revolutionary suite of optical Ethernet systems. The first solutions are for service providers building next-generation metro networks. These Ethernet systems meld Ethernet with optical-switching and -networking technology and combine that with carrier class traffic engineering capabilities. The additions include the A-4100 optical Ethernet aggregation switch and the A-2101 and A-2140 optical Ethernet edge switches.

The A-4100 is a cost-effective platform that aggregates flows from Atrica's A-2100 optical Ethernet edge switches. Addressing the small point-of-presence/central office environment, the A-4100 is a NEBS-compliant, high-density, low-profile solution for space-constrained locations. It shares the same interface cards as Atrica's A-8000 series of optical Ethernet core switches, easing the cost and space requirements associated with sparing and speeding training cycles for network personnel. The A-2101 and A-2140 build upon the attributes of Atrica's A-2000 family of optical Ethernet edge switches to provision connectivity at the metro optical edge, offering a combination of Ethernet interfaces and a comprehensive set of Ethernet circuit emulation services at DS-1, DS-3, OC-3, and OC-12 rates.
www.atrica.com

RAD Data Communications is launching two new products in the area of legacy migration. Both the FCD-155 and ACE-52 will allow carriers to transport T1/E1 leased line and Ethernet services over existing broadband networks such as SONET/SDH or ATM. The FCD-155, aimed at service providers with excess SONET/SDH capacity, provides integrated access over a carrier's existing SONET/SDH infrastructure at OC-3/STM-1 speeds by employing virtual concatenation. The ACE-52 is designed to make converged access service offerings through ATM networks incomparably cost-effective. It allows service providers to offer high-speed Ethernet and leased line services over broadband networks at any location that has an ATM circuit.
www.rad.il

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