Dell EMC announces Z9264F-ON 100GbE fabric switch for open, modern data centers

Dell EMC has introduced the Z9264F-ON fixed form-factor fabric switch. Designed to deliver twice the capacity of previous-generation devices, the switch will accelerate 100 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) adoption for private, public, and telco cloud environments, Dell asserts. The platform is powered by Broadcom’s 6.4-Tbps Ethernet switching silicon, StrataXGS Tomahawk II, that is purpose-built for high-performance data center spine or fabric applications.

With the capability of delivering 64 ports of 100GbE in a 2RU form factor, the Z9264F-ON enables customers to retire large and costly legacy chassis switching systems while also accelerating transitions from 40 to 100GbE, the company assertss. Dell EMC also believes the new fabric switch will advance open networking initiatives.

“2018 is looking to be a big year for 100GbE adoption in the data center with market forecasts projecting port shipments to almost triple by end of year,” says Sameh Boujelbene, senior director at Dell’Oro Group. “We see the rapid transition from 40GbE to 100GbE combined with an increased adoption of fixed form-factor system fueling the growth. Given these conditions, the new Z9264F-ON is well timed and the Open Networking proposition uniquely positioned.”

As open source networking technologies create emerging software-defined networking (SDN) alternatives, Dell EMC is touting the Z9264F-ON as a perfect fit for that purpose. ACG Research’s Paul Parker-Johnson believes open source networking software and hardware will significantly impact enterprise and service provider ‘edge cloud’ deployments.

The Dell EMC Z9264F-ON is expected to begin shipping worldwide on August 31, 2018.

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