Alcatel increases value of OmniSwitch family with Smart High-density Gigabit Ethernet modules

Alcatel today announced new Gigabit Ethernet Smart High-density modules for its OmniSwitch 7000 and 8000 platforms that support the need for Gigabit Ethernet, high availability networking, and simple deployment of advanced features. With these new Smart High-density modules and a common operating system across the entire OmniSwitch family, Alcatel offers the industry`s best value in highly-available, secure, and easy-to-manage networking solutions.

Alcatel`s new Smart High-density modules for the OmniSwitch 7000 and 8000 platforms deliver on its commitment to continuous enhancement of the OmniSwitch family. Alcatel has tripled its port density while preserving the integrity of a common network operating system across the campus with platforms that now scale from 24 ports of 10/100 to 384 ports of copper or fibre Gigabit. With the new modules, Alcatel continues to expand the choice of network interfaces modules for the OmniSwitch 7000 and 8000, allowing media and density versatility in network design and deployment for Gigabit Ethernet.

These new Gigabit Ethernet High-density modules also introduce the concept of "Smart High-density." Smart High-density combines over subscription and distributed quality of service (QoS)-aware packet processing with improved price performance, bringing enterprises lower infrastructure costs with no impact to service levels.

"Synergy Research Group has conducted extensive analysis of Gigabit Ethernet products and found that with Gigabit modules, over-subscription is a key differentiator. Alcatel`s newest modules are well positioned in terms of over-subscription for critical applications like power users or servers in enterprise data centres, that need improved line rate performance," said Joshua Johnson, industry analyst at Synergy Research Group. "What`s more, the price of Alcatel`s new modules on a per-Gigabit port-basis are extremely competitive."

Unlike the 8:1 oversubscribed copper interfaces on competitive products, Alcatel`s Smart High-density copper modules for the OmniSwitch 7000 and 8000 series feature a 4:1 over subscription ratio that is better aligned with the performance of power users and data centre servers. Alcatel`s 12-port fibre Smart High-density Module matches the same compelling 4:1 ratio for the OmniSwitch 7000 series, while its 24-port fibre module offers an even more attractive 2:1 over-subscription ratio for the OmniSwitch 8000 series. All of these Smart High-density modules give OmniSwitch customers the assurance of support for expanding network demands in aggregation and backbone applications.

In addition to providing long-term value through investment protection, Alcatel`s new Smart High-density modules also bring a price performance improvement. Alcatel OmniSwitch Smart High-density modules provide a 300% to 600% improvement in Gigabit port density with a 50% to 65% reduction in the price per port for Gigabit applications.

"As the network continues to become a mission-critical business function, enterprises should not have to pay a price premium for high-availability or be subjected to IT cost of ownership penalties," said Eric Penisson, vice-president, Alcatel Network Infrastructure Marketing. "Alcatel extends business value to enterprises through an innovative architecture with a single and consistent operating system and OneTouch management capabilities - making it the ideal solution for enterprises searching for functionality, ease of management and value."

Alcatel 3 new Gigabit Ethernet modules include:

The OmniSwitch OS7-GNI-C12, high density Gigabit Network Interface module with 12 ports of 10/100/1000Base-T for the OmniSwitch 7700 and 7800.

The OmniSwitch OS8-GNI-U24, high density Gigabit Network Interface module with 24 ports of 1000Base-X for OmniSwitch 8800.

The OmniSwitch OS-8-GNI-C24, high density Gigabit Network Interface module with 24 ports of 10/100/1000Base-T for OmniSwitch 8800.

These Smart High-density modules are supported by the industry`s highest-availability and simplest management, made possible through Alcatel`s operating software and OmniSwitch architecture:

Alcatel is the only company that has independently verified its claim of providing the industry`s highest-availability to enterprises. Features such as smart continuous switching and configuration rollback ensure that mission-critical data and voice applications such as IP telephony are delivered without compromise. These redundancy features were tested this year by the industry`s leading network infrastructure test lab, The Tolly Group.

Trek to the summit

00Days

:

00Hrs

:

00Min

:

00Sec

Alcatel pioneered advanced QoS and was then the first vendor to simplify and automate it. Alcatel offers simplified QoS implementation and manageability through its "OneTouch" QoS, which allows administrators to configure and manage their network with the click of a button. With OneTouch QoS, the network manager is able to give priority very simply with "bronze", "gold" or "platinum" class of service options and with "one click" of the button, automatically configure every Alcatel switch in the network.