Avaya takes switch war to Cisco

networking architecture is taking hold in campuses and data centres, Network World reveals.

The new Ethernet Routing Switch (ERS) 4000 series switches are designed to help enterprises optimise networks for collaboration, and simplify the convergence of voice, video and data.

One of the key new features of the line is a boost in stacking bandwidth from 320Gbps to 384Gbps. Along with the switches, Avaya rolled out new software that includes support for Power over Ethernet (PoE) and PoE+, among other features.

The switches are compatible with Avaya's Virtual Enterprise Network Architecture (VENA), a blueprint unveiled a year ago to allow users to optimise the network for business applications and services through virtualisation, Tech World writes.

VENA is a software enhancement that supports the emerging IEEE 802 1AQ Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) standard for deploying multiple active paths in a data centre switch fabric.

While SPB may not be going gangbusters, Avaya says components of VENA - such as switch clustering, 'enhanced' Shortest Path Bridging, wireless networking, network access control, and network management - are being picked up by customers.

The timing is also significant, says Avaya, because a number of Cisco products are about to be discontinued, so customers are evaluating different options, Network Computing notes.

While it believes it also fares well against Juniper and HP, the company says Cisco is the only other vendor that can provide a full communications infrastructure, so that's where it sees the biggest opportunity.