Marconi, a global provider of advanced communications solutions, today announced the BXRT-48000, a 480 Gbps switch router, that advances Marconi`s long-lasting IP and multi-service infrastructure solutions. The BXR-48000 is a next-generation service-provider solution that allows operators to decrease their annual operating costs by reducing overlay networks, migrating numerous legacy and emerging IP services onto one common network and optimising bandwidth utilisation for more efficient use of optical infrastructures. With the BXR-48000, service providers have a true carrier-class solution to deliver revenue-generating IP and legacy services on one common backbone like never before.
Because the BXR-48000 routes and switches numerous protocols across the backbone concurrently on a per node or even per port basis, Internet Protocol (IP), Frame Relay, Private Line and Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) services can now be engineered end-to-end over one scalable and highly reliable network. By supporting end-to-end services instead of simply connecting the physical interfaces or "plumbing", the BXR-48000 provides an alternative to the "tunnel tax," an inefficiency currently seen in other devices that limits service level functionality by encapsulating one protocol over another. Further, the BXR-48000 provides unprecedented versatility, operating as an all-IP/MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) router, an all-ATM switch, or a hybrid IP/MPLS/ATM switch router, thereby providing a future-proof backbone solution, one that keeps pace with the evolution of customers` service profiles and enables a powerful return on a carrier`s core investment.
Key Applications
Service providers need the BXR-48000 when building large-scale IP/MPLS backbones that will support emerging, business-critical IP services like IP-VPNs, web hosting and application hosting. These services demand carrier-class predictability with respect to round trip delay, throughput, and outages, which cannot be easily supported by current devices. The BXR-48000 is also important for operators who are trying to reduce their overlay networks, which typically number three to seven networks. The BXR-48000 can migrate numerous legacy services and emerging IP services onto one common backbone, which could save up to 50-70% of typical annual operating costs for duplicate infrastructures.
The BXR-48000 also provides packet-level grooming and routing at the edge, which complements emerging Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) and optical switches that use MPLS for the dynamic provisioning of Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) bandwidth. The grooming and routing eliminates stranded bandwidth on meshed TDM backbones by optimising bandwidth utilization across lambdas, helping operators to reduce their fiber and lambda costs. Additionally, for operators who are removing last-mile bandwidth bottlenecks by deploying metro broadband access solutions, the BXR-48000 can be used for edge aggregation and switching and routing of numerous services.
"The announcement of a 480-Gbps hybrid switch/router as part of a core network solution is strong testament to Marconi`s commitment to service providers and their evolving infrastructure needs," said Christin J. Flynn, program manager of carrier convergence infrastructure for The Yankee Group. "The BXR-48000 merges the ATM core switch, the voice-over-IP backbone and the MPLS services router into one high density and scalable platform. Marconi`s new carrier-class solution, with its emphasis on responding to the reliability needs of carriers, sets an impressive, new standard for the next-generation service-provider core."
The BXR-48000 offers unprecedented scalability and port density in a very small footprint - 40 to 240 Gbps of full-duplex, non-blocking, aggregate line rate throughput in a standard rack and up to 480 Gbps in two racks in a subsequent release. Packet and cell interfaces are supported from OC12c/STM4c to OC192c/STM48c, with plans to support Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet. More than just an unintelligent core device that transports PVCs and LSPs without any IP classifications, the BXR-48000 provides unparalleled performance for connection-oriented packet-based networks with 10,000 connections per second and up to 1.5 billion pps. Predictable IP, as well as MPLS and ATM flows are supported across a patent-pending, single-stage, output-buffered fabric that offers deterministic, non-blocking performance at full aggregate line rate. The carrier-class BXR-48000 raises the bar for high availability IP services with full hardware redundancy and fault-tolerant software, providing greater than 99.999% availability.
Marconi delivers intelligent broadband solutions
The BXR-48000 is part of Marconi`s intelligent broadband infrastructure solution, including SmartPhotoniX optical switches, the ASXT-4000 broadband edge switch, the Intelligent Packet Network (IPN) softswitch and DISC*ST and AON broadband access platforms. Marconi completes its total networking solution with ServiceOnT network management and Marconi Services, which plans, builds and operates networks.
"Our customers tell us that implementing large scale networks to meet the demands of various service profiles is one of their top concerns," said Joe Pajer, executive vice president and general manager of Marconi`s Routing & Switching Products Division. "They trust Marconi because we speak their language. We don`t overstate the capacity of our devices, we deliver on what we say and we keep them updated on developments. Service providers want partners who will work with them to solve their networking challenges, not vendors who merely sell them a box."
Marconi will demonstrate the BXR-48000 in the first quarter of 2001 and is scheduling beta sites with select customers to begin trials in the third quarter. General availability is expected by the fourth quarter of 2001. Customers who need an immediate core networking solution can deploy Marconi`s award winning ASX-4000, which remains one of the largest switches on the market, scaling from 10 to 40 Gbps and supporting IP, MPLS and ATM services.
Marconi plc is a global communications and IT company with around 49,000 employees world-wide and sales in over 100 countries. It supplies advanced communications solutions and the key technologies and services for the internet. Marconi plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and NASDAQ under the symbol MONI.
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Key attributes of BXR-48000
The major advantages for service providers deploying the BXR-48000 include scalability, reliability, predictability and versatility. Specifically, the BXR-48000 provides:
Scalability without compromising performance
Service Providers require networks that scale in users, capacity and new services in order to grow revenues. The BXR-48000 is uniquely scalable in throughput, interfaces, connections and routing performance delivering up 240 Gbps of capacity in a single seven-foot rack and scaling to 480 Gbps in two racks in a subsequent release.
Marconi measures this capacity by the most conservative, direct benchmark - full duplex, deterministically non-blocking throughput. More liberal methods can inflate capacity claims by double counting bandwidth; measuring internal capacities rather than actual usable capacity; or aggregating the total bandwidth of clustered chassis using a "rodeo" technique. And the BXR-48000 boasts aggregate line-rate performance for all interfaces, supporting up to 768 OC-12c/ STM-4 ports, 192 OC-48c/ STM-16 ports or 48 OC-192c/ STM-64 ports in the 480 Gbps configuration.
The BXR-48000 also sets up and tears down up to 10,000 connections per second. This incredible performance is critical for on-demand connection-oriented services such as voice over IP (VoIP) or ATM (VoATM), 3G Mobile and video, as well as supporting the industry-leading re-route capabilities that Marconi customers are accustomed to.
Reliability for carrier-class networks
Service Providers depend on reliable network components to deliver uninterrupted service to their customers. The BXR-48000 is engineered from the ground up to be a carrier-class switch router, delivering all the required features to exceed 99.999% availability and comply to NEBS Level 3 standards. The BXR-48000 includes complete hardware redundancy, in-service hardware and software upgrades and call/connection preservation for all connection types.
Predictability for IP, MPLS and ATM
A majority of carrier revenue is generated from services that require predictability including voice, cable television, private line, frame relay, ATM, and new IP services. The BXR-48000 implements the field-proven, connection-oriented traffic management and traffic engineering features which customers have come to expect from Marconi. Unique for a platform that scales to this level, the patent-pending BXR-48000 design represents a major break-through for single-stage, output-buffered architecture. The BXR-48000 provides optimized, deterministic performance across all service types, whether delivered by IP, MPLS or ATM, thus supporting any traffic scenario.
Versatility for IP and Multi-service offerings
Today`s providers strive to build networks that are versatile enough to offer new differentiated IP and existing multi-service offerings without the cost of building separate networks or changing platforms. The BXR-48000 can be configured as a pure IP router, a multi-service switch, or a hybrid IP/MPLS/ATM switch router. Initial interfaces supported include POS, FAST and ATM, with 1/10 Gigabit Ethernet, TDM and Frame Relay interfaces planned for a subsequent release.
What makes the BXR-48000 unique is its ability to support all of these services and multiple control planes simultaneously by routing and switching traffic in its native format on a single, integrated platform. This versatility frees providers to offer full services, rather than being forced into limited offerings constrained by a platform that requires tunneling of protocols.