New Alcatel-Lucent Ethernet switch outperforms enterprise network core market in switch capacity, port density, power efficiency

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) has announced the global availability of a powerful new 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GigE) enterprise switch that sets a new standard in non-blocking switch capacity, port density, low power consumption and price per port.

The OmniSwitch 10K Modular LAN Chassis (http://enterprise.alcatel-lucent.com/omniswitch10K) is the first of a generation of network infrastructure offerings that exemplify Alcatel-Lucent's approach to enabling application fluent networks.

Application fluent network is a network optimised to deliver high-quality, real-time applications to users across the enterprise. By leveraging the intelligence in the OmniSwitch 10K, enterprises benefit from a dynamically tuned network based on user, application, device and location resulting in better services as well as streamlined operations, and lower management costs for IT. The enterprise also saves on capital expenditures, as the average price per non-blocking port of the OmniSwitch 10K is significantly lower than competitive switches.

The OmniSwitch 10K sets higher performance standards in enterprise core networks by up to four times in non-blocking switch capacity, port density and power efficiency. It features five terabit per second of wire rate switching capacity, supports 256 10GigE ports, and delivers the lowest power consumption on the market at less than 1.5 watts per non-blocking Gigabit per second bandwidth. The OmniSwitch 10K employs unique virtual queuing technology that enables fine-tuned application delivery control that prioritises traffic.

"Enterprises today are facing an explosion of end-user devices, as well as extremely challenging delivery requirements for real-time sensitive communication applications, such as video conferencing," said Nicolas De Kouchkovsky, Alcatel-Lucent CMO for its Enterprise business. "It is no longer enough to just throw bandwidth at the problem. Our OmniSwitch 10K meets the challenge with intelligent management of available resources and applications through simplified network architecture and dynamic policy management."

As part of the announcement, Alcatel-Lucent is unveiling its application fluent network approach for its next-generation network infrastructure products. Application fluent networks enable a high-quality end-user experience for delivery of real-time applications, along with reduced complexity for IT and network managers. This is achieved through a simplified, resilient and low-latency network architecture with built-in security. To improve the end-user productivity, an application fluent network also features automatic controls for adjusting application delivery based upon profiles, policies and context. Application fluent networks also deliver streamlined operations through automated provisioning and low power consumption.

"Virtualisation, cloud computing, and the increasing array of devices appearing on the network create a new world of complexity when delivering applications," said Mark Fabbi, vice-president, Gartner. "What is needed is a flattened network designed to be resilient, low-latency and easy to operate. In essence, enterprises need to provide high quality application delivery that adjusts according to the user, application and device in use."