Enterasys Networks has released a new family of 10-Gigabit and Gigabit Ethernet switches. The new standards-based Matrix E1 switches are designed to meet the rising bandwidth requirements of enterprise networks.
According to Enterasys, they combine the ease-of-use of Ethernet with wire-speed switching performance to rapidly deliver voice, video, data and other applications throughout an enterprise network infrastructure.
The switches are designed to address the rising use of bandwidth-intensive enterprise applications such as video conferencing, distance learning, enterprise resource planning, disaster recovery, and intranet and Internet connectivity.
Martin May, regional director (sub-Saharan Africa) Enterasys Networks, says the Matrix E1 family delivers an optimal combination of features and performance to provide customers with a high-capacity network infrastructure that unlocks the true potential of their enterprise applications.
"Features of the Matrix E1 family include extensive management capabilities, superior quality of service (QoS), and advanced security," he says.
"All of the Matrix E1 switches are designed for maximum performance, delivering wire-speed switching with their entire suite of advanced features enabled."
Technical perspective
The Matrix E1 line includes three switches for the rapidly growing 10-Gigabit and Gigabit Ethernet markets:
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The Matrix E1 Optical Access Switch (OAS) (1G694-13)
- Provides 12 ports of line-rate Gigabit performance and a 10-Gigabit expansion module. Starting in 2002, Enterasys will be offering a number of additional 10-Gigabit connectivity options to address short, medium and long-haul fibre environments.
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The Matrix E1 Workgroup Switch (WS) (1H582-51)
- Provides 48 fixed 10/100 ports and three flexible, modular expansion slots for a variety of 10/100 or Gigabit Ethernet connectivity options.
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The Matrix E1 Gigabit Workgroup Switch (GWS) (1G582-09)
- Provides six fixed Gigabit Ethernet ports and three flexible, modular expansion slots for a variety of 10/100 or Gigabit Ethernet connectivity options.
Adopters of 10-Gigabit technology include organizations looking to improve performance between data centres, and those that have maximised the capacity of their existing fibre optic cabling.
The Matrix E1 Optical Access Switch (OAS) enables organisations to cost-effectively deliver enterprise applications at 10-Gigabit speeds across a single fibre optic cable pair.
The Matrix E1 WS and GWS switches offer a full layer 2-4 feature set, including multi-layer frame classification and rate limiting to deliver advanced QoS for enterprise networks. In addition, these products support wire-speed IP and IPX routing as well as redundant AC power supplies at no additional cost. These switches also offer industry-leading scalability through a 16-port 10/100 module, as well as fibre and copper Gigabit Ethernet expansion modules.
Enterasys` 10-Gigabit vision was developed by John Roese, Enterasys Networks` CTO and the co-author of the emerging 802.1X standard. This strategy is based on the concept of "Unlocking the Optical Internet Application," or UTOPIA, which is reached when network capacity moves to a level that provides zero latency between people, applications and content regardless of their location.
UTOPIA is driven by the evolution of Ethernet and is based upon the IEEE`s 802.3ae 10-Gigabit specifications.
Continuing its ongoing commitment to industry standards, Enterasys is heavily involved in the development of standards for 10-Gigabit Ethernet, and is a charter member of the 10 Gigabit Ethernet Alliance (10GEA) and a voting member of the IEEE 802.3ae 10-Gigabit specification committee.
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