Adhering to the needs of local mid-sized and large enterprises, Nortel Networks has launched the BayStack 380-24T Switch, designed to provide high-density, high-bandwidth connectivity to desktops, other switches, servers and network devices.
Available from local systems distributor Comztek, the offering from Nortel is a resilient solution enabling companies to minimise their capital and operational expenses, while enjoying protection against unauthorised access to data traffic.
The switch has up to 24 10/100/1000 Mbps auto-sensing ports and four SFP (Small Forum Factor Pluggable) Gigabit Interface Converter ports that provide high-density Gigabit connectivity to power-user desktops, enabling high-speed applications such as graphics and multimedia.
"As the BayStack 380-24T is a Layer 2 switch for server farms, users can aggregate servers without having to purchase an expensive Layer 3 switch - therefore saving costs," comments Anton van Bers, Nortel Networks product manager at Comztek.
The solution also supports BaySecure software, which allows authentication of all access, not only to the switches for management and configurations but also access to infrastructure. And the Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) authenticates switch-security management.
Another key feature is that all BayStack switches, including the BayStack 380-24T have a common `look and feel`, reducing expensive training costs. Explains van Bers: "This allows the switches to be managed similarly via a broad set of management tools."
These tools include web, Command Line Interface (CLI), menus and Optivity Switch Manager (OSM). The BayStack 380-24T also integrates voice, video and data within the same network as it features standards-based priority queuing. This prioritisation is based on the Layer 2 802.1p value that uses four hardware-based queues.
Other features include:
* VLAN support - up to 64 port-based VLANs can be established for each switch;
* Web-based management via a web browser;
* Configuration management;
* MultiLink Trunking enables grouping links between the switch and another switch or server to provide bandwidth links of up to 8 Gbps; and
* Supports up to 32,768 MAC addresses for the deployment of large-scale enterprise networks.
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