Sun International has standardised on Nortel Networks Campus Switching technology for all its casino complexes, says Bryan Thompson, Senior Account Executive at Nortel Networks.
"Nortel Networks, through DNS, has already installed its latest layer 3 campus switching technology in Sun International`s two new casinos. Sun International, which is the first company to run the Passport 8000 campus solution in a live network environment, will also be implementing this technology in all of its existing casinos," says Thompson.
"Sun International`s corporate network is an essential component of its success in the competitive gaming market. Its performance and continuous operation cannot be left to chance. Nortel Networks, through its high performance architecture, has helped create an intelligent network that is capable of prioritizing business-critical traffic, which is a powerful advantage to the company."
"When optimizing a network for high performance, it is essential to create an infrastructure that supports the application needs of the business. Our objective is to ensure that the products deployed by Sun International meet its current requirements, as well as its anticipated growth requirements of the next few years.
"The layer 3 switches have been selected because they are high-speed, flexible, have advanced features, they can be used in numerous applications, and are easily integrated into existing infrastructures because they use standards-based protocols.
The contract with Sun International`s Port Elizabeth Casino, valued at R3.2-million, comprises the Passport 8600, a layer 3 GB switch with layer 4 application intelligence, that links in the core with multiple Gigabit Ethernet connections and 10/100 Ethernet on edge devices. Completed at the end of September 2000, the installation boasts the benefits of wire-speed switching at the edge and wire-speed routing in the core.
The second installation, at the Goodwood Casino in the Western Cape, consists of a layer 3 GB core and 10/10 Ethernet edge devices. This installation was completed in November 2000.
"Provisioning products that are capable of wire-speed switching and routing has been vital in setting a benchmark for network operation and performance. For wiring closets, the BayStack 450 stack and Passport 8000 switches provide up to 50 Gbps of scalable bandwidth - enough capacity to meet the demands of 10/100 MBPS desktop users, and any local server connections. In the network core and server farm, Passport 8600 routing switches provide 96 Mpps of routing performance to meet the demands of Intranet and MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) traffic," explains Thompson.
"The Passport Campus Solution provides Sun International with enterprise-class features in a cost-effective, scalable solution. These features include Gigabit Ethernet connectivity; IP/IPX forwarding at ten times the speed of the fastest routers; advanced routing features; and distributed access security with wire-speed filtering.
"The Passport campus technology also provides Sun International with the infrastructure to implement application optimized performance and business-critical availability, thereby enabling the business to operate on a level that until recently, was out of reach at three times the price," adds Thompson.
"The Passport campus solution sets a new standard for application-optimized performance, security, and network availability. This revolutionary architecture turbo charges Sun International`s network eliminating congestion and locking in peak performance for its business-critical applications.
Share
Editorial contacts