Nortel Networks has rolled out enhanced Ethernet modules for its ATM switches that the company says support policy-based quality of service for converged campus nets.
The EtherSpeed II line of 10/100Mbps autosensing Ethernet switching modules fits into Nortel’s Centillion and System 5000BH ATM enterprise switches. The modules include 24-port copper and fiber modules for the 5000BH, and 20-port copper and 16-port fiber cards for the Centillion 50 and 100 switches.
The new modules use silicon from Nortel’s Accelar frame-based Layer 3 switches to classify traffic and improve packet forwarding, filtering and policy features, the company says. The new Application Specific Integrated Circuits deliver traffic classification, queuing, filtering and security capabilities at wire-speed, Nortel claims.
Each EtherSpeed II module has a newly developed 3.2Gbps packet segmentation and reassembly component that Nortel says improves the performance, throughput and scalability of the Centillion and System 5000BH switches.
EtherSpeed II modules also support Multi-Protocol-over-ATM Layer 3 switching and feature port mirroring, SNMP and Remote Monitoring data collection for management.
The EtherSpeed II 24-port 10/100 autosensing module for the System 5000BH is priced at US$9,995 and is available immediately. The EtherSpeed II 20-port 10/100 module for the Centillion 50 and Centillion 100 is priced at $5,750 and will ship in October.
The EtherSpeed II 24-port 100FX module for the System 5000BH and the 16-port 100FX module for the Centillion 50 and Centillion 100 are slated to ship in December. Pricing was not disclosed.