Foundry Networks Debuts MPLS-Enabled Metro Access Switches

Foundry Networks Inc. announced this week at GLOBALCOMM the NetIron M2404 series of MPLS-enabled Metro Access in an effort to bring greater manageability and quality of service to carrier Ethernet services by extending MPLS functions like traffic engineering and fast reroute to the edge.

“A key requirement when you deliver services is to enforce SLAs end to end, not just in the core,” said Ken Cheng, vice president and general manager for Foundry Network’s service provider business unit. “Driving MPLS to the edge achieves end-to-end SLAs.”

Specifically, the M2404 creates and end-to-end MPLS tunnel for 50ms fast reroute, Cheng said.

The M2404 comes in two versions – M2404F for fiber and M2404C for copper – each in a compact moveable 1RU form factor suitable for MTU or curb deployments.

The M2404F switch is configured with 24 100baseX SFP fiber ports, two gigabit Ethernet combo port and two enhanced gigE uplink ports, while the M2404C switch is configured with 24 10/100 RJ-45 copper ports, two gigE combo port and two enhanced gigE uplink ports. The M2404F SFP ports supports both 100baseFX and 100baseBX optics. Both M2404F and M2404C switches support redundant AC/DC power supplies for increased hardware redundancy and are NEBS Level 3 and ETSI compliant.

For scalability, the M2404 supports hierarchical VPLS, which Cheng said allows for point-to-point extensions from the NetIron MLX edge routers to the M2404 device. The next release of the product will include full VPLS at the edge to support additional secondary paths at the edge.

In addition, hierarchical QOS scheduling, inbound and outbound traffic policing and shaping features offer provider the ability to deliver advanced service level agreements. “H-QoS is able to enforce QoS right were the customer connects instead of deep into the network,” Cheng said, noting there are three levels of H-QoS – physical, VLAN and class of services. This means service providers can use one port to service multiple homes and within each home to deliver multiple services, Cheng said.

“It allows granularity,” he added. “The switch can enforce priority by application within a customer home.”

Another key point is the M2404 is built for wire speed, Cheng said. Each delivers full 100mbps for each port and a full gigE for uplink.

Lastly, to help providers simplify end-to-end service operations and management, the M2404 supports 802.3ah EFM OAM, 802.1ag CFM (Connectivity Fault Management) and MEF OAM capabilities.

The NetIron M2404 Series Metro Access Switches will be available in August 2006; trials begin next month.

Pricing starts at $9,495 for the copper version. Pricing was not available for the fiber version.

Foundry Networks Inc. www.foundrynetworks.com

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