Extreme touts Ethernet for broadband metro-area network

Extreme Networks this week rolled out two Gigabit Ethernet switches for metropolitan area networks and multitenant buildings.

The Summit1i and Summit5i systems are designed to eliminate the limitations associated with multiple narrowband aggregation technologies traditionally used in metro points of presence. Broadband POPs are moving closer to the customer and need to offer services density and scalability without re-engineering discreet narrowband technologies, Extreme claims.

Extreme believes the "POP" in the broadband Ethernet service arena will be the jack in the office wall, or the switch in a building's basement computer room or collocation rack. Therefore, switches must be capable of delivering consistent services and performance at any point in the network, Extreme says.

The Summit 1i sports eight Gigabit Ethernet ports: six 1000Base-TX or SX, plus two Gigabit Interface Connectors (GBICs). The Summit 5i features 16 Gigabit Ethernet ports, 12 of which are 1000Base-TX, SX or LX, plus four GBICs.

Each switch supports Extreme's Ethernet MAN service software, including:

IP time-division multiplexing circuit emulation for fixed, guaranteed-latency circuits set up for voice and video traffic

Bandwidth-by-the-slice, which enables service providers to sell incremental bandwidth based on incremental Ethernet bandwidth allocation

Virtual MAN services, which creates VPN connections across a single metropolitan area network for secure and transparent LAN service

The new switches begin shipping in July. Pricing starts at $8,795 for the Summit1i and $10,995 for the Summit5i.

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