Telseon to deploy Foundry switches
 
|
|||
 | |||
|
DENVER - Metropolitan Ethernet provider Telseon revealed earlier this month that it will deploy BigIron Layer 3 Gigabit IP switches from Foundry Networks in its optical network buildout.
Telseon also uses switches from Extreme, Riverstone and "a couple of start-ups," according to Mick Seaman, Telseon's chief technology officer.
Through its optical metropolitan networks, Telseon gives customers 1M to 1,000M bit/ sec bandwidth over native Ethernet. Once Telseon customers establish a connection to Telseon's network and have an edge switch at their site, they can order bandwidth on demand through a Web interface.
Although many switch vendors boast about their Layer 3 to Layer 7 services, Seaman says the only layers that matter to Telseon are Layers 2 and 3. Traffic shaping and quality-of-service (QoS) features let Telseon ensure there is adequate bandwidth to support a customer's bandwidth request and establish redundancy. This lets Telseon offer solid service-level agreements, Seaman says.
The BigIron models Telseon will initially use are the four-slot 400 and the eight-slot 800, says Bob Gibson, Foundry's director of marketing. Telseon also is considering the BigIron 15000.
The BigIrons will be deployed in the core of Telseon's metropolitan nets, he says. Telseon also uses Extreme switches in its core network and Riverstone switches as edge devices.
"If you're looking for a commonality in our switch suppliers, they can all take the switches they developed in their enterprise beginnings and exert controls over them to make them suitable for a public network," he says.
One reason Telseon uses multiple vendors is to take advantage of each vendor's product development cycle. "Each vendor has its own cycle, and we want to make sure we're taking advantage of the latest equipment," he says.
Foundry's Gibson says such a strategy is the norm for metropolitan network providers. "I don't think any of the players in that market are going to go with one vendor," he says.
In addition to the Telseon deal, Foundry is selling switches to broadband provider Telocity. Gibson expects to announce deals with other metropolitan carriers soon.
The BigIron 15000 is shipping now. The chassis costs $17,500.
Foundry: www.foundrynetworks.com
RELATED LINKS
