LAS VEGAS -- 3Com this week announced the PathBuilder S400 WAN convergence switch, which the company says integrates virtual private networks (VPN), voice/data convergence and multiprotocol routing.
The PathBuilder S400 switch is targeted at large remote sites and smaller central sites of enterprises. It supports up to 12 analog voice ports and T-1/E-1 digital voice connectivity. For service providers, the platform offers an optional integrated V.90 service modem for remote management.
The PathBuilder S400 supports 256 IP tunnels using standards-based tunneling technology. The switch supports the two VPN clients, Microsoft Windows Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol client and 3Com's own Dynamic Access VPN client IP Security. The switch also features hardware-based encryption using Data Encryption Standard (DES) and Triple-DES.
The switch also supports an ICSA-certified firewall.
The PathBuilder S400 supports Voice over IP, Fax over IP and Voice over frame relay along with voice compression to enable calls to be integrated across the data network.
Using 3Com's multiprotocol routing software, the PathBuilder S400 enables policy switching, which is the ability to switch traffic out over frame relay, VPNs or T-1 lines based on the traffic type. Policy switching allows network managers to decide the quality of service and cost of that service by traffic type, 3Com says.
The switch also supports IP Multicast for video transmissions over IP.
The PathBuilder S400 costs between $3,500 and $8,000, depending on configuration. The product will be available in the third quarter.
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