Foundry unveils dual-speed fiber switching gear

Foundry Networks this week introduced a whole bunch of fiber: an all-fiber-optic version of the FastIron Edge X series of switches, a 24-port fiber-optic module for its FastIron SuperX chassis-based switch, and a 24-port module for its BigIron RX series of chassis-based switches.

All of the new fiber equipment is dual-speed - that is, you can choose whether it runs at 100Mbps or 1000Mbps.

Accompanying the new switches is a new release of the switch operating system for the FastIron Edge X and SuperX, Release 2.4 of the IronWare OS. The software enhancements are geared toward service providers; it now supports granular managed bandwidth services and has been optimized for IPTV multicast. Foundry is also targeting the products at government agencies and universities.

In addition to the switches focused on fiber, Foundry unveiled a 10-Gigabit Ethernet copper switch that delivers Power over Ethernet. Details on that switch can be found in my colleague Phil Hochmuth’s report from Interop.

The FastIron Edge X424HF is a fixed-configuration switch with 24 small-form-factor hot-pluggable ports. Those ports can be configured with transceivers that run at either 100Mbps or 1000Mbps, and there is an option to add one or two ports of 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Foundry bills it as an aggregation switch and notes that you could use optical transceivers to stretch over long distances - up to 120 kilometers.

The FastIron SuperX is a Layer 2/3 modular switch with a focus on Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections. The BigIron RX series is the top of Foundry’s line, a series of Layer 2/3 switches that can support up to 1.5 terabits per second.

The FastIron Edge X424HF with Layer 3 support is shipping now, starting at $10,000. The SuperX module is also shipping; it costs $8,000. The module for the BigIron RX is slated to ship next month, and pricing was not given.

Read more about lans & wans in Network World's LANs & WANs section.

Jeff Caruso is site editor at Network World.