* SMC brings out 10 Gigabit Ethernet switch, WLAN access point/bridge
SMC recently introduced both a 10 Gigabit Ethernet switch and an outdoor wireless LAN access point/bridge.
The TigerSwitch 10G Standalone 8-port 10G Managed L2 Switch is intended as an aggregator or a switch for workgroups of power users. The switch can move up to 160G bit/sec, making it non-blocking.
Several different transceivers can be used with the switch, each supporting a different length of fiber-optic lines – 300 meters, 10 km or 40 km. SMC offers other switches with optional 10 Gigabit uplinks that the new switch could aggregate.
The switch is 1RU high and has an optional redundant power supply.
The switch is expected to ship this month for $8,000; transceivers range from $2,300 to $9,000.
The Elite Connect Universal 2.4-GHz/5-GHz Outdoor Wireless Access Point/Bridge is intended to wirelessly bridge two or more wired LANs. It’s a way to connect LANs in different buildings without running cables between them. At the same time, it can be used as an access point for wireless LAN users.
The access point supports both the IEEE 802.11a and the 802.11b/g standards for wireless LANs. One of these bands can be used for communications as a bridge between buildings while the other can be used to support wireless LAN users.
There are two configurations, master and slave. The master can wirelessly connect to up to 16 remote LANs while also providing wireless access locally. The slave is for the bridge connection at the other end, at those remote LANs.
For security, the access point supports both Wired Equivalent Privacy and Wi-Fi Protected Access.
Both the master and slave versions of the access point are expected to ship next month for $1,000.
