Alcatel Launches Low-Cost, Stackable Multilayer Switch for Converged Networking; New Features Include Increased Scalability, Reliability and Intelligence.Business Editors CALABASAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 21, 2002 Alcatel today announced a new convergence-ready stackable multilayer switch See layer 3 switch. called the Alcatel OmniStack 6124 that provides inexpensive connectivity, while providing intelligence, reliability and scalability at the edge of the network. The Alcatel OmniStack 6124 offers layer-3 classification based on DiffServ (Differentiated Services Offerings that can be classified by type, or quality, of service. For example, a differentiated services network could prioritize real time traffic for a higher fee. ) prioritization, in addition to layer-2 classification based on 802.1p and 802.1q. This added intelligence provides network managers with greater flexibility and control over the network as they can more easily manage and prioritize traffic. In networks that are integrating voice or video along with data, the Alcatel OmniStack 6124 can give delay sensitive traffic priority right up to the edge of the enterprise network. "The Alcatel OmniStack 6124 brings to our customers a new, low cost, stackable multilayer switch that is convergence-ready and fully scalable, manageable and reliable," said Joelle Gauthier, Alcatel vice president of Network Infrastructure Marketing. "Additionally, the Alcatel OmniStack 6124 is fully interoperable with earlier versions of the OmniStack product line so that customers can mix and match, thus protecting their investment and reducing cost of ownership." The Alcatel OmniStack 6124 can stack up to six, 24-port 10/100 Ethernet switch A device that connects clients and servers to each other in an Ethernet network. See switched Ethernet. with uplink options for increased scalability of up to 150 ports per stack. Individual switches are connected together using 4 Gbps stacking connections, which ensures high performance for the entire stack. For increased reliability, the Alcatel OmniStack 6124 implements a ring-stacking link design that allows units to communicate with each other despite a severed link. The Alcatel OmniStack 6124 also supports port-based and 802.1q virtual LANs (VLANs) for network segmentation Network segmentation in computer networking is the act or profession of splitting a computer network into subnetworks, each being a network segment or network layer. Advantages of such splitting are primarily for boosting performance and improving security. without the use of routers. The VLAN See virtual LAN. VLAN - Virtual Local Area Network capabilities can also be combined with the 802.1p QoS feature to give priority to certain groups of power users. Through the use of VLANs, network managers can segment traffic, increase overall security of the network, and prevent undesirable traffic from affecting the network, as is the case with broadcast flooding. For networks with multicast traffic, the Alcatel OmniStack 6124 supports IGMP snooping IGMP Snooping is the process of improving IGMP. IGMP snooping, as implied by the name, is a feature that allows the switch to "listen in" on the IGMP conversation between hosts and routers. , which reduces the impact of multicast traffic on stations that are not part of a multicast group. The Alcatel OmniStack 6124 provides full SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) A widely used network monitoring and control protocol. Data are passed from SNMP agents, which are hardware and/or software processes reporting activity in each network device (hub, router, bridge, etc. support, RMON (Remote MONitoring) Enhancements to the management information base (MIB) structure used by the simple network management protocol (SNMP). In 1991, RMON added comprehensive network monitoring capabilities. support, and web-based management. The Alcatel OmniStack 6124 can also be integrated into an enterprise wide network management platform with Alcatel's OmniVista network management suite. Pricing and availability The Alcatel OmniStack 6124 is available February 2002. Pricing for the Alcatel OmniStack 6124 family starts at $1,495. About Alcatel Alcatel (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :ALA) builds next generation networks, delivering integrated end-to-end voice and data networking solutions to established and new carriers, as well as enterprises and consumers worldwide. With sales of $25 billion (EURO 27 billion) in 2000 and 110,000 employees, Alcatel operates in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Alcatel on the Internet: http://www.alcatel.com |
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