Force10 Networks Introduces C-Series Resilient Switch to Bring Reliability Characteristics to Midsize Data Centers and Wiring Closets.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Force10 Networks([R]), the pioneer in building and securing reliable networks, today introduced the C300 resilient switch that delivers the reliability, network control and scalability IT managers require to ensure their network is a strategic asset. Purpose-built for demanding deployments ranging from midsize data centers to wiring closets, the C300 is the industry's first switch that combines the essential reliability characteristics necessary to support today's mission critical business applications.

"The Force10 E-Series has delivered the strategic network performance we need to support new applications," said Cyrus Mohit, manager of data center operations at eHarmony. "With the C300 we are extending the features and reliability of the modular Force10 software and line-rate performance to our backup and management infrastructure."

With the continual evolution of applications and the emergence of new ones, it is crucial that the network - from the data center to the wiring closet - is flexible to respond to changing business requirements. To ensure the network is application ready, the Force10 C300 brings the reliability, control and performance scalability technologies of the TeraScale E-Series([R]) that were hardened in the production networks of high end data centers to midsize data centers and wiring closets.

"Our experience in large data centers has helped us understand that increasingly most businesses do not exist without the network, and with the introduction of the C300, we have extended our industry leading performance characteristics," said Stephen Garrison, vice president of marketing at Force10 Networks. "The C-Series for the first time combines industry leading reliability, network control and scalable capacity characteristics in a chassis platform optimized for midsized environments."

The Force10 C-Series is designed to bring reliability to the mid-size data center and enterprise local area network. The modular Force10 Operating System (FTOS) software provides inherent stability and eliminates unplanned network downtime. In addition to software reliability, the C-Series delivers full hardware resiliency with redundant components and hot insertion technologies that ensure maximum network uptime. The passive backplane of the C300 also means that it doesn't act as a single point of failure, further ensuring always-on networking.

To provide IT managers with more effective control over their network, the Force10 C300 delivers a suite of tools and features that increase manageability, serviceability and visibility. The modular FTOS includes an industry standard command line interface (CLI) that simplifies management and leverages the installed base of networking knowledge. Additionally, the C300 features HP OpenView-ready plug-ins with XML and SNMP MIB hooks for rapid integration into existing data center and wiring closet environments.

Beyond manageability, Force10 has integrated the advanced serviceability and visibility features developed for the TeraScale E-Series into the C300. In-service tracing and troubleshooting command line interfaces provide advanced serviceability tools that allow IT managers to quickly resolve issues without bringing down the network. Runtime hardware and data plane status monitoring provide visibility into the network, enabling IT managers to better understand and control the traffic on their network. Further providing IT managers with visibility into their network is the intelligent power management of the C300 that provides granular PoE control and tracks power in use as well as available power on a per port basis.

To deliver long-term investment protection, the Force10 C300 features enhanced scalability. The C300 has a switching capacity of 1.5 Terabits per second (Gbps) or 96 Gigabits per second per slot, providing the scalable capacity that will allow enterprises to expand their networks to support new applications without the cost of a system upgrade. Today, the C300 supports 384 line-rate Gigabit and 32 line-rate 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports in a single chassis. With the scalable capacity of the backplane, however, the C-Series can support multiple density increases in the future, providing long-term investment protection.

With full line-rate, non-blocking throughput across the backplane, the Force10 C300 can support new applications and features without impacting performance. Additionally, the C300 delivers full performance regardless of traffic conditions. And with full 15.4W Class 3 PoE support, the C300 can deliver full power to all 384 Gigabit Ethernet ports simultaneously.

Reliable Networking

As applications have evolved and new ones are introduced, traffic patterns are changing. With software as a service applications and collaboration tools, traffic now moves between end users as well as from the end user to the data center. As a result, there is a need for consistent performance characteristics throughout the network. By creating a unified network fabric, enterprises can build into their networks the flexibility to respond to changing business requirements.

Reliable Networking by Force10 delivers the reliability, control and scalability required to ensure the network is ready for emerging applications and services and can flexibly respond to those changing requirements.

Pricing and Availability

The Force10 C300 is $20,000 and is available now.

About Force10 Networks

Force10 Networks is the pioneer in building and securing reliable networks. Based on a revolutionary system architecture that delivers best-in-class resiliency and massive scalability, Force10's TeraScale E-Series switch/routers ensure predictable application performance, increase network availability, and reduce operating costs. Today, many of the world's largest Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet networks depend on Force10 Networks. For additional information, please visit www.force10networks.com.

Force10 Networks and E-Series are registered trademarks, and P-Series, S-Series, TeraScale and FTOS are trademarks of Force10 Networks, Inc. All other company names are trademarks of their respective holders.