Force10 Networks MPLS Functionality for Its ExaScale Switch/Router Line Now Available

Previously, Force10 Networks (News - Alert), a provider of network business solutions, designed the ExaScale E-Series family of switch/routers to meet the stringent performance, management and cost requirements of today’s virtualized data center and cloud computing environments. Now, the company has upgraded this switch/router line with multi-protocol label switching, or “MPLS,” functionality enabling users to expand the capacity within their MPLS core infrastructure in order to more cost effectively support the rapid growth of best effort multimedia traffic.

 

Analysts have pointed out that ongoing market developments continue to show that a more cost-effective MPLS label switch router, or “LSR,” core providing Ethernet reliability and resiliency will represent the logical evolution of the network. Force10 saw the market similarly and because of that their specific MPLS LSR approach contrasted with traditional core router suppliers who just want to develop high-bandwidth Ethernet interfaces for these carrier platforms but don’t necessarily address the economic challenges facing the core network.

 

Enterprises are now demanding dynamic and responsive networks as they transition to virtualized data centers and adopt cloud-based services. The ExaScale E series was designed to power these new dynamic environments while significantly lowering total operating and management costs. As a purpose-built Ethernet-optimized LSR, the ExaScale platform solves a significant financial burden for network operators needing to scale the MPLS core network to accommodate ever-increasing amounts of best effort multimedia traffic.

 

According to Force10 officials, the company has recognized that video and web content alone currently accounts for more than 50 percent of total Internet traffic and that percentage will continue to increase and this rapid growth associated with traffic not directly tied to revenues is driving carriers to look for alternatives to traditional general purpose core routers for expanding capacity more cost effectively.

 

By bringing the MPLS LSR functionality into the Exascale platform they have combined the best of switching and routing to deliver disruptive economic advantages to core networks. As carriers adopt 10 GbE in their MPLS core networks, they hope to increasingly influence their Ethernet-optimized LSR to expand capacity for a lower cost.

 

Recently, NYSE Euronext selected Force 10 Networks for datacenters in NJ and London and Force10 earned common criteria certification for Ethernet switch/router products.