Extreme Networks Intros 40Gb Ethernet Upgrade for Stackable Data Center Switches

Extreme Networks Inc.'s VIM3-40G4X 40Gb Ethernet network solutions adds four 40GbE connections to the Summit X650 Top-of-Rack stackable switches for $3,995, or less than $1,000 per port. The new module is fully compatible with the existing Summit X650 and Summit X480 stackable switches, preserving customers’ investments while providing a smooth upgrade to greatly increased scalability of both virtualized and non-virtualized data centers.

“As data centers increase in server density through consolidation efforts and the use of virtualization, 40GbE connectivity from the network core to Top-of-Rack switches becomes critical to providing the performance and scale required of the network,” says Shehzad Merchant, Senior Director of Strategy for Extreme Networks. “Furthermore, as servers move to native 10GbE connectivity, the need for 40GbE at the top-of-rack becomes even more acute.”

At Interop Las Vegas, Extreme Networks demonstrated the VIM3-40G4X installed in a Summit X650 stackable switch in a “Top-of-Rack” configuration connected to the BlackDiamond 8900 chassis with a four port 40GbE module configured as the Data Center core. All of the industry-leading features of the ExtremeXOS modular operating system, including Layer 2/Layer 3 forwarding, redundancy and resiliency features such as EAPS, and the ability to bond together multiple links, are implemented at 40GbE speeds.

Extreme Networks recent announcement of its XNV VM Lifecycle Management and the Direct Attach network virtualization architecture, named a Best of Interop Finalist in the virtualization category, are fully supported with 40GbE at their release.

40GbE is poised to become a data center infrastructure requirement, where it serves as an aggregation technology necessary to build data centers with high performance servers that are supporting virtualized services, video, storage and traditional applications.

“The debut of 40GbE at Interop highlights the scalability of our existing data center solutions while enabling a ‘no forklift upgrade’ for customers,” continues Merchant. “As servers and storage quickly migrate to higher density 10 GbE connectivity, a compelling need arises for increased scalability in the data center. With the introduction of 40GbE, Extreme Networks furthers its commitment to cost-effectively scaling data center, as customers migrate from physical networks, to virtual networks and on to the cloud.”

Extreme Networks


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