SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 26, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Foundry Networks(r), Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY), a performance and total solutions leader for end-to-end switching and routing, today announced its enhanced end-to-end vision for the service provider market with a suite of new networking solutions. Foundry's(r) service provider focus is to create a high-performance, flexible and efficient network architecture for providers to deliver core, aggregation and edge services with compelling financial economics, energy and rack space savings. This vision is achieved with a portfolio of high-density modular and ultra-compact systems as well as a suite of complementary routing and switching solutions that embrace IPv4/IPv6 protocols, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB) and 10 gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) capabilities.
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Foundry's service provider solutions are built on a foundation of performance, resiliency and scalability attributes. Foundry has consistently delivered solutions to meet the high-performance and scalability demands of new and next-generation carrier networks. Its Carrier Trunks capability allows aggregation up to 32-ports of 10GbE and scales to a record-setting link capacity of 320 gigabits per second (Gbps) enabling network operators to efficiently augment capacity beyond the 10GbE barrier before the anticipated 40GbE and 100GbE standards arrive. Resiliency is accomplished through Foundry's unique Metro Ring Protocol (MRP), which enables rapid convergence and traffic protection in ring-based topologies.
To expand its end-to-end service provider product portfolio, Foundry today announced the NetIron(r) CES 2000 Series, the networking industry's first one rack unit (1RU) compact edge/aggregation switch with Provider Backbone Bridge (PBB) and 10GbE capabilities. Purpose-built to extend Carrier Ethernet services, the NetIron CES 2000 Series features high versatility for supporting a wide range of deployments and broad range of applications: Carrier Ethernet services, ISP edge/aggregation, and data center deployments. Combining the NetIron XMR and MLX Series routers' Virtual Private LAN Services (VPLS) capability with the Provider Backbone Bridge (PBB) / Provider Bridge (PB) functions on the NetIron CES 2000 Series, Foundry delivers a unique, highly scalable infrastructure solution for Carrier Ethernet service delivery. This new, efficient, secure, Ethernet optimized architecture will preserve investment in existing MPLS backbones and reduce the number of provider edge (PE) routers that need to establish a full mesh for VPLS. Furthermore, the NetIron CES 2000 Series lowers signaling overhead on the PE router, isolates the PE router from learning customer MAC addresses and simplifies management at the edge, thereby enabling further Carrier Ethernet services scalability.
"With the introduction of the NetIron CES 2000 Series, Foundry demonstrates continued commitment and focus on providing innovative solutions in the Carrier Ethernet Switch/Router (CESR) market as one of the world's top three vendors," said Glen Hunt, principal analyst, carrier infrastructure, Current Analysis. "The NetIron CES 2000 switches combined with the NetIron MLX aggregation routers and NetIron XMR backbone routers, offer service providers a scalable and cohesive Carrier Ethernet solution that will help them accelerate and expand the deployment of enhanced and value-added services to their subscribers."
According to Denver Maddux, vice president, Network Engineering, Limelight Networks, Inc., "As we aggressively continue to add scale to Limelight Networks' global content delivery footprint, products like the NetIron CES 2000 Series provide us with a compact high-performance design and advanced switching and routing capabilities. These are all critical requirements for efficiently growing our network while continuing to enhance our quality-of-service from content to end-user."
The NetIron CES 2000 Series is an advanced solution for the following applications:
* Large-scale Carrier Ethernet build-outs when combined with the NetIron XMR and MLX Series routers * High-density aggregation of access devices such as Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexers (DSLAM), Passive Optical Network Optical Network Terminals (PON ONT) or Cable Modem Termination Systems (CMTS) at the network edge * Edge aggregation switching and routing applications in metro / ISP networks * Fiber to the home (FTTH) or Fiber to the building (FTTB) applications with very high Service Level Agreements * Data center top-of-the-rack server access switch in applications where deep buffering is important
Additional key features of the NetIron CES 2000 Series include:
* Availability in a variety of 24-port and 48-port, 10/100/1000 RJ45 and 100/1000 Hybrid Fiber (HF) small form-factor pluggable (SFP) configurations, and optional 10GbE uplinks * Ultra-efficient power consumption as low as 3.75 watts per full duplex gigabit per second (watt per Gbps FDX) * Ability to offer E-LINE, E-LAN and E-TREE services as per Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) standards * Comprehensive OAM capabilities based on IEEE 802.1ag-2007 and MEF 17 Service OAM Framework that allows rapid troubleshooting of Layer 2 networks and Carrier Ethernet services * Comprehensive IPv4 unicast and multicast capabilities, including support for Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), and intermediate system to intermediate system (IS-IS), Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) and Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP v2/3)
"Foundry has been a leading innovator in the service provider market for the past 12 years and we continually focus on providing leading edge services and scalability in a range of efficient platforms for our customers," said Ken Cheng, vice president and general manager, High-End and Service Provider Systems Business Unit for Foundry Networks. "Building on this foundation, the NetIron CES 2000 Series is unchallenged in the industry in terms of combined Carrier Ethernet price and performance, space and energy efficiency. With this advanced carrier grade solution, Foundry produces a new dynamic for edge/aggregation scalability, while staying true to Foundry's core values of wire-speed performance, operational efficiency and an unparalleled value proposition."
Available configurations:
* NI-CES-2024C: 24 x 10/100/1000 Copper (RJ45) ports with 4 combo SFP ports and an optional slot for 2x10G XFP * NI-CES-2024F: 24 x 100/1000 Hybrid Fiber (HF) SFP ports with 4 combo ports and an optional slot for 2x10G XFP * NI-CES-2048C: 48 x 10/100/1000 Copper (RJ45) ports with 4 combo SFP ports * NI-CES-2048F: 48 x 100/1000 Hybrid Fiber (HF) SFP ports * NI-CES-2048CX: 48 x 10/100/1000 Copper (RJ45) ports with 2x10G XFP ports * NI-CES-2048FX: 48 x 100/1000 Hybrid Fiber (HF) SFP ports with 2x10G XFP ports
The NetIron CES 2000 Series starts at US$8,495 and will be available in Q4 2008.
For more information on the NetIron CES 2000 Series, please visit http://www.foundrynet.com/products/sp/cpe-mtu/ni-ces-2000.html
About Foundry Networks
Foundry Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY) is a leading provider of high-performance enterprise and service provider switching, routing, security and Web traffic management solutions, including Layer 2/3 LAN switches, Layer 3 Backbone switches, Layer 4-7 application switches, wireless LAN and access points, metro and core routers. Foundry's customers include the world's premier ISPs, metro service providers, and enterprises, including e-commerce sites, universities, entertainment, health and wellness, government, financial and manufacturing companies. For more information about the company and its products, call 1.888.TURBOLAN or visit www.foundrynet.com.
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Safe Harbor Statement
The foregoing may contain "forward-looking statements" which are based on management's current information and beliefs as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events made by management. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements by executives or spokespeople regarding Foundry's positioning and potential plans or statements made by Current Analysis. The forward-looking statements in this press release are only predictions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially. Foundry assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Furthermore, no statements made by Foundry Networks, Inc. ("Foundry") in this press release, or information contained herein, may be deemed to constitute either an amendment of an existing agreement or an implied new commitment, promise or legal obligation by Foundry to develop or deliver any specific product, feature or functionality. The development, release, and timing of any product, feature, or functionality described herein remains at Foundry's sole discretion.
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