SANTA CLARA, Calif. and LAS VEGAS, June 16, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Foundry Networks(r), Inc. (Nasdaq:FDRY), a performance and total solutions leader for end-to-end switching and routing, today announced enhanced features and functionality in its multi-service NetIron(r) XMR backbone routers and NetIron MLX metro routers to deliver efficient and scalable growth for service providers. Fulfilling ongoing demands by service providers worldwide to maximize energy and cost-efficiency while increasing network capacity and reliability, Foundry(r) now delivers a record-setting and industry-leading capacity of 320 Gigabits per second (Gbps) link aggregation capacity. In addition Foundry allows the efficient scaling of Metro/Carrier Ethernet services through Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) integration with Layer 2 networks and enhances the stability of large-scale Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) networks through the isolation of unstable customer networks. These innovations deliver service providers a scalable and economical path to help meet existing and emerging application demands today, as well as in the future.
"Worldwide, bandwidth demands continue to increase exponentially. Internet growth and the explosion of online content and applications are forcing service providers to take a hard look at their network requirements. Scaling their networks to handle this unlimited growth is no longer an option but a necessity if they want to stay competitive in an increasingly tight market," said Ray Mota, chief strategist and president of consulting for Synergy Research Group. "Service providers must select solutions that support their networks, and these solutions must have the features, upgrades and expansion path that fulfill their mission-critical requirements. Additionally, these solutions must scale efficiently without sacrificing performance as well as support and decrease CapEx."
Record-Setting Carrier Trunks
To prepare carriers for upcoming capacity needs and to help protect network infrastructure investments, Foundry enables new and existing NetIron XMR and MLX customers with the ability to aggregate up to 32-ports of 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) to provide an aggregated link capacity of 320Gbps. Foundry has applied advanced load-sharing algorithms in order to fully utilize the increased capacity, enabling the NetIron family of routers to scale trunked connectivity to a record-setting 320Gbps, establishing the industry's highest and most advanced link aggregation solution. These patent-pending load-sharing algorithms help ensure optimal utilization of all links in a Link Aggregate and reduce correlation between Equal Cost Multipath and Link Aggregation. Finally, the solution's superior design eliminates polarization effects in a network, thus enabling service providers the flexibility to optimally design large-scale networks.
In addition to the unprecedented capacity, the flexibility of this solution allows service providers to maximize the return on investment (ROI) of their existing routers. With the high 10GbE density of up to 128-ports of wire-speed connectivity in a single NetIron router, service providers can trunk existing 10GbE ports without having to purchase additional router hardware or invest in costly optical infrastructure upgrades or increasing router overhead, thereby delivering cost-efficiency and the ability to scale to new levels not possible before. Finally, the Carrier Trunk supports scalable and flexible adjustment of trunk capacity to meet operational needs.
Scaling and Extending Metro and Carrier Ethernet Services
Foundry's service provider solutions allow for advanced scaling of Carrier Ethernet services beyond the limits of traditional Layer 2 domains, and extending these services to the national and global level. Using Foundry's NetIron MLX router, service providers can integrate standard Layer 2 Metro protocols, Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) and Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP), and Foundry's innovative Layer 2 Metro protocols, Metro Ring Protocol (MRP) and Virtual Switch Redundancy Protocol (VSRP), with VPLS/MPLS services.
Benefits of MPLS integration with Layer 2 networks include the ability to offer and scale Carrier Ethernet services across Layer 2 Metro and MPLS networks, simplified and uniform end-to-end monitoring using IEEE 802.1ag (Connectivity Fault Management), and increased resiliency by coupling MPLS resiliency with advanced Layer 2 protection mechanisms. Service Providers can simultaneously utilize the advanced Layer 2 and VPLS/MPLS features on the NetIron MLX router, thereby reducing the number of devices in the network, resulting in significant cost savings and ease of network management. Finally, the advanced solution provides Service Providers the flexibility of offering end-to-end Carrier Ethernet Services over diverse Layer 2 and MPLS network topologies and benefit from service differentiation through Ethernet and VPLS/MPLS Quality of Service (QoS) integration.
Enhancing the Stability of Large-Scale BGP Networks
Foundry is extending the NetIron XMR Series' Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) capabilities to enable service providers to suppress the instability of customer networks from the provider backbone while maintaining reachability to the customer network. This advanced solution is superior to traditional route flap dampening mechanisms and significantly reduces the routing changes in the network, leading to greater stability and improved resiliency in the provider core network. The increased network stability results from the ability to increase peering with other service providers and the ability to increase the number of IP services and BGP/MPLS Virtual Private Network (VPN) services. It also allows service providers easier service differentiation with better customer service level agreements (SLAs) by leveraging the increased resiliency and scalability of the network.
"Foundry is committed to fully scaling carrier growth and expansion," said Ken Cheng, vice president and general manager for Foundry's High-End and Service Provider Systems Business Unit. "Foundry's latest enhancements to the industry-leading NetIron XMR and MLX routers are at the vanguard of flexible and scalable solutions to enable service providers to meet stringent customer requirements. These service provider solutions provide unprecedented link aggregation capacity, stability and flexibility for a new leadership and industry standard for powerful and efficient scaling of service provider networks."
Pricing and Availability
Available now as a no-cost software and firmware upgrade for Foundry customers with valid service contracts.
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. 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.