Xylan Corp, based in Calabasas, California, has announced enhancements to its Omni-Switch and PizzaSwitch products claiming that the new versions are the first local network switches to offer Frame Relay access. The company is pitching the Frame Relay access for sites that do not require the usual high speeds – DS-3, E3 or OC-3 – associated with Asynchronous Transfer Mode systems. Targeted at sites using multiple T1, or E1 lines – including regional offices and carrier local network extension services – the company says that up to 64 Frame Relay ports can be accommodated in the Omni-Switch, and up to eight in the Pizza-Switch. The Frame Relay modules are said to support all serial data rates up to E1 (2Mbps) with interfaces available for V.35, RS-232, X.21, RS-530 and RS-422/449. Support for the Frame Relay Forum FRF.9 data compression standard is also incorporated, and the company further claims that the products support all its virtual local network capabilities including the ability to support multiple virtual paths across a single Data Link Connection Identifier. Modules for the OmniSwitch will ship from October, with those for the Pizza-Switch following in December. The two-port wide area serial module will cost $5,500, the four-port module will come in at $7,000, and the eight-port module will cost $9,500.
