Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Fore Systems Inc has announced the ForeRunner ASX-1000, a scalable 10Gbps Asynchronous Transfer Mode switch aimed at backbone applications. It complements the company’s existing ASX-200WG workgroup switch for desktop Asynchronous Mode applications (CI No 2,715) and the ASX-200BX Asynchronous Mode local area network backbone switch. The ASX-1000 has a non-blocking architecture and supports up to four 2.5Gbps switching fabrics connected via a 10Gbps backplane. Each 2.5Gbps switching fabric has an integrated 80960 processor, with both fabrics and processors hot-swappable. It can be configured with 2.5Gbps, 5Gbps, 7.5Gbps or 10Gbps capacity, with extra capacity added as needed, said the firm. Asynchronous Transfer Mode, local and wide area network interfaces supported include T1, E1, J2, DS3, E3, 100Mbps TAXI, 155Mbps (OC-3c/STM-1) and 622Mbps (OC-12c/STM-4c), said Fore, adding that the 155Mbps interface supports multimode fibre, single mode fibre or unshielded twisting pair Category 5 copper media. The ASX-1000 will support interfaces up to 2.4Gbps. The ASX-1000 also supports Fore’s ForeThought internetworking software, with features including automatic network discovery, dynamic configuration and signalling at the UNI and NNI, switched virtual circuits and virtual local area networks. For fault tolerance, the ASX-1000 will be delivered with redundant load-sharing power supplies and redundant fans. It also has the ability to support multiple inter-switch links and load balance traffic across these connections, said the company. It is shipping now; no prices were given.
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