While the late '90s mantra of switching and routing was bigger, faster, stronger, this "Gig on steroids" approach is not the only way to gain success in the carrier class metro Ethernet switching space. Case in point is Extreme Networks, which with its BlackDiamond 10808 (10K) Ethernet switch, instead prides itself on elements such as resiliency, security and extensibility. As a built-from-the-ground-up switch, the BlackDiamond 10808 (10K) incorporates two innovations: ExtremeWare XOS operating system and a programmable 4GNSS ASIC architecture. Using a modular UNIX-based software platform, ExtremeWare XOS provides various diagnostic, communications and security tools. A key aspect of the XOS is simplified network configuration and monitoring via an XML-tagged interface, which allows operators to access the operating system however they want, while accommodating future software releases. And with the notion of never-down networks the rule, the switch can perform both hitless failover and hitless software upgrades.
展开▼
