Ethernet-Based MANs - Brief Article - Product Announcement

Telecommunications, June, 2000

Extreme Networks

www.extremenetworks.com

Replacing a SONET-based metropolitan network with optimized DWDM systems has been the focus of a host of new start-ups. Extreme Networks, however, will implement the tried-and-true capabilities of Ethernet. By integrating Gigabit Ethernet and IP technology in one package, Extreme Networks has developed its Alpine 3800 series, which enables service providers to banish inefficient bandwidth usage and eliminate costly upgrades without sacrificing reliability and QoS. With support for both DWDM and packet over SONET, the Alpine 3800 enables MANs to deliver bandwidth by the slice. This means that service providers can divide available Ethernet capacity into fixed increments and sell it to users. By combining TETF DiffServ and QoS features, the Alpine solution delivers different classes of IP transport services to carriers' customers while simultaneously providing usage-based billing information. Both products, the four-slot Alpine 3804 and the eight-slot Alpine 3808, come with dual load-sharing power supplies and hot-swappable I/O modules and are available now,