Force10 Bridges SONET-to-Ethernet with POS Line Card

Force10 Networks introduced multi-rate packet over SONET/SDH (POS) capabilities for its TeraScale E-Series family of switch/routers, providing a means to bridge SONET and 10 Gigabit Ethernet networks. While new service provider deployments are using 10 GbE, there remains a technical challenge in bridging the transition from the installed base of SONET.



A new four-port multi-rate line card allows service providers to select between OC-3c/STM-1c, OC-12c/STM-4c and OC-48c/STM-16c speeds on a per port basis. Service providers can also select between SONET and SDH framing on a per port basis, as well as various encapsulation methods, to further simplify the architecture of transcontinental networks.



"By combining packet over SONET/SDH with a resilient, cost-effective Ethernet architecture, Force10 bridges the gap between legacy and next generation networks at a cost significantly lower than alternative solutions," said Sachi Sambandan, vice president of engineering for Force10 Networks.



The Force10 four-port OC-3c/OC-12c/OC-48c line card will be available in August at a list price of $100,000.

http://www.force10networks.com