Ciena's Modular 5400 Switch Converges Ethernet, OTN and TDM

Ciena unveiled plans for a series of performance-optimized, multi-terabit Ethernet, OTN and TDM switching systems with integrated transport functionality. Ciena said its design goals for the new product family, which will be commercially launched next year, is to create a modular platform that can be configured and reconfigured at any time for a variety of high-capacity optical, TDM or packet functions, including optical cross-connect switching, optical transport, Carrier Ethernet switching or converged packet-optical networking.


The forthcoming 5400 series will implement a broad range of network elements including a scalable optical cross-connect, feature-rich Carrier Ethernet switch, or a fully converged
packet-optical transport and switching system.


It will leverage ASICs, flexible FPGAs and Ciena's common service-aware operating software - Ciena OneOS - to enable automated service delivery, dynamic mesh restoration and massive scale. The 5400 family integrates its own patent-pending technology with control plane technology from Ciena's CoreDirector, OTN and FlexiPort technology of the CN 4200 FlexSelect Advanced Services Platform and the True Carrier Ethernet functionality of the Carrier Ethernet Services Delivery (CESD) portfolio.


Initial products in the 5400 family will include the 5430 Reconfigurable Switching System and the 5410 Reconfigurable Switching System. The first release of the 5430 is a 44 RU, 30-slot system with 3.6 Terabits per second (Tbps) of capacity, while the 5410 is a 22 RU, 10-slot system with 1.2 Tbps
of capacity. Both platforms are designed to scale beyond the initial capacities, up to 7.2 Tbps, as market demand evolves. All members of the 5400 family will share modules and software so customers can optimize each switch for the application, bandwidth, space, power and cost requirements of specific locations in their network. Initial 5400 Reconfigurable Switching Systems will be in lab trials with customers later this year with general availability in the first half of 2010. Additional enhancements and platforms are expected to be available later in 2010.
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