Allied Telesis announces SwitchBlade x3112, new iMAP cards for FTTX/Solarflare unveils SFP+ optical transceiver module

NOVEMBER 11, 2010 — Allied Telesis Inc. has introduced a new line of 1- and 10-Gbps fiber-to-the-home/premise/node (FTTX) products at TelcoTV 2010. Allied Telesis is featuring the SwitchBlade x3112 FTTX switch platform along with a new 24-port fixed-optics gigabit service module and six-port 10G service module for the iMAP 9810 intelligent Multiservice Access Platform.

The SwitchBlade x3112 combines Ethernet switching, carrier access, and IP triple-play capabilities to deliver the first in a new series of access chassis targeting the FTTx market. The next-generation service provider FTTX platform uses Allied Telesis’s iMAP operating system.

The SwitchBlade x3112 is a chassis-based Ethernet switch with 12 slots designed to support any combination of 100/1000 optical Ethernet, 10 Gigabit optical Ethernet, or Power over Ethernet (PoE) service modules. For FTTX services, 24-port 100/1000 SFP-based modules provide full bandwidth customer connectivity. Four-port 10G modules are typically used in a redundant configuration for high-throughput connectivity to the core of the network.

Support for Ethernet Protected Switched Rings (EPSR) combined with redundant management fabric controllers provides high network availability. The SwitchBlade x3112 also features an 800-Gigabit switching fabric providing non-blocking wire-speed performance to every port, while redundant hot-swap power supplies ensure true carrier-class reliability, Allied Telesis says.

“Recent stimulus awards are driving demand for 1G fiber-to-the-home and 10G mid-mile solutions,” said Dael Bartlett, director of product marketing at Allied Telesis. “Customer reaction to the SwitchBlade x3112 has been extremely positive and we see this product delivering the performance service providers are asking for with FTTX deployments.”

The SwitchBlade x3112 is currently in controlled release with trials commencing with key customers. Rural Utility Services (RUS) listing is pending the completion of the trials, with general availability beginning in January 2011.

At TelcoTV, Allied Telesis unveiled new GE-24 and XE-6 line cards for the iMAP 9810 intelligent Multiservice Access Platform. The GE-24 is a 24-port, fixed-optic bi-directional (BiDi) 1G card using a single slot, and the XE-6 is a six-port 10G aggregation card intended for FTTX applications.

DECEMBER 14, 2010 — Solarflare has extended its family of SFN5000 10GbE server adapters with the launch of a new SFP+ 10GBase-SR optical transceiver module. The Solarflare SFM10G-SR 850-m multimode SFP+ optical transceiver is designed to support multiple types of optical fiber, including OM1, OM2, and OM3 multimode fiber, with standard LC connectors. It can drive OM3 fiber up to 300 m to support cluster, data center and enterprise networking applications.

Solarflare, which has been one of the leading purveyors of 10GBase-T technology, says it broadened its portfolio to include SFP+ optical modules in response to customer requests to support a complete enterprise networking offering, including the physical interconnection. The company’s new SFP+ transceiver module is tested and compatible with all of Solarflare’s single-port and dual-port SFP+ 10-Gigabit Ethernet server adapters in both enterprise and mid-range products.

“This product introduction streamlines our customer’s purchasing process by enabling them to buy optical transceivers at the same time as our server adapters from the same source,” says Mike Smith, vice president and general manager of host solutions at Solarflare. “The addition of Solarflare’s SFM10G-SR not only allows us to improve this customer experience, but also adds value to our reseller providers, simplifying their selling and fulfillment activities.”

The SFM10G-SR 10GBase-SR multimode SFP+ optical transceiver module is now available for US list price of $307.