Purpose-built Feature Set for Demanding Networks

INDUSTRY LEADING PERFORMANCE AND SCALABILITY

The BigIron RX Series is the industry’s most powerful switch family, delivering up to 3.2 terabits per second data throughput per system.

HIGH-AVAILABILITY DESIGN

Redundant and resilient design ensures high availability operation for demanding environments.

tRedundant, hot-swappable components provide non-stop service delivery

–Management module: Systems configured with dual management modules with sub-second detection and fail-over

–Switch Fabric Element Redundancy: Systems configured with a redundant switch fabric module support millisecond fail-over performance

–Hitless Management Failover (HMF): Stateful failover ensures that the forwarding engines on the line modules are not impacted by a management failover. This capability enables non-stop packet forwarding in the event of a management module failover.

–Redundant Power Supplies: All three chassis support M+N power module redundancy for AC and DC power configurations.

tDistributed Forwarding Architecture—Advanced network processors, high-performance CPU and high-speed memory on each interface module provide for a scalable high-performance architecture

tIEEE 802.3ad link aggregation up to eight links—Scalable,cross-module trunking provides for resilient high-capacity connections between switches.

tResilient Layer 2 and Layer 3 protocols provide fast service restoration in event of link or equipment failures

–Metro Ring Protocol optimized for ring topologies, IEEE 802.1s and 802.1w for general Layer 2 topologies, VSRP for redundant switch configurations and VRRP/ VRRP-E for redundant router configurations, ECMP for routed backbones

ROBUST LAYER 3 FEATURE SET

Foundry’s IronWare software suite includes scalable EGP and IGP routing protocols.

tBGPv4—Scalable to 4 million routes, 500 peers and 14,000 attributes with MR2 management module

tOSPF—Scalable to over 400,000 routes

tIS-IS—Support for Level 1 and Level 2, includes 25,000 routes and 512 adjacencies

tFoundry Direct Routing (FDR)—The forwarding information base (FIB) is downloaded to the hardware-based forwarding engine on each line module. This memory can be pre-populated with

as many as 512,000 IPv4 and 64,000 IPv6 routes for wire-speed routing performance.

tPolicy-based Routing (PBR)—Support customizable routing policies using access control lists (ACLs). This feature can be used to balance network usage by controlling the network paths for different traffic flows.

tComprehensive multicast feature set—Provides hardware- based support for a number of multicast protocols including MSDP, PIM-SM (Sparse Mode) and PIM-DM (Dense Mode), allowing network managers to efficiently deploy next-generation multicast applications

tVRRP and VRRPE (Enhanced VRRP)—Enables the BigIron RX to operate as a backup router to other network routers. In the event of a router failure, the BigIron RX will automatically and seamlessly perform the tasks of the failed router.

INDUSTRY LEADING LAYER 2 FEATURES

To provide self-healing topologies in Layer 2 configurations, the BigIron RX supports industry standard Ethernet protocols including Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), Rapid Spanning Tree (RSTP), per VLAN STP (PVST) and per VLAN group STP (PVGST). The BigIron RX also supports Foundry’s Metro Ring Protocol (MRP) for sub-second service restoration in ring topologies. Additionally, the BigIron RX supports multi-instance spanning tree, VLAN topology grouping and VLAN tunneling for advanced Layer 2 service configurations.

tMetro Ring Protocol (MRP)—An alternative to Spanning Tree Protocol, MRP provides sub-second fault detection and fail-over for Ethernet ring topologies. MRP works in conjunction with VSRP and 802.3ad based link aggregation to provide bandwidth scalability and SONET-like resilience.

tVirtual Switch Redundancy Protocol (VSRP)—Supportssub-second fault detection and fail-over for mesh topologies in which redundant switches provide back-up operation for one another

tSingle-instanceSTP—Provides a single instance of STP to run on all port-based VLANs within a single device, interoperable with others that are 802.1d compliant

tRapid Spanning Tree Protocol based on IEEE 802.1w— Dramatically improves the spanning tree convergence time to sub-second by automatically renegotiating port roles in case of a link failure without relying on timers

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Foundry Networks RX-76 Industry Leading Performance and Scalability, HIGH-AVAILABILITY Design, Robust Layer 3 Feature SET
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RX-4, RX-76, RX-32, RX-8 specifications

Foundry Networks has established itself as a leader in network solutions, providing a robust set of products tailored for high-performance environments. Among its esteemed offerings are the RX-32, RX-8, RX-4, and RX-76, each designed to optimize network performance, scalability, and management in diverse applications.

The RX-32 is a powerful device that excels in delivering high availability and reliability for strategic network architectures. It features advanced load balancing technology, which ensures efficient traffic distribution across multiple networks. The RX-32 supports a modular design, allowing for easy upgrades and flexibility to adapt as business needs evolve.

The RX-8 caters to enterprises seeking to enhance their data center operations. Its support for 10 Gigabit Ethernet helps to accommodate the growing needs for bandwidth in modern applications. With advanced security features, including deep packet inspection and integrated access control lists, the RX-8 safeguards critical network assets while maintaining optimal performance.

For businesses prioritizing cost-effective solutions without compromising on performance, the RX-4 stands out as an ideal choice. This model is designed for smaller networks but does not skimp on features. It supports PoE (Power over Ethernet) capabilities, allowing for simplified deployment of devices such as IP phones and wireless access points, thus reducing installation complexity and costs.

The RX-76 is engineered for maximum scalability, making it suitable for larger enterprises or rapidly growing organizations. With its ability to support thousands of simultaneous users, the RX-76 is optimized for heavy traffic loads and resource-heavy applications. Its advanced firmware provides numerous layering options, enabling customized routing and switching to suit specific network demands.

Common characteristics across the RX series include a focus on high throughput and low latency, essential for real-time data applications such as video conferencing and VoIP. Moreover, these devices incorporate state-of-the-art management tools, allowing IT professionals to monitor network performance proactively and troubleshoot issues quickly. This results in enhanced operational efficiency and a better user experience.

In summary, Foundry Networks' RX-32, RX-8, RX-4, and RX-76 models are designed to meet the diverse needs of modern networks, offering exceptional performance, scalability, and reliability. Their advanced features and technologies position them as favorable choices for organizations seeking to bolster their network infrastructure. Whether in small businesses or large enterprises, these devices are pivotal in supporting continuous growth and innovation.
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