INRANGE Technologies Develops First 64-Port Fibre Channel Switch
Engineered and Manufactured by INRANGE, the FC/9000-64 Brings
New Enterprise-Class Scalability and Reliability Benefits
To Storage Area Networks
MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., Dec. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Leveraging its expertise in architecting and designing ultra-scalable switching systems for mission-critical networking applications, INRANGE Technologies announced today it has developed the industry's first scalable, enterprise-class Fibre Channel Switch for Storage Area Networks (SANs).
The company's FC/9000-64 Fibre Channel Switch offers IT professionals a platform that supports up to 128 Fibre Channel connections and incorporates "data-center hardened" reliability features such as redundant internal pathing, control modules, power, fans, and hot-swappable components. Providing full-duplex, gigabit-per-second bandwidth and support for Class 2 and 3 Service Levels, the FC/9000-64 is the first in a series of enterprise-class Fibre Channel Switches from INRANGE to target the high-end of switched storage networking. The switch will be distributed through INRANGE's direct sales and distributor organizations worldwide, along with select OEM sales channels. Future models supporting 128-port and 256-port configurations will be added to the FC/9000 family beginning in Q3 2000.
"SANs will ultimately explode in scale," commented Nick Hannon, INRANGE Technologies' Business Area Director for Storage Networking, "with Fibre Channel being the dominant interconnect fabric between servers and storage devices. When this occurs, those who consolidate and manage storage efficiently will be in a much better position than those who maintain a distributed approach. The FC/9000 architecture provides the means to plan for and satisfy that inevitable requirement right now."
The FC/9000-64 is a key component within INRANGE's family of integrated storage networking solutions that enable IT professionals to build large-scale SANs across both extended distances and mixed platform environments. These solutions include: the CD/9000, a 256-port Channel Director with simultaneous support of ESCON(R), FICON(TM) and Fibre Channel technologies; dense wavelength division multiplexers that maximize fiber bandwidth; bridge technologies that enable SCSI devices to be network-connected; and channel extension systems that compress and transport data economically for disaster recovery and business continuance applications.
"The dramatic increase in information/data within organizations is stressing current storage and network based infrastructures as operational information is being leveraged as never before," commented Carl Greiner, VP-Director, META Group. "Companies will require an infrastructure that scales to match this trend and addresses the need for fast, reliable access to stored data, anywhere and at any time. INRANGE is positioned to help provide the infrastructure on which mega-storage and enterprise networks will run."
The FC/9000-64 switch is expandable in 8-port increments, features Web-browser based control, and supports hard zoning configuration for optimal security and flexibility in organizing ports.
INRANGE Technologies is a leading supplier of enterprise network infrastructure technologies to the Fortune 500 market, with an eye toward the future of network convergence. Leveraging intellectual capital from across today's three strategic network axes, the company's family of solutions spans Storage Networking, Datacomm Networking, and Telephony Networking, bringing true enterprise-class availability, scalability, and management capabilities to the most demanding networking applications. INRANGE is a proud member of the SPX Corporation family of high-value companies, with sales and service locations in 70 countries.
SPX Corporation is a global provider of industrial products and services, technical products and systems, service solutions and vehicle components.
For editorial information, call 856-439-3079 or send e-mail to: |
