Cabletron couples LAN, WAN
modules
By Scott Berinato, PC Week Online
11.10.97 1:00 pm ET
LAN and WAN hardware will find common ground in Cabletron
Systems Inc.'s MMAC-Plus chassis.
Taking the concept of merging the two networks to an extreme, the
Rochester, N.H., company today introduced remote access modules for
the switching platform. The MMAC-Plus, which recently gained voice
modules as well, is fast turning into a network Swiss Army knife,
capable of pulling in all types of data from all segments of an enterprise,
officials said.
Six remote access modules were introduced: Three versions offer T-1
concentration under the name 9W006, while three 9W007 modules
offer E-1 for international users.
The 9W006 modules will come with two T-1 ports, four T-1 ports, or
two T-1s and 48 autosensing analog/digital modem ports.
The advantage of combining the remote access modules with the switch
is that enterprises have one long network to manage and build on,
instead of two shorter networks that meet with a separate access
device, said Cabletron officials.
Aggregating all of the networking infrastructure into a single chassis
could make life easier for one longtime Cabletron user.
"But the devil is truly in the details," said Roland Voyages, director of
technical services at NationsBanc Montgomery Securities Inc., in New
York, who plans to evaluate the new modules. "My concern is, if I need
additional switching capacity, I either have to make decisions on which
modules to use or buy another chassis. I'm not that concerned, though,
since I have plenty of capacity right now."
Voyages added that while some network administrators prefer to keep
the LAN and WAN discrete, he sees benefit in going with Cabletron's
integration concept.
"I don't want to manage different platforms," he said. "[The remote
access modules] have appeal when it comes down to management.
How comfortable do managers feel using a single platform for
management? Spectrum [Cabletron's network management software] is
a solid tool I'm comfortable with."
It may be a clich‚, but users really do want streamlined management,
according to Craig Johnson, an analyst at Current Analysis, in Sterling,
Va.
"For better or worse, Cabletron has one of the best management
platforms," Johnson said. "And the remote access modules are
manageable by Spectrum when they ship. That is what carriers are
looking for on the data side of the business. This Swiss Army knife
approach is a good way to go if you're a carrier. It's a good value
proposition."
For example, using the MMAC-Plus chassis for both switching and
remote access, network administrators can provide security across the
entire network from a single management platform. Also, policy-based
management commonly associated with the LAN can now be extended
to remote users.
In terms of physical presence, redundant power supplies, cabling, space
and other burdensome facets of connecting devices are eliminated,
officials said.
The remote access modules are expected to ship in January. The
9W006 models will cost $16,995 for two T-1 connections, $23,995 for
four T-1s, and $39,995 for two T-1s and the autosensing modem ports.
Similarly equipped 9W007 models will cost $16,995, $23,995 and
$45,745, respectively. |
