BLADE's Layer 2/3 Switch Protects HP BladeSystem Servers from Unnecessary Exposure to the Outside Network; Eliminates the Need for an External Router or Layer 3 Switch: BLADE Network Technologies Inc. (BLADE), the leading provider of network switching infrastructure for blade servers, announced its new Layer 2/3 blade switch for HP BladeSystem c-Class featuring high-performance, "in system" switching and routing across 24 Gigabit Ethernet ports. Equipped with four SFP module cages for optional fiber uplinks, BLADE's HP GbE2c Layer 2/3 Ethernet Blade Switch offers exceptional security and wire-speed store-and-forward switching at an economical price, and seamlessly integrates an HP BladeSystem into any Ethernet network infrastructure. To prevent traffic from unnecessary exposure to the outside network, the GbE2c Layer 2/3 switch utilizes IP Forwarding within HP BladeSystem. Another in a series of industry firsts for BLADE, this enables network traffic to be forwarded between VLANs without the need for an external router or Layer 3 switch. The BLADE switch can eliminate up to 94 percent of cabling compared to other connection options and provides significant power savings over external chassis-based switches, dramatically reducing data center costs and complexity. BLADE's new Layer 2/3 switch offers wire-speed Gigabit Ethernet switching across five uplink ports, two internal cross-connects, and 16 server ports with the ability to switch 71,000,000 packets per second in full-duplex mode. Four of the five uplinks can be either copper or fiber using optional SFP fiber modules. The BLADE switch protects HP BladeSystem servers against IP and DNS spoofing via secured access through SSHv2, along with support for HTTPS, RADIUS, TACACS, and TACACS+. The 802.1x port security feature prevents any device that fails authentication from accessing the network or services through 802.1x-enabled ports. The BLADE switch is also fully compliant with the European Union's Restriction on Hazardous Materials (RoHS) directive. BLADE works through the HP BladeSystem Solution Builder Program to design its Ethernet switches, which are marketed and sold under the HP brand, specifically for HP BladeSystem c-Class infrastructure. The relationship between BLADE and HP enables enterprises to build secure, high-performance, time-smart and change-ready infrastructures. "As the number-one provider of blade networking equipment, we are pleased to work with HP to deliver a new switch with the industry's best price and performance for HP BladeSystem customers," said Vikram Mehta, President and CEO of BLADE Network Technologies. "Our new Layer 2/3 switch will enable customers to deploy secure, high-speed and intelligent switching now to achieve dramatic savings in cabling, network complexity and power." "As a valued member of the HP BladeSystem Solution Builder Program, BLADE Network Technologies contributes to the breakthrough industry-standard networking innovations found in the HP BladeSystem c-Class design," said Mark Potter, vice president, BladeSystem Division, HP. "BLADE's new switch is a key component of HP BladeSystem's unified IT infrastructure and delivers full Ethernet networking capabilities within the BladeSystem without requiring an external router or Layer 3 switch." BLADE's GbE2c Layer 2/3 Ethernet Blade Switch provides wire-speed switching of incoming and outgoing network traffic at speeds up to 48 Gigabits per second full-duplex, and can be deployed in pairs into 8 available slots within the HP BladeSystem c-Class enclosure to offer a high degree of redundancy and failover. Its modular design offers a cost-savvy and secure alternative to HP Patch Panel. For significant cost savings over a patch panel solution, BLADE's GbE2c Layer 2/3 switch can reduce network cabling, provide more bandwidth for applications and ensure that blade server data is secure from internal and external threats. BLADE's latest firmware provides a full set of Layer 2/3 security and high-availability features for mission-critical applications, and seamlessly integrates into existing Ethernet networks. BLADE's GbE2c Layer 2/3 switch can be deployed out of the box with the default configuration, saving administration time and overhead. Additional configuration can be performed using either the industry-standard Command Line Interface (CLI), or Web-based management interface. Full support for SNMP v1/2/3 allows sophisticated administrators to configure and manage the switch through SNMP. The BLADE switch supports full Layer 3 functionality including IP forwarding, dynamic routing, static routing and Quality of Service (QoS). Pricing and Availability BLADE's HP GbE2c Layer 2/3 Ethernet Blade Switch for HP BladeSystem c-Class will ship in March 2007, priced at $1,799 for the base copper version.