NETWORKS

Force10 Networks today announced that the London Internet Providers Exchange (Lipex) has deployed the S-Series to build a reliable, high performance 10 Gigabit Ethernet peering network between five of its Internet exchange points. Lipex is leveraging the high density and compact, fixed form factor of the Force10 S50 data center switch to provide its customers with reliable and cost-effective Gigabit Ethernet peering services. "Our customers require reliable, high speed peering services and to provide that we need a network that can expand while delivering consistent performance," said Panny Malialis, CEO of Lipex. "The Force10 S50 allows us to increase our capacity to deliver higher bandwidth peering services while introducing a new level of resiliency into the network." The Force10 S50 data center switch anchors the Lipex network, providing core-like reliability in a compact, fixed configuration that simplifies network management while reducing with rack space costs. The Force10 S50 supports 48 line-rate Gigabit Ethernet ports and two 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks, providing Lipex with the high capacity it needs to upgrade its network backbone to 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Additionally, by leveraging the stacking capabilities of the Force10 S50, Lipex can seamlessly and cost effectively expand its 10 Gigabit Ethernet capacity. Up to eight S50s can be stacked together and managed as a single virtual switch. "Internet exchanges like those operated by Lipex are dependent upon the performance and reliability of their networks to guarantee services to Internet providers peering at the exchange points," said Mark Cooper, senior vice president of worldwide sales at Force10 Networks. "By connecting multiple S50 switches together into a single virtual switch, Lipex can rapidly expand its network to accommodate increasing customer demand without increasing the costs of managing the network." Internet exchanges worldwide are leveraging Force10's high performance product portfolio to increase the scalability and reliability of their networks. Recently, Equinix upgraded its nationwide network to 10 Gigabit Ethernet with the Force10 TeraScale E-Series. Additionally, Stealth Communications, FiberNet and Netherlands-based True have increased the scalability of their networks with the TeraScale E-Series.