Extreme Networks announced a new Summit® X650, a 24 port non-blocking 10 Gigabit fixed switch

Extreme Networks announced a revolutionary data center switch that provides high performance, scalability and advanced features to deliver improved network economics, scale and longevity within enterprise data centers. The new Summit® X650, a 24 port non-blocking 10 Gigabit fixed switch, provides a breakthrough approach for data centers with industry-leading high capacity and performance stacking technology that offers customers flexibility and a smooth migration for servers supporting 10 Gigabit and Gigabit speeds.

The modern enterprise data center requires cost effective performance upgrades to 10 Gigabit Ethernet core technologies as throughput demands outpace Gigabit speeds. The Summit X650, a purpose-built, top-of-rack 1 RU switch, supports a unique design that shifts the dynamics of data center decision making with a future-proof, high performance architecture and impressive stacking capacity. With the arrival of the Summit X650 Enterprises now have the ability to support cost-effective upgrades to high performance 10 Gigabit Ethernet while protecting their existing investments in Gigabit technologies for switches and servers.

"With today's announcement, Extreme Networks demonstrates that they understand the current needs of Enterprise and Service Provider data center customers,” said Lucinda Borovick, research vice president for data center networks at IDC. “Their new data center solution allows customers to 'pay as they grow’ for network upgrades by offering flexible, fixed-configuration Ethernet switches that feature 10 Gigabit connectivity while supporting management stacking with existing 1 Gigabit switches. This helps customers reduce their risk by minimizing over purchasing their network.”

Versatile 10 Gigabit Scale

The Summit X650 switch supports high density 10 Gigabit Ethernet within a single Rack Unit (1RU) with up to 32 10 Gigabit ports on a single system, or up to 256-ports in a stacked system. The Summit X650 promotes longevity in the network by supporting industry-leading switch stacking with total throughput performance of 512 Gigabit per second – the highest in the industry. It supports network scalability with dense 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports, 10GBASE-T or SFP+ fiber interfaces.

Versatile Interface Modules (VIMs) available for the Summit X650 allow customers to scale the data center with performance on an “as-needed” basis. VIMs leverage SummitStack™ technology and in doing so provide the ability to stack both 10 Gigabit Summit X650 switches and existing Summit X450 Gigabit switches within the same stack. This enables minimal disruption of network services and investment protection for existing switches and servers.

ExtremeXOS: Advanced Modular Software Operating System

Along with all of the Extreme Networks Summit X products, the Summit X650 supports the ExtremeXOS® Operating System - a next-generation modular OS that is consistent with Extreme Networks core, aggregation and edge switches. ExtremeXOS provides high availability and extensibility with its open architecture and simplicity with a single consistent foundation throughout the network.

“Our approach to the data center addresses the most pressing problem - the customer’s need to improve performance where they need it most while protecting investment in their existing infrastructure,” said Douglas Murray, vice president and general manager for Extreme Networks® Volume Products Group. “With the unparalleled performance and flexibility of the Summit X650 switch, including our advanced stacking architecture as part of the ExtremeXOS operating system, we truly provide a game changing solution for the data center.”

Pricing and Availability

The Summit X650 switch will be available in the fourth quarter of 2008 and has a U.S. list price starting at $19,995.