Flexible, Compact Form-Factor Ethernet Switch Designed to Deliver Sophisticated Functionality for Mid-Sized Enterprises
The VSP 8400 Series introduces the Compact Form-Factor Ethernet Switch to address the unique networking need of mid-sized enterprises. The Compact Form-Factor design transforms the cost/benefit proposition for the mid-sized core switch; delivering higher port density, better price/ port, enhanced power efficiency, smaller physical footprint, and easy scalability. Essentially, it gives mid-sized enterprises a solution that fits their needs, while avoiding the ‘Chassis Tax’ associated with larger modular chassis options.
By tightly integrating the switching hardware with Extreme Networks’ proven VSP Operating System, the VSP 8400 delivers a compelling package of enhanced functionality and robustness. It supports Extreme Networks’ innovative Fabric Connect technology, as well as conventional IPv4 and IPv6 routing, to satisfy a range of deployment scenarios. This enables businesses to easily transition from inefficient legacy technologies to an agile solution that dramatically reduces operational overhead and total cost of ownership.
The VSP 8400 shares the same next-generation hardware and software technology as the existing VSP 8200 Series. This positions the product line to support both today’s requirements and tomorrow’s emerging needs.
Introducing the Compact Form-Factor concept, the VSP 8400 provides a very high-capacity, high-performance connectivity solution for mid-sized campus networks.
The VSP 8400 also natively supports the Extreme Networks Fabric Connect technology, whose benefits include:
Traditionally, provisioning new network services requires engineers to touch every device in the service path, configuring each device to enable both the active and redundant links. The bigger the network, the more complex and risky this becomes.
Leveraging Fabric Connect delivers fundamental change. Rather than the network appearing as a mass of individual devices it becomes a single cloud, so that engineers only need to touch the unique device that is providing service directly to the end-point. Fabric Connect instantly propagates all of the end-point's service attributes to every other node within the cloud.
The VSP 8400 Ethernet Switch provides four front-panel slots that support the flexible deployment of high-density VSP 8400 Series Ethernet Switch Modules. By default, the VSP 8400 is a “zero port” system, with a Chassis that integrates the switching fabric and all associated control and management electronics. Ethernet interfaces are delivered by the addition of one or more field-replaceable and hot-swappable Ethernet Switch Modules (ESMs).
Extreme Networks has expanded the capability of the VSP 8400 Series with the introduction of the VSP 8404C 100G-capable Chassis. This variant features a new switching fabric that has been specifically optimized to support 100 Gigabit Ethernet and the companion 8402CQ 2-port 100 Gigabit Ethernet ESM. In every other respect, the new VSP 8404C Chassis is identical to the original VSP 8400: form, fit, and function; power and cooling, size and weight.
In this manner, the VSP 8400 provides a low-cost, pay-as-you-grow solution formid-sized businesses that wish to retain a high degree of flexibility as they develop solutions for their networking requirements.
TheVSP 8400 Series Ethernet Switch odules are as follows:
It should also be noted (refer to the product technical documentation for further details):
The innovative design leverages an advanced chip set, featuring 2.56Tbps of switching and 1,428Mpps of frame forwarding performance.
From a software perspective, the VSP 8400 Series was introduced with the VOSS 4.2 software release; this is, therefore, the minimum level of software available to operate the switch. VOSS 7.1 and later releases deliver the following major enhancements: