[August 30, 1999]

Lucent Technologies Introduces Next-Generation Cajun P330 Switching System

Lucent Technologies introduced the Cajun P330 Switching System, a next-generation stackable switch family that redefines the level of functionality and resiliency available in this class of product.

This new line of stackable switches extends Lucent's Switch Architecture For Extreme Resiliency (SAFER) technology to the wiring closet, and introduces EZ2Route, a revolutionary self-configuring Internet Protocol (IP) routing technology designed to simplify the deployment of high-performance multilayer networks. The P330 is also one of the first stackable products to support Quality of Service (QoS) classification based on policy, simplifying the implementation of voice over local area networks (LANs) with end-to-end QoS support.

The standards-compliant Cajun P330 line offers the greatest port density, highest reliability and most advanced capabilities of any product in its class. A new eight gigabits per second (Gbps) Octaplane stacking architecture supports up to 10 units in a stack--all managed as a single device with one IP address. A P330 stack can scale from 240 up to 640 10/100 megabits per second (Mbps) RJ-45 ports in a wiring closet, higher than many modular switches on the market, and nearly three times that of the nearest stackable competitor.

The Cajun P330 family consists of four base models that provide either 24- or 48-ports of 10/100 Mbps Ethernet connectivity. Together with its series of optional Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet and Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) expansion modules, Lucent's new P330 line is a complete solution that allows network managers to build flexible, tailored solutions that easily scale to handle the rapidly-changing networking needs of small-to-medium-sized businesses and campuses from the desktop to the backbone. A P330 model with an integrated DC power supply and Bellcore Network Equipment Building Standards NEBS compliance will also be available for use in carrier central office and other telco applications requiring on-demand capability.

"The high-reliability and impressive scalability found in Lucent's new Cajun P330 family combine to set a new standard of excellence in stackable switches," said Jarrod Wagner, network manager at Protection One, an Irving, Texas-based provider of home, work and auto security monitoring systems, and an existing Lucent enterprise data networking customer who is evaluating the P330 line.

Wagner already uses Lucent's Cajun M440 Gate Switches and Cajun M770 Multifunction Switches as part of Protection One's network, and is also in the process of installing the company's Cajun P550 Gigabit Switches.

With the introduction of the Octaplane stacking architecture, Lucent matches the scalability and resiliency of competitive modular wiring closet switches, while exceeding them in space efficiency with a flexible cabling system designed specifically for today's crowded wiring closets.

The Octaplane consists of an optional eight Gbps stack module inserted in the back of the switch unit. Connections between units are made via dedicated cables, with a loop-back cable for redundancy. Optional two meter stack cables enable a Lucent Cajun P330 stack to be physically distributed across multiple racks in a wiring closet, easily adapting to spaces too tight for modular products.

The Octaplane's stack management system ensures that even a physically dispersed P330 stack matches the resiliency of a modular system. Based on Lucent's SAFER technology, the system features a distributed, hierarchical master/sub-agent design with no single point of failure, multiple levels of redundancy and "hot-swappable" replacement of any unit in a stack.

A Cajun P330 Octaplane stack operates as a true single switch, providing "any-to-any" functionality between different units in a stack. This includes the specification of redundant links, link aggregation groups (LAGs) and port mirroring pairs. Network traffic through an entire P330 stack can be monitored all at once via Switch MONitoring (SMON), a new Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) monitoring standard originally developed by Lucent.

All Cajun P330 Switching System base units include auto-negotiation and 802.1p/Q on all ports, standard support for RMON (Groups 1-3,9) and optional support for SMON. A front expansion slot on all models accepts a wide choice of optional modules that provide an additional 16 10/100 ports, or two ports of Fiber Fast Ethernet, or either one or two Gigabit Ethernet ports. Upcoming additional expansion modules to be offered for the P330 family include a four-port GBIC module, a multi-port copper Gigabit Ethernet module, a one-port OC-3 ATM module and one-port, user-selectable, OC-3/12 ATM modules.

The four Cajun P330 Switching System base units are as follows:

• Model P333T has a four Gbps switch fabric, 24 10/100 ports and LAG support for up to eight 10/100 ports, two 100 Base-FX ports or two Gigabit Ethernet ports;
• Model P333T-DC incorporates all of the P333T features, and adds an integrated 48-volt DC power supply with NEBS Level 3 certification planned by the first quarter of next year;
• Model P334T offers the same features as the P333T, but provides for 48 ports of 10/100 connectivity, and
• Model P333R includes all of the P333T's features, with the addition of integrated ASIC-based IP routing capability of up to one million packets per second (Mpps), advanced policy networking capabilities and SMON II.

The P333R can be configured in two different ways: either as a full-fledged router, or in Lucent's revolutionary EZ2Route mode. A single P333R operating in either of these routing modes can support an entire P330 stack and provides one Mpps of IP routing. By adding other P333R units, IP routing performance can be easily scaled up to 10 Mpps per stack.

In the full-fledged router mode, the P333R interoperates with existing routers in the network using RIP or OSPF protocols. Full VRRP support is also included, enabling the P333R to cost-effectively provide redundant back-up support to any existing router in the network.

In EZ2Route mode, the P333R requires zero user configurations to add IP routing capability. A Model P333R in EZ2Route mode automatically configures itself to take over the IP routing duties of any existing router in the network, and to add QoS policy support for applications such as VoIP, mixed media collaboration or streaming video. The P333R with EZ2route is a powerful and cost-effective solution that can be placed anywhere to quickly and easily boost IP routing performance. With each unit adding one Mpps in routing performance, multiple P333Rs with EZ2Route can be deployed in stacks or distributed throughout the network to create an extremely powerful routed infrastructure. For the first time, network managers have the ability to effortlessly create networks with virtually unlimited IP routing scalability and sophisticated policy enforcement capability.

The Model P333R is the first switch to combine multilayer, policy-based networking capability with multilayer monitoring support. The P333R policy engine supports all major mechanisms for prioritizing voice over LANs, including DiffServ, TCP/UDP port ranges and well-known source and destination addresses. Combined with Lucent's acclaimed RealNet Rules policy management software, this facilitates the deployment of end-to-end QoS networks with traffic classification support for the integration of voice and data over a common networking infrastructure.

The P334R also supports SMON II, providing switch monitoring at Layers 3 and 4. This enables a network manager to monitor traffic based on IP criteria, protocol or application type and QoS classification.

"With the P330, Lucent has redefined the market in terms of what network managers really need to look for when they now go to buy a stackable solution," observed Martha Young, an analyst with Cutting Edge Information Group, a Golden, Colo.-based research firm. "The unsurpassed high density and overall rich feature set of the P330 family make this a key addition to Lucent's arsenal of enterprise switches."

The Cajun P330 is managed by Lucent's CajunView Management Suite, which provides a user-friendly interface for network management and monitoring. For smaller networks, the P330 includes a standalone device manager with an easy-to-use graphical user interface. A complete command line interface is also provided for configuration and management.

"The Cajun P330 line provides our customers with a highly reliable, real world data networking solution that represents technological and product leadership, and incorporates exceptional functionality at very compelling price points compared with other available stackable products," asserted Menachem Abraham, president of Lucent's Enterprise Systems group.

The Cajun P330's four-port Gigabit Ethernet and multi-port copper Gigabit Ethernet expansion modules are scheduled to be available in the first quarter of 2000, and the ATM expansion modules are scheduled to be available in the second quarter of next year, all at prices to be determined.

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