TMCnews Featured Article

April 01, 2011

Large European Internet Exchange Deploys Force10's Core Switch/Routers to Satisfy Growing Network Infrastructure Demands

By Ashok Bindra, TMCnet Contributor

To gain the required 10 GbE port density to satisfy the needs of its growing customer base, Europe’s largest Internet exchange DE-CIX (News - Alert) has selected Force10 Networks, Inc.’s ExaScale E-Series virtualized core switch/routers. In fact, by deploying E series core switches/routers, the European Internet exchange has deployed a switch infrastructure that can seamlessly scale and provide intuitive management to support the growth in Peering traffic that is generated by more than 400 customers, according to DE-CIX’s founder and chief technology officer Arnold Nipper.

Nipper said that Force10 switch/router platform delivers the 10 Gbit Ethernet (GbE) port density while adding minimal footprint within the data centers. He further added, "Our engineering staff is confident that our network infrastructure is well positioned to serve our customers for the foreseeable future."

In reality, with the ExaScale E-series switch/router platform, DE-CIX adds a second Force10 platform to its network infrastructure. In 2006, the Frankfurt, Germany-based DE-CIX installed chassis-based TeraScale E-series switch/routers to satisfy its growing number of Internet service provider (ISP) customers.

Force10 said that by deploying its latest-generation virtualized core switch/router solution, the large European Internet exchange has improved 10 GbE port density to maintain a high quality of service without compromising performance or reliability.

While Force10 solution is enabling DE-CIX to service better than 400 ISPs from more than 45 countries, the E1200s are expected to accommodate future growth as the core switch/routers are able to scale up to 1,260 GbE, 224 10 GbE and 28 40 GbE ports per chassis with L2 and L3 access control lists (ACLs) on all ports.

According to Force10, DE-CIX's deployment of ExaScale E1200s also provided the Internet exchange with an opportunity to lower power costs even as it increased its network port capacity. DE-CIX is participating in the Force10 Carbon-Balanced Switch/Router Initiative, which provides customers with carbon credits to offset energy consumption when using the core switch/routers. The program calls for Force10 to retire verified carbon credits to balance the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from an ExaScale's electricity consumption for an entire year. Force10 offers its customers the opportunity to retire carbon credits to balance emissions in subsequent years. Force10 contracts with TerraPass, a third-party carbon offset provider, to offset the associated carbon footprint for customers participating in the program.

In a statement, commented Arpit Joshipura, chief marketing officer, Force10 Networks (News - Alert), “Internet exchanges, such as DE-CIX, maintain a delicate balancing act between providing high performance and ultra-low latency while simultaneously managing costs."

"The ExaScale architecture is built to help maintain that balance by providing the port density that offers seamless scalability as their customer base continues to grow and demand high-quality service,” asserted Joshipura.

Ashok Bindra is a veteran writer and editor with more than 25 years of editorial experience covering RF/wireless technologies, semiconductors and power electronics. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Patrick Barnard

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Large European Internet Exchange Deploys Force10's Core Switch/Routers to Satisfy Growing Network Infrastructure Demands

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