Anyone looking for a 10GbE top-of-rack switching solution for their data center has plenty of choices. Unfortunately, these options all require tradeoffs: some offer low latency but lack features, while others offer plenty of features but are not backward-compatible with older 1GbE switches.
Juniper Networks has added a new choice to the mix—one that does away with the typical tradeoffs. The EX4550, the newest member of Juniper’s 10GbE switching line that ships in September, offers a feature-rich 10GbE access solution that provides seamless 1GbE to 10GbE migration.
EX4550 - 32 port 10GbE with 8x1010GbE SFP+ Module (above), 3 EX4550 in a Virtual Chassis Configuration (below)
Available with both fiber and copper interfaces, the new EX4550 also includes Juniper’s unique Virtual Chassis technology, enabling multiple interconnected switches to operate as a single, logical device. Better yet, the EX4550, like its predecessor the EX4500, can participate in the same Virtual Chassis configuration with EX4200 Ethernet switches, making it the perfect platform for customers migrating from 1GbE to 10GbE servers. Simple plug-and-play functionality with existing 1GbE EX4200 switches allows customers to mix or move from 1GbE to 10GbE without any disruption.
Up to 10 EX4500, EX4550 and/or EX4200 switches can be interconnected in the same Virtual Chassis configuration and managed as a single switch, reducing network management costs by an order of magnitude. The EX4550 also comes preconfigured with Juniper’s Junos SDK, allowing it to interoperate with third-party SDN controllers, further reducing management overhead.
Furthermore, the 10GBASE-T version of the EX4550 dramatically reduces the costs associated with optics by enabling users to directly connect the switch to 10GbE servers without expensive fiber cables. The EX4550 is also 40GbE–ready, providing investment protection for customers when they move to 40GbE uplinks to reduce latency, congestion and oversubscription in the data center.
Lastly, the EX4550 includes rich Layer 2, Layer 3 and advanced features like MPLS, giving customers the flexibility to deploy the switch at different locations in the network if desired.
