Foundry Fires One Across Cisco's Bow in the Metro Space
1/31/2006 -- Foundry Networks Inc. last week took aim at the metro network space with the launch of its NetIron MLX series of edge routers. Priced to move at $600 per Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) port -- and with scalability and MPLS-based connectivity a-go-go -- Foundry says the NetIron MLX is based on the same technology it first introduced with its flagship XMR series edge and core routers.
"[T]he move positions the company to extend its latest generation of routing and switching solutions into the metro and Ethernet edge with compelling performance, scalability, and Foundry's traditional aggressive pricing," says Glen Hunt, a senior analyst for carrier infrastructure with Current Analysis.
There's a lot to like in Foundry's new MXL series routers, Hunt says, including scalability from 80GigE to 320GigE ports per chassis; 16 to 64 10GigE ports per chassis; a fully redundant hardware architecture that includes 1:1 and 1:N management/switch/power modules; full routing support including OSPF and BGP; multicast support (which is critical for applications such as IPTV); non-stop operation with hitless failover; in-service upgrades; and MPLS RSVP and LDP graceful restart. "The MLX series, when combined with the XMR series, provides a scalable MPLS-enabled solution that ranges from the CPE/MTU through the aggregation and edge and into the metro and service provider core," he argues.
With the MLX series, Foundry clearly aims to take the metro space by a storm. With this in mind, Hunt cautions, competitors need to proactively position their own products. After all, Foundry's MLX price/performance proposition will be hard to beat. Cisco Systems Inc., for example, should stress its well-known leadership position and its overall IP NGN product portfolio, Hunt counsels. "The 7600 also has compelling CapEx advantages based on new Ethernet interfaces [part of Cisco's SIP/SPA architecture known as I-Flex], which have lowered its cost per port and increased its density," he argues. "Cisco can also stress its IP DNA and broad breadth of management solutions. Additionally, Cisco can point out that it has added the 7604, which is optimized to deliver high-availability 10GigE support for triple-play services for small PoPs and Internet gateways."  -Stephen Swoyer
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