Product News: The latest green networking products for the week commencing August 6, 2008

Nortel Ethernet Routing Switch 4548GT-PWR

The 4548GT-PWR is a Gigabit Ethernet stackable, scalable and economical product that provides the resiliency, security and convergence-readiness required by application-driven and constantly changing enterprise networks. Deploying either fast Ethernet, gigabit Ethernet or a mixture of both is made simple for administrators through the ERS 4548GT’s ability to integrate both products in a single stack, allowing customers to migrate their desktops to Gigabit while maintaining the same features and simplified manageability from an ERS 4500 stack. It also supports fail-safe stacking and advanced resiliency technology for true Secure Always-On Networking (SAON). Advanced security capabilities provide multi-layered network defence, with security applications such as DHCP snooping, ARP inspection and BPDU filtering enabling the switch to protect the network against malicious attacks. The vendor claims the switch is highly energy efficient, having been compared favourably by the Tolly Group to Cisco’s equivalent Catalyst 3560-E PoE-48 switch in terms of power usage. The result is significant cost savings for users in a typical network installation, reduced carbon emissions, and lower cooling requirements.

Distributed by: Westcon Group and Anixter

RRP: On application

NEC Express5800/i120Ra-e1

This dual-processor server has been designed to improve the power and space efficiencies of datacentres with low-voltage processors in a lightweight and compact 1U chassis. Part of the NEC Express5800 Server Series, the i120Ra-e1 is designed specially for Internet datacentres faced with concerns over ever-increasing power consumption and footprints for their systems. The ExpressScope Engine 2 management controller supports DMTF-compliant CLI, which enables additional remote management functions on a wide variety of Linux distributions. The new features include collecting event logs and capturing an IP address, and seek to improve remote server manageability for Linux users. For easy servicing, the i120Ra-e1 features a display port on its front panel, allowing the direct connection of a console to individual servers from the front side of a cabinet. The front panel is also provided with a pull-out tab to keep server IDs and status information on it. The i120Ra-e1 comes with guide rails for quick, tool-free installation and maintenance.

Distributed by: NEC

RRP: from $2500

3Com OfficeConnect Gigabit Switch 5 (3C1670500C)

This is a small five-port, plug-and-play Gigabit Ethernet Switch that provides support for bandwidth intensive applications and allows high-speed connections. The autosensing 10/100/1000 ports can be used as ultra high-speed links to servers or power users, or to connect the rest of the network through a central high-speed switch for bandwidth-intensive operations. Compact form factor, silent operation and FCC Class B compliant to interference levels standards make this switch suitable for home and small office environments. The switch uses 65nm technology, which 3Com claims will result in 31 per cent power savings. It also has an advanced idle power down mode for additional power savings. The Auto MDI-MDIX on every port simplifies network expansion by eliminating most common cabling errors, whether the port is connected to a server, PC, or another switch or hub. Priority Queuing (traffic prioritisation) ensures that real-time programs such as video and audio applications take priority so they can run effectively.

Distributed by: Ingram Micro and Westcon Group

RRP: On application.