This 3+8 combination is designed to provide a fanout at the edge of your core network. You can trunk up to three gigabit uplinks in a point-to-point or mesh configuration to provide a very high degree of flexibility in your network backbone. The 100-Mbps ports make ideal server connections, or you can use them to drive other 100-Mbps switches at the network edge.

You can use the fourth gigabit link to further strengthen your core network's fault tolerance. When configured in this manner, the switched network exhibits a failover time of less than 2 seconds, protecting your network from costly downtime.

Extremely Similar I tested the Compaq 5411 Enterprise Switch in our University of Wisconsin Real-World Labs® and immediately noticed a strong resemblance to Extreme Networks' Summit line of switches. Compaq's 5411 is actually based on core ASICs from Extreme Networks, but Extreme does not sell a switch in the same configuration.

In the lab, I used Netcom Systems' SmartBits SMB-1000 performance analyzer to benchmark the Compaq 5411. The switch delivered wire-speed throughput at Layer 2--nearly 5.6 million pps (packets per second) in a partially meshed test configuration. Likewise, at Layer 3 the switch routed IP packets at wire speed, delivering the same 5.6 million pps.

The Compaq 5411's user interface also resembles Extreme Networks' software interface. The command-line interface in this Gigabit Ethernet switch is intuitive and it features extremely easy-to-use diagnostic and statistical information screens.

If you loathe command-line interfaces, a built-in Web server provides access to most of the configuration and statistics information available at the command line.

The 5411 houses the same robust feature set that the Extreme Summit series of switches boasts. This set includes advanced QoS (quality-of-service) features (see www.NetworkComputing.com/909/909sp2.html) and IP RIP version 1 and version 2 support (see www.NetworkComputing.com/818/818r1.html).

Load-balancing and fault-tolerant connections between switches, as well as support for the four RMON (Remote Monitoring) groups, are also standard features. With all of this plus wire-speed switching and routing, you've got a robust IP routing switch designed to tackle enterprise computing needs.

High-Ticket Item At $18,040, the Compaq 5411 Enterprise Gigabit Switch is one of the more expensive Gigabit Ethernet switches that we have tested. The company justifies this cost by offering an extensive service and field-support program, which is a combination of its original support organization and Digital Equipment Corp.'s support organization. It also provides 24x7 technical support, a three-year warranty, overnight shipping for failed parts and support for five years after a switch has been discontinued.

You can also take advantage of additional support options, such as sending traps directly to a local Compaq service representative, through the Compaq Service Organization.

Joel Conover can be reached at jconover@nwc.com.