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We tested the P550 in two configurations. When loaded to capacity, the P550 can hold up to 120 10/100 autosensing 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet ports. In this configuration, the switch was nearly unstoppable. The P550 switched more packets per second than any other device we tested. With one exception, it passed every test we could throw at it at wire speed--that is, switching at faster than 11 Gbps without faltering.

The P550 can also be configured with up to 24 Gigabit Ethernet ports. Each slot on the switch has two 1.76 Gbps "spokes" into the crossbar switching fabric. Thus, at full capacity, it creates a small amount of blocking in the switching fabric. When we tested the switch in this configuration, it performed extremely well. However, our full-duplex Smart Applications test disclosed the limitations of the P550. At about 21 Gbps, the switch reached its capacity for full-duplex switching. During the X-Stream test, up to 40 percent packet loss is possible due to crossbar contention in the switch. Fortunately, it is highly unlikely for that type of traffic to occur on a real-world network.

When we first tested the P550 in October 1997 (see "Don't Blink! You Might Miss the First Gigabit Products," at www.networkcomputing.com/818/818r1.html), the management interface was somewhat clumsy and difficult to use. Lucent has come a long way in improving the P550's Web-based management interface. Once you run through the quick-start console application, it's nothing but Web. The P550 lets you configure VLANs (virtual LANs), trunk groups, VLAN translation, port speeds and user access, all from its built-in Web server. Dynamic help links point to an online help server that you can install on any network HTTP server, bringing a complete, context-sensitive help system to your fingertips.

The P550 allows as many as 15 trunk groups to be defined per switch. Trunk groups, a proprietary technology, let you aggregate multiple Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet links into a single "fat pipe."

Also, the P550 can actively translate Cisco, 3Com and 802.1Q VLAN techniques, providing a clear path for migrating toward the 802.1Q VLAN standard. When its future Layer 3 functions arrive, the P550 will make an ideal VLAN-to-VLAN router, capable of translating and tagging as it routes.

All media modules for the P550 are Ethernet-based. A 20-port 10/100 blade, 10-port 100BASE-FX blade and two- or four-port gigabit blades in both 1000BASE-SX and -LX are available, as are long-haul 1,350 nm (nanometer) optics for long-distance applications. Pricing ranges from $380 to $795 per 10/100 port; Gigabit Ethernet ports range from $2,400 to $7,200, when you take into account the cost of the chassis.

Lucent's new Layer 3 modules are similarly priced, though a chassis with a Layer 3 supervisory module costs about $5,000 more than a similar Layer 2 device. Overall, Cajun Switch's pricing scheme ranks in the middle of the pack.

ODS resells the Lucent chassis as the LanBlazer 7000. The company says it plans to add HIPPI (High-Performance Parallel Interface) and ATM support to the device in the fourth quarter through a joint development effort with Lucent.