Alcatel Debuts Software-Upgradeable Gigabit Ethernet Switch

Alcatel today announced its new OmniSwitch 6800L family of enterprise-class stackable 10/100 Ethernet workgroup switches that allow enterprises to upgrade to Gigabit Ethernet via a software upgrade, without adding extra hardware.

The OmniSwitch 6800L is an enterprise-class switch, with optional 10 Gigabit backbone uplink capabilities. It allows enterprises to migrate to Gigabit Ethernet desktop networks by using a software key that unlocks Gigabit Ethernet functionality built into each desktop port.

The switches are stackable, layer-three switches, and come in 24-port and 48-port versions. Eight of them can be stacked together for a total capacity of 384 ports using a 40 Gigabit stacking bus. With Alcatel's "virtual chassis" stacking capability, no switch is a single point of failure and the entire stack can be managed and configured as a single unit with a single IP address. These switch stacks can also include Alcatel's OmniSwitch 6800 switch, a companion Gigabit product with all of the same features.

The OmniSwitch 6800L switches are available immediately from Alcatel resellers. Worldwide list price is $3,295 for the 24-port switch, or $137 per port; and $4,795 for the 48-port switch, or $100 per port. The price for the Gigabit Ethernet upgrade key starts at $2,395.