D-Link Shows Its Enterprise Side At Supercomm

D-Link, known in the United States as a wireless networking vendor targeting the SMB market, is showing off its enterprise expertise at this year's Supercomm.

The Irvine, Calif.-based company unveiled its xStack 10-Gbyte integrated stacking solution, a stackable Ethernet switch line featuring integrated 10-Gbyte support. The line features three 48-port models and 24-port models, scalable to 336 Gigabit ports per stack, with up to 176 Gbps of switching capacity.

Although the power of the xStack addresses the growing need for Gigabit to the desktop, the low price point of $138 per port makes it an attractive alternative for enterprises, said Michael Nguyen, D-Link product manager.

"The price is really what sets the xStack apart," Nguyen said. "We have the same feeds and speeds as the other guys, plus the [Quality of Service] and IP routing, at a more cost-effective price."

The units also feature shortest-patch technology, which enables stacked units to communicate bidirectionally, as well as the option of stacking in ring mode or in star mode with a stacking master unit.Two of the xStack units are scheduled to be available in the third quarter, with the remaining units slated to be rolled out in the fourth quarter, according to D-Link.

Overseas, D-Link has long had a reputation as an enterprise networking vendor, and over the past two years the company has been working hard to alter the U.S. market's perception of it as an SMB vendor, said Greg Avera, vice president of channel sales. "In the U.S., the channel is just now recognizing our enterprise presence," he said. "It's completely opposite in other countries. [The international customers] come to this [Supercomm] show and tell us they had no idea we play in the SOHO market as well."

Avera said D-Link is gaining traction in large companies since starting the enterprise campaign. "Our business-class products are moving at a rate of what we expected them to," he said. "Our sales of business-class products have grown 60 percent year over year, and it is the fastest-growing line in our company."