Brocade has announced the introduction of new enterprise networking solutions that help organisations adapt to new applications and ever-changing business requirements.

The first of these new products is the Brocade ICX 6610 Switch, a high-performance Ethernet access switch that combines chassis-like reliability and performance with the flexibility and affordability of a stackable switch. Optimised for today’s demanding applications and mobile workforce, it delivers five times the stacking bandwidth of the leading competitor.

In addition, the Brocade ICX 6610 provides 8×10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) uplink ports and the highest aggregation bandwidth in its class. As a result, the Brocade ICX 6610 offers a 35 percent improvement in total cost of ownership (TCO) compared to competitive offerings as well as a longer functional product life for an improved return on investment (ROI).

Continuing its goal of improving the economics for aggregation and core networks, Brocade also announced new blades and significant performance and scalability enhancements for the Brocade FastIron SX Series of chassis-based aggregation and core switches. The new high-density 8×10 GbE blades set a new standard for price-performance value, enabling the Brocade FastIron SX to scale up to 128 ports of 10 GbE. Featuring hitless failover to provide the highest levels of availability, the Brocade FastIron SX is ideal for today’s business-critical campus LAN environments. Additional new features include Multi-Chassis Trunking (MCT) for active-active resiliency that delivers twice the bandwidth of traditional active-passive redundant designs, plus MACsec and Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE)-ready hardware for investment protection.

Pricing and Availability

The Brocade ICX 6610 will be available this month directly through Brocade and its channel partners with a starting price of $5,595 USD. The new Brocade FastIron SX Series modules will also be available in November 2011, with a starting price of $4,495 USD. Multi-Chassis Trunking (MCT) will be available in early 2012 for the Brocade FastIron SX Series. As an extension to these product introductions, Brocade is also announcing a price reduction for Brocade FCX Series stackable switches effective immediately.