Physical Layer Switch remotely automates connectivity tasks.
Press Release Summary:
INTELLAPATCH 144, layer-1, 144-port switch, utilizes wire-once technology to eliminate manual patching and re-patching and provide non-blocking, any-to-any connections at wire speed. Switch has 9-blade design, giving users scalable solution, configurable in multiple protocols and data rates within 1 chassis. Each 16-port blade engages hot-swappable SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) multi-mode, single-mode, or copper transceivers.
Original Press Release:
New Apcon 144-Port Physical-Layer Switch Cuts Time-To-Market, Increases Flexibility and Test Reliability In Interoperability Labs
- Apcon Introduces Fourth Product in Four Months, Surpasses Competition -
- Upgraded CONTROL Software Provides Greater Ease of Use -
PORTLAND, OR - January 28, 2003 - APCON, Inc., a leading provider of network solutions and intelligent physical layer switches for Fibre Channel, Ethernet and SONET, today announced the INTELLAPATCH 144 Physical Layer Switch. Joining the APCON INTELLAPATCH family of physical layer switches, this 144-port, layer-1 switch provides effective, low-cost connectivity solutions for interoperability test labs within telecom/datacom, network and storage, and military environments.
"Our layer-1 switches are way ahead of the competition in port density and price per port. And, we're getting product into the hands of our customers - the top players of the storage and telecom/datacom industry - when they need it ... when they are in the crux of product development and testing," said Richard Rauch, APCON president and CEO.
"The economy hasn't slowed new product development; it's just forced companies to look at how they are spending money and how they optimize development cycles. The INTELLAPATCH 144 is another example of instrumentation from APCON designed for test environments that are working with decreased manpower and capital investment dollars. At the same time, our switches can accelerate a product or service to market by automating time-consuming manual cable patching," said Rauch.
The INTELLAPATCH 144 is designed to remotely automate connectivity tasks, such as lab setup and system configuration. The layer-1 switch is an optimal solution for system integrators and test engineers who need to manage configurations between various servers, storage systems, peripherals and operating systems. "Wire-once" technology eliminates manual patching and re-patching, and provides non-blocking, any-to-any connections at wire speed.
The INTELLAPATCH 144 supports 1- and 2-Gb/s Fibre Channel, 10/100/1000 Ethernet, and SONET OC-3, OC-12 and OC-48 for networks running ATM, IP (MPLS) and Frame Relay (HDLC). The layer-1, 144-port switch has a nine-blade design, giving users a scalable solution that can be configured in multiple protocols and data rates within one chassis. Each 16-port blade engages hot-swappable SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) multi-mode, single-mode or copper transceivers - all which may be used simultaneously. The chassis comes equipped with dual power supplies.
Switch Software Upgrade Increases Ease of Use
Lab environment configurations generally require multiple fiber optic connections between various servers, storage systems, peripherals, and operating systems. These connections are made by manual patching and re-patching. INTELLAPATCH 144 switches permit engineers to automate fail-over testing, conduct electronic simulation of cable pulls, share analyzers and other test devices, multicast traffic generators to multiple ports (1-to-N) and enable reconfiguration of these environments within seconds using APCON CONTROL Software or a variety of flexible scripting options.
APCON's CONTROL Software, a Windows(r)-based product for 95/98/ME/NT/ 2000 / XP systems, has been upgraded to offer users a more effective means of managing switch configurations. The software upgrade allows users to drag-and-drop specific port connections. This is a significant advantage for switches with high port densities. INTELLAPATCH switches can be managed through an Ethernet or serial interface, allowing users to remotely control up to 32 "daisy chained" physical layer switches from a single network connection.
The INTELLAPATCH 144 Physical Layer Switch comes fully loaded with 2 Gb/s Fibre Channel blades. Blades and chassis can also be purchased independently for a scalable solution.
The 144-port unit joins a family of APCON physical layer switches available in 16-, 32-, and 64-port configurations. The APCON INTELLAPATCH 144 Physical Layer Switch is now shipping with prices beginning at $36,950 (USD) for a fully loaded model. APCON CONTROL Software is included in the unit price.
About APCON, Inc.
APCON, Inc. develops high-speed network hardware to improve the flexibility of enterprise-wide networks and interoperability labs, while enabling systems personnel to implement cost effective alternatives to high-priced hardware. APCON products include INTELLAPATCH physical layer switches, switching automation software, fail-over solutions, and SCSI switches, extenders and boosters. APCON customers include Cisco Systems, Dell Computer, IBM, JNI, Lockheed Martin, McData, and QLogic. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, APCON also maintains sales offices in Texas and South Carolina. For more information, please visit APCON online at www.apcon.com.
