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New core switch tests show high unicast scalability, low power use
3Com says it has an alternative for network managers considering high-end switches from Cisco and others. Our exclusive Clear Choice test of its new core switch backs up SCom's claim. This chassis-based, 288-port device delivered line-rate throughput in all performance tests, supported more Open Shortest Pa\h First (OSPF) routing sessions than we've ever set up and consumed remarkably little power.
While the device we tested doesn't have all the features of some competitors (for example, the switch doesn't yet support hitlessupgrades),its strong performance and low power consumption make it a viable option for large and midsize organizations in the market for core and aggregation switches.
One switch, two names
3Com sells the system we tested under two names: the 3Com S7906E and the H3C S7506E. That's kind of a mouthful.» we'll refer to (his system as the "3Com/H3C switch" going forward. (3Com became sole owner of H3C after buying Huawei's share of the former joint venture a couple of years ago. See story at wwwnwdocfinder.com/9523.)
3Com supplied a chassis with six line cards, each with 48 gigabit Ethernet ports that use SFP transceivers for copper or fiber. The company says it is developing less costly gigabit Ethernet cards with integrated copper transceivers. It already ships larger (lOslot) and smaller (twoand threeslot) versions of the same switch. In SCom's terminology the slot counts refer to the number available for line cards; each chassis has two additional slots for redundant management modules.
The chassis 3Com supplied scales up to 288 gigabit Ethernet ports, but only 16 1OG Ethernet ports. While the gigabit port count is relatively high, the 1OG Ethernet number is not. Competing Cisco Catalyst 6509 and Nexus 7010 switches house up to 130 and 256 10G-Ethemet cards, respectively, in similar configurations with dual fabric cards.
3Com's competitors may claim the lower 1OG Ethernet port density "proves" this is a smaller switch than some of its rivals, but results from our unicast performance tests don't support that conclusion: A 3Com/H3C chassis fully loaded with gigabit ports moved mid- and large-size frames only slightly slower than a Cisco Catalyst 6509 fully loaded with 1OG Ethernet ports, and went faster than the Cisco box with short...