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The Foundry BigIron 8000 features a gargantuan 64-Gbps shared memory/ cross-point switching fabric, double that of Extreme's Black Diamond 6800. The BigIron 8000 has eight payload slots, each of which can take either an eight-- port Gigabit Ethernet module, or a 24-port Fast Ethernet module. In addition, the first slot of the chassis is reserved for a management interface with either 16 ports of 10/100 Fast Ethernet or a four- or eight-port Gigabit Ethernet module. The BigIron's maximum 10/100 density is only 184 ports, compared with Extreme's 256, but it can alternatively hold more Gigabit Ethernet ports (64, as opposed to 48 on the Black Diamond). Foundry claims its crossbar switching fabric is nonblocking in every configuration. Our tests did not show otherwise.
The BigIron 8000 has room for four (110-volt) load-sharing power supplies, compared with Extreme's two (220-volt) redundant power supplies. Depending on your wiring-- closet configuration, the BigIron may be a more suitable choice because of the...