While further enhancing its H3C large-enterprise networking portfolio, 3Com Corporation on Thursday rolled out a new extensible data-center switching platform and a next-generation management platform. 

Developed to address high-density Gigabit Ethernet and 10-Gigabit applications, the new H3C Switch 12500 is expected to redefine large-scale data center core switching.

Bundled with up to 128 non-blocking 10-Gigabit or 864 non-blocking Gigabit Ethernet ports, the new data centre is available in two options based on ones’ performance and capacity needs.

User can either opt for an eight-slot chassis that delivers 3 terabits per second (Tbps) of high-performance switching capacity and a forwarding rate of 960 million packets per second (Mpps) or an 18-slot chassis that delivers 6.6 Tbps of switching capacity and a forwarding rate of 2.2 billion pps (Bpps).

Keeping in mind the impinging economic conditions and green IT mandates, the data centre is devised in such a way as to consume only 80 watts of power per 10-Gigabit port, which means 50 percent less than competing products, to address green IT mandates.

Further, with its distinctive “TCO by Design” development methodology applied to the H3C S12500 large-scale switching platform and SOA-based H3C IMC management platform, one can modify the fundamental economics of the data center and broaden enterprise network without compromising performance or feature support. 

“The customer’s current data center dilemma is one of too many devices and too many access interconnections, all leading to high demands for space and power—not to mention the added complexity of managing more devices,” said Saar Gillai, 3Com senior vice president, worldwide products and solutions.

The new switching platform is managed with the new H3C end-to-end enterprise-class management solution, Intelligent Management Center (IMC), providing unique single-pane management of the entire heterogeneous enterprise network infrastructure. Later, it incorporates with existing systems to deliver high level of efficiency and value.

“3Com further differentiates its H3C enterprise networking portfolio with its ability to be managed by a single-pane, end-to-end platform that was designed to meet the stringent demands of today’s business critical network operations,” added Gillai.

 “Those who have wrestled with multiple closed management systems will welcome the power and efficiency of a fully-integrated, comprehensive management platform that provides a view of the entire enterprise network,” added she.

The paragon result of the offering can be achieved, when used for large-scale enterprise and service provider data-center and core campus deployments that require the highest switching performance scale to support new requirements for-data-center consolidation, high performance, cloud computing, server cluster aggregation, business continuity and disaster recovery.

The H3C S12500 switching platform will be available in July 2009 at a starting price of $60,000 for typical configuration. IMC will be available in June 2009.