Cygnet's new layer 3-capable Gigabit Ethernet switch promises to reduce port cost, and Cygnet's Unified Management Access (UMA) embedded software should improve bandwidth provisioning, levels of service and allocation, and QoS.

by Wayne Kawamoto [November 19, 2001]

Cygnet Technologies Inc., a developer and marketer of edge communications systems using Gigabit Ethernet, VDSL, and HPNA technologies, announced that the new management features and lower price of its Enterprise Gigabit Ethernet switch will provide users with robust Layer 3 IP switching and additional capabilities. The company's 8-port Gigabit Ethernet switch is designed to let enterprises, colocation facilities, and Gigabit Ethernet Metro IP carriers deliver broadband services with an intelligent but economical solution for demanding end-users.

According to Cygnet, its Enterprise Gigabit Ethernet switch provides customers with a small form-factor device that offers complete interoperability within their existing network equipment, and allows for easy, quick upgrades of legacy equipment. At $1,995.00 U.S. or $249 per port, Cygnet says that the price makes the switch among the least expensive Layer 3 switches on a per port cost basis.

Cygnet's Unified Management Access (UMA) embedded software architecture is designed to improve bandwidth provisioning, levels of service and allocation, and quality of service, and also to offer seamless delivery of broadband Internet content.

UMA's integration with Novell's NDS eDirectory product should enable the automatic provisioning of network devices, which may increase productivity while reducing the number of on-site visits needed to service existing users and activate new ones.

The combination of standards-based access mechanisms and a variety of user interfaces should also result in reduced training and administrative expenses. Costs may be further reduced by smart device management and remote updates and upgrades of hardware.

Service providers and commercial enterprises can install the Enterprise switch in a number of applications, including as an aggregation point because it offers both Layer 2 and Layer 3 functionality. The device is designed to provide full auto-negotiation for 10 megabits, 100 megabits or 1 Gigabit data rates.

Currently available features are Layer 2 switching, Layer 3 IP switching, VLAN forwarding, LDAP, BOOTP, STP, GMRP, GVRP, RIP v 1/v2.

The Enterprise switch supports self-learning and address resolution for up to 8,000 unicast addresses. Also, its filtering and forwarding capabilities are at wire speed at 10, 100, or 1000 Mbps, on all ports.

"Cygnet's strategy is to leverage its product design strength and market knowledge to offer customers both performance and price in an easily deployed high-speed Gigabit Ethernet switch," said Charles Maricle, Ph.D., vice president of Cygnet Technologies.

He added, "Our innovations allow us to provide layer 3 functionality at layer 2 prices. Extensive market and customer research indicates that users are demanding more intelligent devices with XML, LDAP and Web interface capabilities because their administrators must manage a variety of billing and other network applications. Cygnet's Unified Management Access software embedded into the switch adds that robustness to the current scalability and flexibility."

"ISPs have a perpetual struggle between the need to upgrade technology and therefore provide better performance, services, and content to their customers and the cost of doing these upgrades," said Maricle. "Part of their hardware upgrade requirements is the move to Gigabit Ethernet both internally between their servers and also as distribution to end users."

"I believe that the major competitors in the market have forgotten where they came from and what their customers needed to stay in business," concluded Maricle.

Availability and pricing
Currently in production, the list price of the Enterprise is $1,995.00U.S. or $249 per port. The Enterprise is sold through major distributors and the Cygnet website.

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