TMX 880 MPLS Core Switch

Summary:

As the industry-leading MPLS core switch, TMX 880 is the newest product in the Lucent Multi-Service Exchange product line, which is designed to smooth the expansion of the existing FR/ATM network of operators and to provide support for the IP/MPLS business and differential IP services. TMX 880 protects the operator's existing equipment investments and greatly reduces operating maintenance costs.

Product Overview

The TMX 880TM is an extensible high-performance MPLS platform with industry-leading QoS processing capabilities, designed to deliver a wide range of services, such as ATM, Frame Relay, and IP, in the carrier's core network. The proprietary switching structure is used to dynamically support layer 2nd and layer 3rd protocols-including Multiprotocol tag switching (MPLS), ATM, Frame Relay, and IP. TMX 880 supports a variety of interfaces that enable service providers to flexibly expand their current network or migrate to IP/MPLS backbone networks.

TMX 880 is the latest core product of the Lucent Multi-service Exchange product family, combined with other Lucent multi-service Switch bstdx-8000/9000, CBX500, gx550,springtide™7000 IP service switches Service providers can build reliable, multiple-business networks and run them all under the common switch software and the public network management system.

Service Provider Requirements

Traditionally, service providers have made most of the high profit data revenues by providing frame relay and ATM services to large enterprise customers. With the change of competitive environment (such as the relaxation of long-distance data market regulation), operators expand FR/ATM Network to provide the third Layer IP service based on MPLS. At the same time, broadband services are being widely used, while the profits of basic connectivity businesses are falling. To survive, service providers need to expand their existing networks and provide value-added services that give them a clear edge in their business. On the other hand, service providers are investing less and operating expenses are increasing, so any solution has to take these factors into account.

To meet these requirements, we usually consider three scenarios, but each one is deficient:

1. Add ATM switches at the core of the FR/ATM network-the advantage is to support multiple services, provide strict QoS, but there is a tax on the transmission of IP services, considering that IP traffic growth will be much higher than ATM, so ATM switches may not be a good long-term investment.

2. Add a large router to the FR/ATM network core-The advantage is IP transmission efficiency, but the IP router structure is not suitable for the transmission of multiple traffic, and the lack of QoS features.

3. Outside of the FR/ATM network, building a separate IP network-the cost of building a separate network is high, with interoperability issues with existing FR/ATM networks, and higher transmission and operational costs. Moreover, the business case of advanced IP business does not prove that the current capital investment is reasonable.

Current service providers need solutions that can smooth the expansion of their existing FR/ATM network and provide a transport platform for future IP services that protects their existing investments and minimizes investment.

Meet the needs of service providers

The TMX 880 MPLS core switch enables service providers to:

Extending profitable Frame Relay and ATM services

Deploy the same platform to support IP services

Integrate existing networks and minimize operational costs

TMX 880 uses a packet-based switched fabric that delivers high performance and scalability that is not available on the basis of a cellular transmission. Furthermore, TMX 880 is designed to provide a higher quality of service to meet SLA requirements while achieving more comprehensive control and faster failback, based on a connection-oriented architecture. All of this is based on TMX 880 's unique switch hardware and strict guaranteed QoS. Finally, TMX 880 is managed by Navis, allowing TMX 880 to seamlessly integrate into existing customer networks, reducing operational costs. This means that the switch can provide IP/MPLS performance and ATM QoS. This provides a perfect solution for service providers to meet these requirements.