Hammerhead Systems launches transition strategy for Ethernet

Hammerhead Systems announced what it’s claiming is the market’s first layer 2.5 aggregation solution.

The HSX 6000 Layer 2.5 switch is designed for carriers wanting to get into the Ethernet service markets for both consumers and businesses using existing infrastructure. The switch currently is in lab trials for PseudoWire, Ethernet and Layer 2.5 aggregation applications.

As much of a technology play as the switch is, the company is playing off carriers’ inevitable push into Ethernet either via a residential IP video offering or a gigabit Ethernet service for enterprises. At the same time, the idea of a Layer 2.5 switch is to provide Layer 3 application awareness with Layer 2 economics, operations and interworking.

"What we’re doing here is expanding that view driven more toward Ethernet," said Houman Modarres, director of product management for Hammerhead. "The reason we’re talking about layer 2.5 aggregation is because the technologies are complete and ready to be brought to market."

As an aggregation platform, the HSX 6000 supports native Gigabit Ethernet as well as Ethernet-over-SONET (both GFP and X.86). For existing customers, the switch allows carriers to introduce Ethernet-based services to Frame Relay and ATM subscribers without cannibalizing existing revenue. It’s this service interworking that Modarres believes will have a one or more significant impacts in the way enterprise users view services.

"Bandwidth has currency and it’s rather antiquated now," he said. "It’s like the penny. It’s a currency that is too small and unwieldy. There’s a huge gap between what a DS0 represents and when you’re talking Ethernet. Imagine the U.S. currency going to pennies, nickels, quarters and then the smallest denomination being $100 bills."