Forsythe Data Centers connects Chicago facility with Ciena gear

Forsythe Data Centers will deploy packet-optical transport systems from Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) in its dual, diverse metro fiber-optic network to connect Forsythe's new Retail+ managed hosting facility to 350 East Cermak in Chicago.

The new 221,000-sq-ft Retail+ facility, located in Elk Grove Village, IL, opens this month. It will offer secure client-controllable private suites and micro suites as well as individual cabinets that will enable enterprises to plan, procure, build, test, migrate, house, and manage their IT environments from one location.

"As enterprises move more of their application infrastructure into data centers and embrace the cloud, they look to hosting providers like Forsythe Data Centers to virtualize those resources and deliver the agile networking and data transmission capabilities as required," explains Ciena's Duncan Puller, vice president of data center and cloud.

Forsythe is deploying Ciena's 6500 Packet-Optical Platform equipped with FIPS certified Layer 1 encryption for highly secure end-to-end communications. Enterprises will have access to Forsythe's data replication and transport services, allowing data to be stored virtually. Forsythe will offer temporary and dedicated connectivity options so customers can easily migrate data when relocating to the new data center. The packet-optical transport system will enable Forsythe to support connectivity at up to 200 Gbps per wavelength.

Ciena is also providing Specialist Services to Forsythe, including turnkey implementation, project management, and management services for Ciena equipment.

Forsythe Technology, the parent company of Forsythe Data Centers, is now a Ciena BizConnect partner as well and will offer Ciena products as part of its offerings to clients, especially data migration services.

For more information on high-speed transmission systems and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer's Guide.