ZyXEL offers 10-Gigabit Ethernet switches for SMB networks

Feb. 24, 2015

Networking product vendor ZyXEL Communications now offers 12- and 24-port 10-Gigabit switches for use by small to mid-size businesses (SMBs). The switches are designed to be affordable, low port density and high performance. They include the XS1920-12, a 12-port smart-managed 10-Gigabit switch, and the XS3700-24, a 24-port Layer 2+ managed 10-Gigabit switch.

ZyXEL sees the new switches as important as more SMBs adopt virtualization and cloud-based applications, VoIP, video streaming, and IP surveillance. Both switches are backward-compatible, offer port configuration for server and switch aggregation, along with Layer 2+ features and basic Layer-3 routing, according to the company.

The XS1920-12 is designed to enable SMBs to upgrade existing networks to 10G. It can be used as a core switch through its Layer 2 switching capacity and is backward-compatible with existing gigabit networks, ZyXEL says.

XS1920-12 features include:

10x10G Base-T ports for copper links
2x10G SFP+ combo ports for fiber-optic network links
CPU protection, loop guard, IPMB, dual image for network protection and reliability.

The XS3700-24 aims to help SMBs transition to an enterprise-level network setup. It also features dual-stack capabilities for both IPv4 and IPv6.

Additional features of the XS3700-24 include:

8x10G Base-T ports
12 x 10G SFP+ optical transceiver ports
4x10G combo ports
No single point of failure (NSPOF) features in both hardware and software
TACAS+ and RADIUS authentication, loop guard, and IPMB for network protection
IPv6 and dual stack (IPv4/IPv6) facilitate simple migration to future-proofed network.

Both 10G switches support the company's ZON configuration utility to check locations, assign IPs, reboot, and perform firmware upgrades on multiple switches. The Smart Connect function of ZON enables both the XS1920-12 and the XS3700-24 to auto-discover other ZON-enabled ZyXEL devices on the network, enabling simple configuration and management through its Web GUI.

"ZyXEL's new 10G switches answer the demand for low-port density, high performance 10-G switches that satisfy any SMB's high-speed networking requirements," said Steven Joe, executive vice president for channel business for Americas at ZyXEL. "Both new 10G switches offer SMBs the performance they need and several easily configurable features for flexible deployment, all at an affordable price."

Both ZyXEL's 12-port Web Smart 10-Gigabit Switch (XS1920-12) and 24-port Managed 10-Gigabit Switch (XS3700-24) are available for purchase through all ZyXEL authorized resellers. The MSRP of the XS1920-12 is $1,865, while the suggested retail price of the XS3700-24 is $3,860.

For more information on switches and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer's Guide.