Review
We test Gigabit Ethernet switches from Extreme, Prominet, Foundry and Bay.

Network World, 1/26/98

Gigabit Ethernet's speed is calling to you. You've just got to be the first on your block to own one of these screaming switches.

The trouble with being an early adopter is there are few folks who can give you buying advice. Before you listen to some glitzy sales pitch, consult this Buyer's Guide on Gigabit Ethernet Backbone Switches.

We defined backbone switches as those supporting at least four Gigabit Ethernet ports and invited all vendors meeting the criteria to submit their products for testing. Our review shows how the four that accepted the challenge stack up. True to its name, Extreme Networks' Summit1 garnered our Blue Ribbon for being the pinnacle of performance. Prominet Corp.'s solid P550 Cajun Switch came in a close second.

But there's more to consider than performance. As our Issues and Trends story reports, you'll need to scrutinize the specifications of the switch architecture and learn which features are standard - we'll clue you in on the most important ones to look for. The Buyer's Guide Chart gives you an overview of 12 Gigabit Ethernet backbone switches that are available now or will be ready to go by the end of the quarter.

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