Abstract

NBase-Xyplex commissioned The Tolly Group to evaluate its Open Switch Router Accelerator (AcceleRouter), a 24-port Fast Ethernet device that acts as a front-end processor, against two different classes of Cisco Systems, Inc. 7200 Series Routers: a “legacy” system (an older device) and the “latest” system (the newest configuration available at the time of testing).

Although IP-centric Layer 3 Ethernet/Fast Ethernet/Gigabit Ethernet switches have risen in popularity, many networks still utilize traditional routers. Legacy routers, and even their newer replacements, often become a bottleneck to filter local traffic from other data destined for remote sites. Networks that utilize these routers can benefit from an external device that offloads traffic filtering from the router, thereby increasing the performance of local traffic.