Reports & Publications

Foundry Networks FastIron Backbone Switch: Layer 2 Performance and Router Assist

Sponsor: Foundry Networks (Brocade Communications)
Foundry Networks FastIron Backbone Switch: L2 Switching and Router Assist

Abstract

Foundry Networks commissioned The Tolly Group to benchmark the Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet performance characteristics of the FastIron Backbone Switch. This device is a 16 port Fast Ethernet switch that includes two Gigabit Ethernet uplinks. The Tolly Group also verified the FastIron’s router assist feature. Testing was performed in September of 1997.

The results of the performance tests showed that the FastIron delivers wire speed throughput when switching data in a fully meshed pattern among 16 Fast Ethernet ports. Furthermore, the FastIron can deliver wire speed traffic from all of its Fast Ethernet ports across its pair of Gigabit Ethernet uplinks.

Test Highlights

  • FastIron delivers wire speed Layer 2 throughput among its 16 Fast Ethernet interfaces at all packet sizes tested.
  • FastIron aggregates wire speed traffic from 16 Fast Ethernet ports across its two Gigabit Ethernet uplinks.
  • Using router assist, the FastIron delivers wire speed IP routing throughput regardless of external router throughput characteristics.
  • FastIron’s router assist also significantly improves application traffic throughput.

    • Report Information

    Document Number:
    7308
    Publication Date:
    11/1/1997
    Page Count:
    4
    Category:
    LAN Switches Routing
    View all reports from Foundry Networks (Brocade Communications)