Allied Telesis Advanced Layer 3+ Modular Switch

The Allied Telesis Advanced Layer 3+ Modular Switch is engineered for the modern enterprise core, delivering exceptional reliability, resiliency, and high performance. Built on the SwitchBlade x908 modular architecture, this switch foundation enables scalable growth, robust routing, and non‑stop operation for mission‑critical applications. Designed to meet the demanding needs of data centers, campuses, and large enterprise networks, it blends modular versatility with enterprise‑grade features to keep your network fast, secure, and flexible.

• High‑Performance Layer 3+ routing for dense enterprise environments: This switch delivers advanced routing capabilities beyond basic IP routing, including scalable route tables, dynamic routing protocols, and policy‑driven traffic management. It optimizes both intra‑ and inter‑site traffic, enabling faster data transfers and reduced latency for latency‑sensitive applications like virtualization, video conferencing, and cloud services.
• Modular SwitchBlade architecture for unmatched scalability: The x908 chassis supports modular line cards and hot‑swappable components, allowing you to tailor the fabric to your current needs while preserving room for future growth. Add high‑capacity uplinks, expand memory for larger routing tables, and deploy new features without replacing the entire switch, protecting your capital investment.
• Built‑in redundancy for continuous operation: Featuring dual hot‑swappable power supplies and redundant cooling fans, the system stays online even if a power or fan module fails. This redundancy minimizes planned and unplanned downtime, ensuring business continuity for core services, data centers, and critical applications.
• Advanced QoS and traffic management for deterministic performance: With quality of service, policing, and shaping capabilities, the switch prioritizes mission‑critical traffic such as voice, video, and real‑time data. It ensures predictable performance across multiple tenants and services, supporting service level agreements (SLAs) and quality of experience (QoE).
• Comprehensive management and security features: Centralized management tools, role‑based access control, secure remote management, and robust monitoring enable administrators to deploy, configure, and maintain the network with confidence. The platform supports standard management protocols and interfaces for integration into existing IT operations workflows.

Technical Details of Allied Telesis Advanced Layer 3+ Modular Switch

• Model: SwitchBlade x908, Advanced Layer 3+ modular switch designed for enterprise core deployments.
• Form Factor: Modular chassis architecture with hot‑swappable line cards, power supplies, and fan modules to maximize uptime and simplify future upgrades.
• Power: Dual hot‑swappable power supplies provide redundancy and load balancing, reducing the risk of power‑related outages in data centers and large campuses.
• Cooling: Redundant fan modules maintain thermal headroom under heavy workloads and can be replaced without downtime.
• Routing and Protocols: Layer 3+ routing support with IPv4/IPv6, dynamic routing protocols (e.g., OSPF, BGP), VRRP, multicast routing, and policy‑based routing to optimize network paths and scalability.
• Management and Security: Comprehensive management interfaces (CLI, SNMP, secure web), role‑based access control, logging, and secure remote management to integrate with existing IT security policies.

How to install Allied Telesis Advanced Layer 3+ Modular Switch

• Plan rack space and power provisioning in advance. Confirm available power circuits, grounding requirements, and cable management for a clean, maintainable installation.
• Install the dual hot‑swappable power supplies and ensure proper connection to the data center power distribution units (PDUs) with appropriate redundancy and cooling provisions.
• Mount the SwitchBlade x908 chassis in a suitable rack, align with rails, secure mounting hardware, and attach a reliable grounding strap to minimize electrical noise and improve safety.
• Insert the desired line cards and hot‑swap fan modules according to your network design. Configure the chassis and cards for your intended uplink speeds, port assignments, and routing features.
• Power up the switch, access the management interface (CLI or web), and begin initial configuration. Apply device hardening, set up routing protocols, define QoS policies, and verify connectivity with test traffic across uplinks and internal routes.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is Layer 3+ routing, and why is it important for an enterprise core switch?
• A: Layer 3+ routing extends traditional IP routing with advanced features such as scalable routing tables, dynamic routing protocols, and policy‑based routing. This enables efficient, scalable inter‑subnet communication, improved traffic engineering, and better support for virtualization, cloud connectivity, and multi‑site deployments.
• Q: Is the SwitchBlade x908 suitable for core deployments?
• A: Yes. Its modular architecture, high availability features, and robust routing capabilities are designed for enterprise core networks, data centers, and large campus environments requiring uptime, flexibility, and performance.
• Q: How do I manage this switch and integrate it into my existing network management tools?
• A: The switch supports standard management interfaces, including CLI, SNMP, and secure web access, with centralized monitoring and RBAC. It can be integrated with existing network management systems and IT service management workflows.
• Q: Can I scale the switch as my network grows?
• A: Absolutely. The modular SwitchBlade architecture supports hot‑swappable line cards and components, enabling you to expand ports, uplinks, and routing capacity without replacing the core chassis.
• Q: What types of applications benefit the most from this switch?
• A: Mission‑critical applications, virtualized data centers, multi‑site enterprise networks, and campus cores benefit from the combination of high availability, Layer 3+ routing, QoS, and centralized management offered by this platform.