To help service providers, particularly old-time incumbents, wend their way gradually into IP networking, edge router vendors are designing more products that combine ATM switching, MPLS and IP services on one platform.
Unisphere Networks Inc., of Westford, Mass., has introduced what it is calling the industrys first multiservice edge router. The MRX integrates carrier-class IP routing, native asynchronous transfer mode switching, Multiprotocol Label Switching and IP services on a single line module. It gives service providers the flexibility to mix port speeds and protocols on a single module because it provides a range of optical interfaces, from OC-3 to OC-48, and Gigabit Ethernet.
The MRX is priced starting at $115,000.