MILPITAS, Calif. -- Force10 Networks today announced that CERN, the world's largest particle physics laboratory, will deploy the TeraScale E-Series family of switch/routers as the foundation of its new 2.4 Terabit per second (Tbps) high performance grid computing farm. The TeraScale E-Series will connect more than 8,000 processors and storage devices and also provides the first intercontinental 10 Gigabit Ethernet WAN links in a production network. Leveraging the high density and resiliency of the TeraScale E-Series throughout its campus, CERN is building a reliable and scalable network that will serve the organization's needs for the next several years.

"CERN was looking for a partner that could provide and support a very high performance networking solution," said David Foster, communications, systems and networking group leader at Geneva-based CERN. "After the conclusion of an international invitation to tender, followed by extensive testing, we determined that Force10 was best equipped to provide the density, scalability and, more importantly, the resiliency that we require to guarantee predictable network performance for our scientists and the universities to which we are connected worldwide."

The multi-faceted deployment of the Force10 TeraScale E-Series connects CERN's computing resources and experiments across the campus. As the anchor of CERN's high performance core, the TeraScale E-Series will provide leading Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet densities that enable CERN to connect 6,000 processors and 2,000 storage devices. Supporting 672 line-rate Gigabit and 56 line-rate 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports per system, the TeraScale E-Series processes more traffic per system, enabling CERN to deploy fewer systems and simplify the architecture of its network.

Beyond the high performance core, the Force10 TeraScale E-Series also will provide 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections to CERN's multiple campus-based experiments, which are similar to individual computing clusters. Additionally, CERN is leveraging the TeraScale E-Series to deploy multiple 10 Gigabit Ethernet WAN links, including the first intercontinental link in a production network, to connect its Geneva-based campus with more than 10 international sites.

The unique three CPU architecture of the TeraScale E-Series, which distributes switching, routing and management functionalities between three processors, provides the reliability CERN requires to guarantee predictable performance as traffic increases on the network. And with a 40 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet-ready backplane, the TeraScale E-Series is prepared for the next generation of Ethernet technology, providing CERN with unmatched investment protection. The architecture and backplane, coupled with the high density and resiliency of the Force10 TeraScale E-Series, further ensure the long-term scalability that will enable CERN to rely on its new network beyond 2010.

"To build its new network, which will be responsible for processing the significant quantities of data produced by its accelerators, CERN put out an open RFP in search of equipment that could meet or exceed the rigorous performance metrics they established," said Michael Augustine, regional vice president of sales at Force10 Networks, EMEA. "CERN's selection and deployment of the TeraScale E-Series, after an open search process and intensive testing, is a validation of our leading technology and a vote of confidence that Force10 can anchor one of the most complex, sophisticated networks in the world."

Force10 Networks Inc.