PORTLAND, Ore. -- APCON, Inc., a leading provider of network solutions and intelligent physical layer switches for Fibre Channel, Ethernet and SONET, today announced the IntellaPatch 16 Physical Layer Switch. Joining the APCON IntellaPatch family of layer-1 switches, the new IntellaPatch 16 switch provides an effective, low-cost connectivity solution for interoperability test labs within telecom/datacom, network and storage, and military environments.

The new IntellaPatch 16 is based on modular, single-slot design that allows engineers to use a variety of different protocol and data-rate specific blades. This provides an inexpensive means of enhancing system connectivity for engineers who work with a variety of specifications.

"We have customers who are asking for a single blade switch to provide initial network evaluation and test connectivity," said Richard Rauch, APCON president and CEO. "At the same time they want to maximize their investment. With our modular product family, they can employ the same technology, blades and software from switch to switch, all the way up to our nine-blade 144-port unit."

The IntellaPatch 16 supports APCON's entire technology range, including 1-, 2- and 10-Gb/s Fibre Channel, 10/100/1000/10Gig Ethernet, and SONET OC-3, OC-12 and OC-48, by using either SFP or XFP transceivers. One of the new switches primary applications is to remotely automate connectivity tasks, such as lab setup and system configuration. The layer-1 switch is an optimal solution for system integrators and test engineers who need to manage configurations between various servers, storage systems, peripherals and operating systems. "Wire-once" technology eliminates manual patching and re-patching, and provides non-blocking, any-to-any connections at wire speed.

The modular, single-blade unit joins a family of APCON physical layer switches available in 16 and 32 fixed-port models, and 64-, and 144-port multi-bladed switches. The APCON IntellaPatch 16 Physical Layer Switch is now shipping with prices beginning at $3,995 (USD) for a fully loaded model. SFP or XFP transceivers are required and sold separately.

Apcon Inc.