Foundry vs NexusFoundry vs Nexus

9:30 AM -- You'll surely recall this table, from January, showing Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) ostensibly taking the lead in 10-Gbit/s Ethernet density with the Nexus 7000. (Or, just read the story: Cisco's Nexus Targets Data Center's Future.)

Today, Foundry Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: FDRY) is bringing out a new, 16-port 10-Gbit/s Ethernet module for its BigIron RX that will bring it to density parity with Cisco. Each company will have a chassis capable of holding 512 10-Gbit/s Ethernet ports.

Of course, all this is just on paper. Foundry's module won't ship until August, and the 18-slot Nexus that would provide those 512 ports is expected to arrive by July. And the folks at Woven Systems Inc. will still talk your ear off about their ability to mesh systems together.

— Craig Matsumoto, West Coast Editor, Light Reading