Allied Telesis Unveils New Gear

CHIASSO, Switzerland -- Allied Telesis, a global provider of secure Ethernet/IP access solutions and an industry leader in the deployment of IP Triple Play networks over copper and fibre access infrastructures, today announced a new family of multi-channel, modular media converters, the AT-MCF2000 series. It stands out from other media chassis in that it can integrate 2 multi-channel blades (Fast or Gigabit Ethernet), providing conversion of up to 24 channels in a single 1RU platform. As well as optimising valuable rack space, this gives customers a scalable architecture that enables them to start with one blade and 12 channels and then upgrade to 24 channels with a second blade as their network grows. Designed for maximum reliability and hassle-free maintenance, all of the MCF2000's accessory modules - power supply, management and fan - are hot swappable and replaceable without interrupting data traffic or having to power down the chassis.

Management or no management: giving customers the choice
Another of the MCF2000's differentiators is that if customers do not require a management module they are not obliged to buy and install it. As a result, the MCF2000 has the lowest overall system costs of any comparable media converter on the market. Each port can still be configured independently using the "Jog" button on the front of the device. For customers who do opt for management, the module is hot-swappable, minimising downtime and enabling service providers to carry out routine maintenance without disrupting traffic and inconveniencing their customers. Management features also include an SNMP interface that users can choose to enable or disable. With the interface enabled, sessions are protected from unauthorised remote access with secure SNMP v3, making it ideal for military and other security-sensitive environments.

Intelligent field maintenance
If a management module fails, the media blades continue to function without interruption in their last known operating mode. Maintenance staff can insert a new module and automatically copy the failed modules current configuration onto it without the need for configuration files. It therefore operates exactly as the failed module did, while ensuring smooth, interruption-free traffic. Alternatively, a preconfigured management card can be inserted and the configuration copied from the card to the blades, a faster option for larger network deployments. Conversely, if a blade fails and a new one is inserted, it is configured automatically by the management module with no need for any user intervention.

Redundant AC or DC power
The AT-MCF2000 supports up to two hot swappable power supply units, ensuring redundancy in the event of a power failure. Repairs to the units can be carried out without interrupting data traffic. In addition, customers can choose between AC and DC power. The modules are integrated inside the chassis, so that they do not increase its size - it remains just one RU high.

Industry-Standard Command Line Interface
The AT-MCF2000's management module uses an industry-standard command line interface, making it easy for engineers to configure and maintain with little or no additional training.

Allied Telesis Inc.