Foundry Networks Switch and Router, Installation And Configuration Manual, Page: 237 / 1070

December 2000 9 - 1
Chapter 9
Hardware Overview
This chapter provides a hardware overview of Foundry Networks’ Stackable and Chassis devices.
• For information about specific hardware standards and specifications, see “Hardware Specifications” on
page D-1.
• For a detailed summary and description of all the software features of the Foundry switches and routers, see
“Software Overview” on page 8-1.
Foundry Layer 2 Switches provide support for Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching within one platform. Foundry Layer
3 Switches provide both Layer 2 switching and Layer 3 routing in a single device.
Chassis Layer 3 Switches support hardware-based Layer 2/3/4 switching and multiprotocol routing on a single,
Chassis device.
Chassis Systems
Foundry Networks offers three chassis models:
• BigIron
• NetIron Internet Backbone router
• FastIron II and FastIron II Plus
BigIron
Foundry Networks' BigIron Layer 2 and Layer 3 Switches provide second generation, hardware-based
Layer 2/3/4 switching and multi-protocol routing on a single Chassis device.
Enterprises and Internet service providers (ISPs) can use BigIron to build very high-performance, end-to-end
packet networks that provide the Quality of Service (QoS) needed to support delay-sensitive traffic. Designed for
use in collapsed backbone data centers, server farms, and wiring closets, BigIron delivers high-density Gigabit
Ethernet ports and 10/100 Mbps ports and provides performance of up to 100,000,000 packets per second.
The BigIron family includes the following:
• BigIron 4000 (a 4-slot chassis) – see Figure 9.1
• BigIron 8000 (an 8-slot chassis) – see Figure 9.2
• BigIron 15000 (a 15-slot chassis) – see Figure 9.3
Each slot of the Chassis device can be populated by either a forwarding module or a management module.