Force10 Networks' Top-of-Rack Solutions Selected by Avid, a Leading Digital Media Editing Solution Provider

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --  Force10 Networks, Inc., a global technology leader, today announced that Avid®, a recognized leader in digital audio and video editing solutions, has selected top-of-rack (ToR) access switches from Force10 Networks to integrate with its Avid ISIS® 5000 shared storage system and provide customized end-to-end media editing solutions for small to mid-size production facilities. The ultra-low latency, port density and dynamic buffering capabilities of selected S-Series™ ToR access switches will enable Avid to provide a variety of cost-effective, flexible and real-time shared media storage solutions.

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To provide customized solutions for a variety of environments, Avid is integrating the S25N, S25P, S60 and S4810 1/10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) ToR access switches into the ISIS 5000 offerings. For smaller editing environments with fewer ports, Avid is integrating the Force10 S25N while the S25P ToR switch is being used for similar-sized environments operating fiber-based networks.  For its mid-range customers, Avid will incorporate either the S60 (for 1 GbE backbones) or the newly offered S4810 for 10 GbE environments. The compact S4810 design provides 48 dual-speed 1/10 GbE (SFP+) ports.

"Post- and broadcast-facility production environments require high performance, the ability to collaborate and maintain flexibility depending on project growth as well as overall growth of the business," says Jim Frantzreb, senior market segment manager Media Enterprise, Avid Technology. "Integrating the S-Series ToR access switches, with their ability to deliver low latency and unique buffering profiles, enables us to provide our customers with enterprise-level functionality at a lower cost."

Low Latency and Dynamic Buffering Functionality Help Accentuate the Performance Characteristics of the ISIS 5000

Avid selected Force10 Networks as part of its own solution offering based on their ability to provide preconfigured S-Series ToR access switches that smoothly integrated with the mid-range ISIS 5000 platform that provides real-time shared media access to help users increase productivity while simultaneously improving the quality of content. The S-Series' ultra-low latency ensures line-rate L2 and L3 performance, which is especially critical for projects requiring collaboration. To achieve optimal throughput even in a congested network, Avid is able to leverage the dynamic buffering capability of the S-Series to allocate appropriate levels of bandwidth to different classes of traffic and to protect delay-sensitive applications from excessive queuing delays.

"The network requirements needed for media editing share similar characteristics as some other industry verticals, such as enterprise data centers, Internet exchanges and high-performance computing where Force10 has enjoyed considerable global success," says Arpit Joshipura, chief marketing officer, Force10 Networks. "Avid recognized the value of how Force10 ToR solutions provide ultra-low latency and enterprise-class features that are easily configurable and can be offered cost effectively for their small to mid-size customers who still rely heavily on the performance of the network."

About Avid Technology

Avid creates the digital audio and video technology used to make the most listened to, most watched and most loved media in the world – from the most prestigious and award-winning feature films, music recordings, television shows, live concert tours and news broadcasts, to music and movies made at home. Some of Avid's most influential and pioneering solutions include Media Composer®, Pro Tools®, Interplay®, ISIS, VENUE, Oxygen 8, Sibelius®, System 5, and Pinnacle Studio™. For more information about Avid solutions and services, visit www.avid.com, del.icio.us, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube; connect with Avid on Facebook; or subscribe to Avid Industry Buzz.

Avid, ISIS, Media Composer, Pro Tools, Interplay, Sibelius and Pinnacle Studio are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries.

About Force10 Networks

Force10 Networks is a global technology leader that data center, service provider and enterprise customers rely on when the network is their business. The company's high performance solutions are designed to deliver new economics by virtualizing and automating Ethernet networks. Force10's high density and resilient Ethernet switching and routing products increase network availability, agility and efficiency while reducing power and cooling costs. Force10 provides 24x7 service and support capabilities to its global customer base in more than 60 countries worldwide. For more information on Force10 Networks, please visit www.force10networks.com.

Force10 Networks, the Force10 Networks logo, Force10, E-Series, Traverse, and TraverseEdge are registered trademarks and ExaScale, S-Series, TeraScale, FTOS, S4810, Open Automation, JumpStart, SwitchLink, SmartScripts, and HyperLink, are trademarks of Force10 Networks, Inc. All other company names are trademarks of their respective holders.

SOURCE Force10 Networks, Inc.