The ZX4500 with OpenArchitect™ is an extensible managed switch for embedded high-availability Ethernet in CarrierClass™ telecommunications systems. The 6U switch provides Layer 2 switching and Layer 3 IP routing at line rate, plus Layer 4-7 packet classification and filtering for telco chassis based on the PICMG 2.0 CompactPCI Packet Switched Backplane (CPSB) standard. The integrated OpenArchitect software environment provides a broad range of “out-of-the-box” protocols to establish extensible routing, control and management policies. The ZX4500 with OpenArchitect is a miniaturized, embedded switching solution that replaces use of external standalone switches and routers

The ZX4500 with OpenArchitect combines the performance of a silicon-based switching fabric with flexibility of software-managed routing policies. The switching fabric component integrates 24 10/100-Mbit Ethernet ports and dual 1-gigabit Ethernet ports. The switching fabric maintains the forwarding table on silicon, providing the capability to switch and route 6.6 million packets per second – full line rate performance on every port.

The OpenArchitect software component – open source Linux, IP protocol stack, control applications and the OA Engine – runs on an embedded Motorola MPC8240 PowerPC microprocessor. OpenArchitect provides extensive managed IP routing protocols and other open standards for switch management. Examples include network services; Virtual Redundant Router Protocol; Routing Information Protocol; Open Shortest Path First; Border Gateway Protocol; IP Multicast, Quality of Service and Class of Service; access control lists; and management via Simple Network Management Protocol MIBs, Common Open Policy Services and web.

OpenArchitect also provides system and IP protocol software for the related ZX4500P switch for PICMG 2.16 CompactPCI chassis, so configuration scripts and applications developed for that switch also work with the ZX4500.

The OpenArchitect software environment enables rapid porting of other UNIX/Linux-based protocols, including open source RFCs. It also enables the development of application-specific protocol scripts. This extensibility and access to the open source networking software provides OEMs and integrators low cost, rapid development environment for creating new value-added services.

The ZX4500 has High Availability hardware features for advanced telco applications. The switch implements the PICMG 2.1 Full Hotswap support. This feature provides field replaceable capabilities where a switch can fail and be replaced without impacting the operational performance of a chassis.