Ciena Will Maintain Leadership Position with Next-Generation CoreDirector

1. Ciena’s latest version of its CoreDirector is a totally different box than the original with a matrix that is completely redefined. 2.   The last iteration has 40G and 100G capabilities. 3.  The original product cannot be upgraded to those speeds.

Other new capabilities include more packet functionality and a greater direct connection with the CN 4200.   Bringing back some important experts on the CoreDirector product has paid off.  

 

In looking at the implementation of higher speeds on its switch, Ciena wants to make sure that the economics work correctly.   Today’s CoreDirector is a 640 GB switching platform and the supplier believes that putting 100G interfaces on it probably does not make a lot of sense.   Ciena’s initial work on the transport side is to put more of the 40G/100G on the line side of the networks to gain more spectral efficiency, while providing 10G client interfaces because they are the least expensive and the most commercially available now.  

 

One principal strength for Ciena is that customers are actually using its GMPLS control plane in the CoreDirector box and are integrating it as part of the back-office.   Such a commitment beyond the hardware results in a strong locked position for the vendor.  

 

For more information on this topic, please see the latest issue in our Optical Switching/Transport Network Strategies Monthly, “Broadband Cross-connects: A Competitive Analysis.”  The report can be purchased directly from GLG.  

Samuel Greenholtz consults with leading institutions through GLG