New Ethernet Switch Brings Devices into the IoT Edge

The IoT is just an idea with very little meaning without a way to connect devices with each other and with the cloud. Those connections live at the Edge of the cloud. On April 21, engagement solutions provider Avaya released a stackable Ethernet switch that supports wired and wireless access to the Internet of Things. The ERS 5900 will be demoed at Interop 2015, April 28 to 30 in Las Vegas.

The new switch is part of the company’s ERS 5900 series line, which is optimized for Avaya Fabric Connect to allow companies to support new and emerging technologies as well as existing ones. This new architecture is designed to deliver automation and programmability from the network core to the user edge, according to the company. It is meant to be a foundation upon which to build IoT networks and solutions and configure the escalating number of intelligent devices and users at the edge that need to be connected.

“The clock is ticking for businesses that want a competitive edge through greater network agility. That could mean massive complexity unless a

company or organization has implemented a powerful, simplified SDN foundation,” said Alan Hase, VP, Unified Access, Avaya Networking. “The ERS 5900 takes a major step towards delivering the simplicity and transitional ability needed as Unified Access for the Internet of Things moves into full force.”

Enterprises can use the ERS 5900 to migrate to unified wired and wireless networks and keeps users safe by supporting MACsec for enhanced security, has 60 W of Power over Ethernet Plus for 802.11 ac deployments and smart lighting, medical systems and high-end video surveillance.

“Some of the most compelling use cases for SDN will likely be at the edge of the network,” said Avaya customer Zeus Kerravala, principal, ZK Research. “With Avaya’s introduction of the ERS 5900, they continue their momentum started with SDN Fx of driving practical use cases where the user lives.”