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Router Wars

Posted by Hemos on from the the-battle-begineth dept.

Chris Holland writes "On the heels of Juniper Networks' recent release of its TX Matrix Platform, Om Malik is giving an interesting overview of current and upcoming battles between protagonists of the Router Game, armed with their Terabit toys."

4 of 142 comments (clear)

  1. Routers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Did anyone else think Linksys Routers, hehehehehe *passes out on the couch*

  2. Say what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm pretty sure that summary says something meaningful, but heck if I can figure out what it is.

    1. Re:Say what? by BabyDave · · Score: 5, Funny

      No-one can tell you what TX Matrix is - you have to RTFA for yourself :)

  3. overly simplistic overview by jsailor · · Score: 5, Informative

    if that's not redundant.

    This is a large battle, but not one that is won or lost over a few months and not one that is won by comparing simplistic metrics that the press like to use. Software, management, and operations support have always been key in the routing market. Many faster or bigger router companies with unique technologies have gone nowhere. The list is long and depressing. In any case, Cisco has made a dangerous jump ahead by introducing a new operating system that is loosely based on QNX and enables multi-chassis systems. It also enables in-service software upgrades and host of other operations friendly features. Juniper was perceived as having an edge in software, but Cisco will have leapfrogged them if their software delivers (and that's a big if in many people's minds).

    Juniper's TX is somewhat handicapped in it's first release (I believe only 2 systems can be linked) and doesn't have a paying customer. Cisco's CRS-1 is limited in interface types in it's first release and has adubious first set of customers. There are many more issues including: weight, power consumption, scalability, support for specific features, handling lawful intercept across a system that large, integration with management systems, etc., etc, etc.

    In short, the market is hesitant to purchase either system due to tight CapEx budgets and other pressures. Given the relatively diminutive size of the core router market when compared to edge routing and LAN switching, this a more a battle for prestige than for anything else.

    For more info and industry commentary, see:
    http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc _id=63 958&site=lightreading
    http://www.lightreading.com /document.asp?doc_id=63 916&site=lightreading
    http://www.lightreading.com /document.asp?site=test ing&doc_id=63606