Gigabit routing gains power. (Foundry Networks' BigIron 8000, XLNT Designs' Millenium 4000, and ODS Networks' LAN Blazer 7000 Gigabit Ethernet switches)(Product Announcement)

Gigabit Ethernet routing switches will continue to gain power and capabilities at ComNet this week in Washington.

Foundry Networks will up the ante for performance and port density with its first chassis-based product. The BigIron 8000 will accommodate 64 pre-standard Gigabit Ethernet ports in its eight slots and route or switch up to 100 million packets per second, according to Foundry officials. A four-slot version, the BigIron 4000, will offer half the capacity of the 8000.

Foundry's current lineup, now shipping, includes stackable Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet switches, as well as a gigabit-speed stackable router.

In addition to …