ERS 8600 System
Ethernet Routing Switch 8610
Height:	22.9 in. (58.2 cm)
Width:	17.5 in. (44.5 cm)
Depth:	19.9 in. (50.5 cm)
Weight (empty): (fully loaded):	85 lb (39 kg) 225 lb (102 kg)
Rack mountable:	19-inch standard rack
Ethernet Routing Switch 8606
Height:	15.8 in. (40.1 cm)
Width:	17.5 in. (44.5 cm)
Depth:	19.9 in. (50.5 cm)
Weight(empty): (fully loaded):	49 lb (22 kg) 140 lb (63 kg)
Rack mountable:	19-inch standard rack
Certifications
	IPv6 * JITC'

The Avaya Ethernet Routing Switch 8600 or ERS 8600, previously known as the Passport 8600 or the Accelar 8000, is a modular chassis combination hardware router and switch used in computer networking, designed and manufactured by Avaya

Avaya

Avaya Inc. is a privately held computer networking, information technology and telecommunications company that is a global provider of business communications systems. The international head quarters is in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States...

. The system provided the 10G Ethernet equipment backbone for the 2010 Winter Olympics

2010 Winter Olympics

The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...

 games, providing service for 15,000 VoIP Phones, 40,000 Ethernet connections and supporting 1.8 million live spectators. The system is configurable as a 1.440 Terabit

Terabit

The terabit is a multiple of the unit bit for digital information or computer storage. The prefix tera is defined in the International System of Units as a multiplier of 1012 , and therefore...

 Switch cluster using SMLT and R-SMLT

R-SMLT

Routed-SMLT is a computer networking protocol designed by Nortel as an enhancement to SMLT enabling the exchange of Layer 3 information between peer nodes in a Switch Cluster for unparalleled resiliency and simplicity for both L3 and L2.In many cases, core network convergence-times after a...

 protocols, to provide high reliability cluster failover (normally less than 100 millisecond).

There are three chassis options; a 3-slot chassis most commonly used for access or distribution / aggregation of switches which has a MTBF of 2,043,676hr., a 6-slot chassis for backbones of low density or high space premium environments with a MTBF of 1,341,171hr., and a 10-slot chassis for high availability and high scalability with a MTBF of 1,341,171hr. The chassis can be configured with one or two CPU modules (either the 8691SF or the newer 8692SF modules) and is normally configured with two or three load balancing power supplies.

At the end of 2010, software version 7.1 integrated the Virtual Enterprise Network Architecture (VENA) into the system, thus expanding the capabilities of this product to include network virtualization

Network virtualization

In computing, Network Virtualization is the process of combining hardware and software network resources and network functionality into a single, software-based administrative entity, a virtual network...

, cloud computing

Cloud computing

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network ....

 and IEEE Shortest Path Bridging (IEEE 802.1aq

IEEE 802.1aq

802.1aq Shortest Path Bridging or SPB in computer networking is a technology that greatly simplifies the creation and configuration of carrier, enterprise, and cloud networks which virtually eliminates human error, while enabling multipath routing...

).
The system provides connectivity for up to 48 ports, using 10 Gigabit Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, 100/10 Megabit Ethernet, or Packet over SONET/SDH

Packet over SONET/SDH

Packet over SONET/SDH, abbreviated POS, is a communications protocol for transmitting packets in the form of the Point to Point Protocol over SDH or SONET, which are both standard protocols for communicating digital information using lasers or light emitting diodes over optical fibre at high...

Origins

The system was originally designed by a company called Rapid City Communications back in 1996. The original system was called an Accelar 1000 series. The main advantage of this product over others was the ASICs on the modules allows the switching and routing of packets to take place on the ASIC chips within each module instead of forwarding them to a central processing unit (CPU).

Bay Networks

In June 1997 Bay Networks agreed to acquire Rapid City Communications for $155 million in stock. After Bay Networks was acquired, Nortel Networks renamed the Accelar to the Passport.