The 7000 series also comes with several features for high availability, including redundant and hot-swappable fans and power supplies. The PowerConnect 7048R can be reconfigured to reverse the airflow through the switch depending on the data-center layout being used.

Each switch comes with four 10-Gigabit Ethernet ports that can be used as uplinks or as interconnects among the switches. As many as 12 of the switches can be linked together and assigned a single IP address so they can be managed as a single switch with as many as 576 Gigabit Ethernet ports using the 48-port switches, Hart said. The line also includes options for fiber Ethernet interfaces.

The 7000 series is available immediately worldwide, with starting prices ranging from about US$3,300 to $6,500. The 6000 series remains on the market for customers who don't need the features of the 7000 line. The older switches have starting prices between $1,750 and $3,600.

The IDG News Service