Cisco has just introduced the Nexus 3548 10-gigabit Ethernet switch  , using its new Algorithm Boost technology, which it calls Algo Boost, for short. The networking giant says this innovative technology helps the Nexus 3548 deliver up to 60 percent improvement in network -access performance compared to other 10-gigabit Ethernet switches.
Some are comparing it with switches from nimble new competitor Arista Networks, as well as the more well-established Juniper Networks. Arista launched in 2008 and, perhaps not coincidentally, is also in the process of announcing a new series of network switches today, the 7150 Series, using its "software defined networking" approach.
Ultra Fast
For its part, the Nexus 3548 is designed for high-performance computing environments, like high-performance financial trading and data centers that handle heavy-duty "Big Data."
Cisco says the 3548 boasts network-access performance as low as 190 nanoseconds. That's an important advance for high-performance trading markets, where getting and acting on real-time equities, options and other financial market information nanoseconds faster than competitors may be worth millions of dollars.
"Our members expect to connect using high performing and reliable infrastructure for real-time trading and market data," said Nigel Harold, head of business development technology at the London Stock Exchange. "The new Algo Boost ASIC technology that will be available in the Cisco Nexus 3548 switch offers ultra-low latency and unique features that can increase our visibility across the network and further boost reliability for our customers."
Under the Hood
Globally interconnected financial markets have elevated the demands on trading networks, making visibility and control equally critical to performance. Proactive management of market volatility, granular real-time monitoring, and precision timing accuracy of trade events give trading participants greater control and visibility at peak opportunity times across the globe. Cisco says its Nexus 3548 with Algo Boost was designed specifically to provide those capabilities.
A Precision Time Protocol, for example, helps trading firms keep their entire infrastructure synchronized, while Active Buffer Monitoring proactively monitors and alerts users to congestion points that could be occurring and may affect application performance.
Meanwhile, Intelligent Traffic Mirroring consists of filtering and nanosecond time-stamping of captured traffic, which can help traders gain greater visibility into why gapping, slippage and slow order situations occur, correlating these trends with analytics tools to help enable smarter trading decisions. (continued...)
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