By Paula Bernier

A new series of line cards for Riverstone Networks 15008 now enables the Ethernet edge router to support VPLS, and aggregate DSL and FTTC access traffic, in addition to handling Ethernet router aggregation, which was the initial application for the product.

With the introduction of the new A-series line cards were covering it from aggregation, to access, to the core, said Inbar Lasser-Raab, Riverstones vice president of marketing.

After Riverstone announced a low-cost, smaller version of the 15008 a few months ago, service providers requested a more modular solution, said Lasser-Raab, so the company came up with the new A-series line cards to give carriers something in the middle that is just VPLS if they want, but with more price flexibility.

The new A-series cards can be used along with the E-series Ethernet cards for the 15008, she said, noting the A-series cards will be priced at about half the cost of the E-series cards and will be available next month.

Riverstone Networks www.riverstonenet.com