Ethernet switch market on upswing for the next year Dell is expanding its Fast Ethernet switch line with a series of high-performance PowerConnect switches that feature security capabilities and enterprise-class management components.The Dell PowerConnect 3400 series consists of the 24-port PowerConnect 3424 and 3424P and the 48-port PowerConnect 3448 and 3448P.“The PowerConnect 3400 series is a highly versatile family of switches that can deliver Fast Ethernet with security, flexibility, and value,” said Larry Hart, senior PowerConnect manager at Dell. The stackable PowerConnect 3400 series is designed for building a wiring closet and enabling small-office desktop connectivity, or for connecting to a Gigabit Ethernet backbone, according to Dell.The Dell’Oro Group estimates that total revenue in 2005 from Ethernet equipment will reach $14.6 billion, a 7 percent increase compared with last year. This also will be the biggest year for Ethernet since the height of the technology bubble in 2000, when the market reached $14.1 billion.A new cycle of network upgrades, replacing equipment that was installed more than five years ago, will drive the market growth, according to Dell’Oro. The PowerConnect 3400 security features include IEEE 802.1x-based edge authentication. Unauthorized access can be prevented by requiring all users to identify themselves to the network with a log-in/password or other authentication device.The new switches also support SNMP Version 3, which encrypts network management traffic as it flows between the switch and the host. Technology Industry