Cisco-rival Juniper Networks has today launched its first ever enterprise-class Ethernet switches, the EX series.

Juniper is launching three switch ranges in the range, code-named Hurricane, the EX 3200 series, its fixed configuration platform, the EX 4200 series, a Power over Ethernet (PoE)-based range, and the EX 8200 terabit chassis-based system. All will run under Juniper's single-source network operating system, Junos.

The EX 3200 series is a standalone system, available in 24 or 48 gigabit port versions and aimed at low-density regional and corporate office deployments. The systems come with optional four port gigabit small form factor pluggable (SFP) and two port 10 GbE uplink small form factor pluggable (XFP) modules.

The EX 4200 series is a stackable system which can be deployed in datacentres or corporate and regional office environments. The EX 4200 series comes in 24 or 48 gigabit port versions, and offer 802.3af-based Power over Ethernet (PoE).

There is also a 24 port gigabit fibre only model, the EX 4200. This uses what Juniper calls, 'Virtual Chassis' technology to enable the interconnection of up to 10 EX 4200's over a 128Gbit/s backplane.

The modular EX 8200 terabit chassis-based systems are aimed at enterprise high-density 10GbE enterprise core and aggregation deployments. There are two models: an eight-slot 1.6 terabit chassis and a 16-slot 3.2 terabit chassis. Juniper said that these switches, would, "Offer some of the industry's highest wire-speed 10GbE port densities for its switch class - 64 ports in the eight-slot chassis and 128 ports in the 16-slot chassis."

The EX 3200 and EX 4200 series switches should be available in March according to Juniper, with list pricing for the EX 3200 series and EX 4200 series starting at $4,000 and $6,000 respectively. The EX 8200 series is expected later this year.