Juniper execs share network vision

Of course, in order to achieve that, if the total number of ports or lines after the access layer is still huge, you need a bigger structure. But the reason we can always accomplish this in two tiers is, at the access layer we offer software technology we call virtual chassis. This is a way to take multiple access switches -- up to 10 -- and aggregate the collection as if they were one logical switch. That simplifies the management but, more importantly, once they aggregate this way you reduce the number of uplinks.

So, it reduces the number of uplinks and reduces the pressure to have a more complicated higher level structure. Then you bring in the high port count modular switch -- which can serve the combined role of core and aggregation.How big a company can this architecture support

Yen: That type of structure can cover up to 4,000 or 5,000 servers, pretty much all major businesses.

Perdikou: If you think about the ones that it doesn't fit -- like the online business, what we think of as content service providers -- the two-tier approach with very few exceptions can go from the smallest to the largest.

OK, that's two tier. With the Stratus effort you briefly outlined last year you're talking about moving to a single layer, right Give us the thumbnail.