RAD’s Resilient Fast Ethernet Ring (RFER) technology introduces self-healing capabilities to provide protection on 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet fiber or copper rings.

This unique technology is implemented in the new ML-IP module for Megaplex multiplexers. In case of link failure on any segment of the ring, RFER reroutes the traffic within 50 milliseconds. This enables enterprises, campuses, power companies, transportation companies and utilities to create a highly reliable network using dark fiber or dry copper in a ring topology. Survivability is further enhanced by RFER’s modular, scalable support for multiple rings, which eliminates the risk of a single point of failure. This is ideal for dispersed applications such as commuter railroads. RFER supports the equivalent of 40 E1 or 50 T1 line capacity in a ring or daisy-chain topology.

Resilient Fast Ethernet Ring uses VLANs to overcome the storming problems that result when attempting to broadcast over Ethernet rings or when a packet is assigned an incorrect address.