Some private responses I have already received have indicated a poorly scoped question.... I am interested in a gbE *platform*. The key element is the backplane itself. The interfaces for now, and the near future would still be Fast Ether to the routers. The problem I am attempting to solve is the one that currently manifests itself in the DEC GigaSwitch - HOL blocking. The solution lies in a multilayer array of gbE switches - but I am interested in what is available and real *today*, not next summer - hence my question. The Matrix of switches would communicate with each other via gbE , but most of the gbE switches I know of also have FEC and ATM interfaces, which is how they would communicate with the 75XXs etc. Input still very welcome... Rodney Joffe Chief Technology Officer Genuity Inc., a Bechtel company http://www.genuity.net