The Enterasys B5 is a scalable, high-performance Gigabit Ethernet switch that provides support for the bandwidth-intensive and latency-sensitive requirements of today's demanding business applications. The B5 is an excellent choice for environments that require complete multi-layer switching capabilities and support for high density 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports, cost effective10GE uplinks, and basic routing and policy-based automation capabilities for advanced edge deployments.The B5 incorporates the 802.3at high-power PoE on all ports, translating into increased power provisioning for power-hungry devices such as Pan/Tilt/Zoom (PTZ) IP surveillance cameras, IP videophones, third party 802.11n access points and virtual desktops. Built-in high-power PoE support is a cost effective alternative for customers in place of purchasing separate PoE midspans, which can take away valuable rack space, add cost and contribute more cabling to the wiring closet.The B5 provides high port density in a 1U footprint and is environmentally friendly by design. The B5's overall energy efficiency is further enhanced by a low current draw and an extreme tolerance for high environmental temperatures. A highly-scalable architecture ensures that a B5 network investment will sustain a secure, feature-rich and cost-effective network well into the future.The B5's highly customizable Layer 2/3/4 packet classification capabilities work together with the 8 hardware-based priority queues associated with each Ethernet port to support a suite of differentiated services with as many as 8 distinct priority levels to provide guaranteed Quality of Service (QoS) for critical voice and video network traffic. In conjunction with its non-blocking L2 switching and L3 routing architecture, the B5's intelligent queuing mechanisms ensure that mission-critical applications receive prioritized access to network resources.