NETPLANE OPENS THE MARKET FOR CARRIER-CLASS IP ROUTING SOFTWARE
NetPlane Systems introduced the first portable IP routing software suite designed specifically for carrier-class networking equipment, including next generation IP service platforms and intelligent optical equipment.  NetPlane’s OPTIRoute source code leverages a carrier-class Forwarding Information Base (FIB) to distribute IP routing functionality for platform scalability.  The design supports MPLS traffic engineering through the ability to provide constrained route lookups for MPLS signaling protocols during LSP establishment.  NetPlane’s initial OPTIRoute release provides Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) and will be followed by release of Border Gateway Protocol (BGP4), Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS) protocol and RIPv2 later in 2001.  The company’s portable source code now encompasses MPLS, IP Routing, ATM and Frame Relay.  NetPlane Systems (formerly Harris & Jeffries) is a subsidiary of Conexant Systems.  http://www.netplane.com
NetPlane Systems, January 29, 2000

• In September, Conexant Systems announced its intention to separate in two companies:  one to focus on semiconductor and software solutions for Internet infrastructure equipment, and another to deliver semiconductors for mobile communications and the broadband digital home.
  
• Conexant Systems has selected Mindspeed Technologies as the name for the new independent Internet infrastructure company.  Its portfolio of semiconductor and software solutions range from physical-layer access devices at the edge of the Internet up through switch fabric and network processor products for the high-speed optical core. Mindspeed plans to use the tag line "Build It First" for its market positioning.

SPIRENT DELIVERS OSPF ROUTING EMULATION ON THE ADTECH AX/4000 PLATFORM
Spirent Communications introduced an Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) Routing Emulation capability for its Adtech AX/4000 Broadband Test System.  OSPF is being implemented in most networks today.  The new capability provides interoperability and functionality testing between different router vendors by allowing the users to build realistic emulated networks using various OSPF Link State Advertisements (LSAs).  Adtech’s OSPF routing emulation option also allows users to create and withdraw specified routes while performing real-time IP quality of service (QoS) traffic generation and analysis for real world control and data plane stress testing.   The OSPF emulation can be performed over a variety of platforms; SONET OC-3c through SONET OC-192c, including Packet over SONET (POS), IP/ATM, IP/Frame Relay, Gigabit Ethernet, and 10/100 Ethernet.  Adtech AX/4000 already offered tests for the BGP-4 routing protocol.  http://www.spirentcom.com/
Spirent Communications, January 29, 2001

SPIRENT INTRODUCES SMARTBITS 10 GIGABIT ETHERNET PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS SYSTEM
Spirent Communications introduced a performance analysis system that generates and analyzes traffic based on the 10GBASE-ER (1550nm) option of the current draft of 10GbE.  In conjunction with other SmartBits hardware and software products, the SmartBits LAN 3710A enables large scale testing of new 10GbE devices that route or switch between 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet, OC3-OC192 POS, ATM and WAN (up to DS-3 speeds) in a single system.  The system could be used by network equipment manufacturers, service providers and enterprises to understand the performance of 10GbE in local, metropolitan and wide area networks.  Availability is expected in Q1.  http://www.spirentcom.com/
Spirent Communications, January 29, 2001

US BROADBAND PCS SPECTRUM AUCTION RAISES NEARLY $17 BILLION
The FCC raised nearly $17 billion for the US Treasury in its auction of C and F Block broadband Personal Communications Service (PCS) spectrum.  The auction ended on Friday, after 101 rounds of bidding since December 12.  A total of 422 licenses covering 195 markets across the country were offered, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Washington, D.C.   http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/auctions/
FCC, January 26, 2001

SENECA NETWORKS RAISES $30 MILLION FOR INTELLIGENT METRO OPTICAL CORE PLATFORM
Seneca Networks, a start-up based in Rockville, Maryland, secured over $30 million for its development of next generation optical networking equipment.  Seneca’s platform will be targeted at intelligent metro optical core networks that transport and deliver broadband services. The company had previously raised $6.25 million in a first round of venture financing.  Investors include New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Sprout Group, Boulder Ventures, Kinetic Ventures, Vertex Technology Fund, New Venture Partners, and Optical Capital Group, LLC (OCG).  http://www.senecanetworks.com
Seneca Networks, January 29, 2001

• Seneca Networks is headed by Mr. Wenli Yu, the former founder and CEO of Data Labs, an ATM access start up company that was acquired by Yurie Systems (now Lucent Technologies).

STOREAGE NETWORKING SECURES $25 MILLION FOR ITS SAN APPLIANCE
StoreAge Networking Technologies, a start-up based in Haifa, Israel, secured $25 million in second round funding for its development of scalable storage area networking solutions.  The company’s SVM Appliance implements an asymmetric storage virtualization architecture that allows the pooling of storage resources from different vendors.  The product enables serverless back-up and remote mirroring while maintaining full SAN fabric performance.  Investors include Cisco Systems, Genesis Partners, Intelligent Information Systems, Koonras Technologies, Morgan Keegan & Company, Ophirtech and others.  http://www.store-age.com/press_19.html
StoreAge Networking Technologies, January 25, 2001

VPACKET RAISES $23 MILLION FOR CONVERGED VOICE/DATA BROADBAND PLATFORM
Vpacket Communications, a start-up based in Milpitas, California, raised $23 million in new funding for its IP converged voice/data broadband platform.  Vpacket recently introduced a voice/data router (VDR) for enabling voice and data services over a single broadband connection to mid-size businesses, branch offices, multi-tenant units and campus environments.  Investors include NIF Ventures/Daiwa Securities Group, New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and other venture capital firms such as Nexus Group.  Vpacket plans to increase this series’ funding round to $50 million.  http://www.vpacket.com
Vpacket, January 29, 2001

• Vpacket’s 6100 voice/data router uses a high performance digital signal processor (DSP) for measuring, testing and supporting precise end-to-end VoIP quality and IP Centrex features via third party softswitches and media gateways.  The product provides routing of voice and data traffic using class-based queuing over an array of interfaces, including SDSL, T1, FXS, T1/CAS and 10/100 Ethernet.  The initial product offers 12 or 24 voice ports, as well as CODEC support for low and high-bandwidth applications.  It is designed to support packet voice standards such as H.323v2, MGCP and SIP.  It also provides a backup POTS port that can provide dial-out access to emergency telephone services in the event of local power loss.
  
• Vpacket is headed by Abraham Wei, who previously served as Ascend Communications’ Vice President of Worldwide Sales Operations, and Vice President of Manufacturing Operations.

TYCO DEVELOPS OPTICAL FIBER CABLING ASSEMBLIES FOR DATA CENTERS AND SANS
Tyco Electronics introduced new optical fiber cabling assemblies that significantly streamline the process of connecting, deploying and adding capital equipment in data centers and storage area networks (SANs).  The new AMP NETCONNECT cable assemblies consist of optical fiber trunk cables pre-terminated in high-density, twelve-fiber MPO connectors that plug directly into preconfigured cassettes. Each cassette separates the 12 fibers of the inner MPO connector into twelve industry-standard SC or ST connectors.  These cassettes snap into enclosures and are ready to accept industry standard patch cord connections.  Tyco said its “tool free approach” would be simpler than the existing installation techniques requiring professional cable installers, labor-intensive field termination, and specialized tool kits.  http://www.ampnetconnect.com
Tyco, January 26, 2001