POLARIS
NETWORKS OUTLINES OPTICAL TRANSPORT-SWITCH FOR METRO
CORE
Polaris Networks,
a start-up based in San Jose, California, outlined its
optical transport-switch architecture designed to bridge
metro and long-haul backbones while migrating today's
networks (OEO) to tomorrow's all-optical (OOO) networks.
Polaris aims to consolidate switching (TDM, cell,
and packet) and transport (SONET, Gig-E and DWDM) onto a
single, GMPLS-based intelligent network platform.
The architecture will use a programmable hybrid
switch fabric that would enable carriers to dynamically
adjust their protocol mix to carry multiple types of
traffic on a single physical line.
The Polaris design would scale up to
multi-terabit capacities while providing highly granular
bandwidth grooming from STS-N down to the VT 1.5 level.
Polaris is also working on multi-layer
restoration technologies that would ensure fault
tolerance not only at the line level, but also at the
individual logical connections level.
The product is currently in lab testing and
customer trials are expected to begin in Q4.
http://www.polarisnetworks.com/
Polaris Networks, June 25, 2001
CASPIAN
SIGNS PARTNERS FOR COMPONENTS, SOFTWARE AND
MANUFACTURING
Caspian Networks, a start-up based in San Jose,
California, announced strategic partnerships for
components, software and manufacturing of its
forthcoming IP “superswitch.”
IBM's Microelectronics division is providing
fabrication of the Caspian-designed ASICs at the heart
of the switch. Production
has been underway for some time.
Celestica will assemble the switch from
components and subsystems.
AMCC will provide Caspian with SONET/SDH and
Gigabit Ethernet silicon under a multi-year strategic
development and early access supply relationship.
Finally, IONA ORBacus/E, a high-speed embedded
CORBA 2.3 ORB, will be used for all traffic routing on
Caspian’s superswitch.
With ORBacus/E, Caspian can model its switch as a
set of abstract software objects.
http://www.caspiannetworks.com
Caspian Networks, June 22, 2001
- Caspian’s
forthcoming Apeiro
IP superswitch will be a core platform for the heart
of service provider networks.
Key features are expected to include a
distributed switch fabric that scales
“infinitely” from 155 Tbps in its initial
19" rack configuration.
The product is being designed to accommodate
scaling of dynamic routing protocols (MPLS, IS-IS
and BGP) and will use additional distributed
application processors to provide software
processing power as switching capabilities are
increased. Apeiro
will incorporate dynamic routing redundancy and will
have an Element Management System (EMS) that is
fully distributed and integrated into the system
itself. It
will also feature a carrier-controllable delay
variation capability that allows carriers to apply
predictable delay variation guarantees on whole
flows of real-time traffic across the IP backbone.
The ability to strictly control
delay variation on traffic could be used for tiered
services.
- In December, Caspian
Networks raised $85 million in third round funding,
bringing total investment to date to over $140
million.
- Caspian
Networks was founded by Dr.
Lawrence Roberts, who is credited with the design,
initiation, planning and development of the ARPANET,
the world's first major packet network.
DORADO
SOFTWARE ENABLES DYNAMIC SERVICE PROVISIONING BASED ON
REAL-TIME DATA
Dorado
Software, a source code developer focused on advanced
networking platforms and services, introduced a new
version of its Redcell Network Infrastructure Software
that is capable of dynamically provisioning
services and shaping network resources based on
real-time user requirements, activity, network state and
service levels. The
software leverages a policy-based centralized service
personalization platform that incorporates real-time
directory information on user ID, access, applications,
and business practices. Dorado’s Redcell 2.0 software
also adds automated device configuration and management
capabilities, along with support of multi-vendor,
multi-network service and network discovery,
auto-topology, fault management and correlation
features. The
software runs in Oracle, Windows and Solaris
environments. http://www.doradosoftware.com
Dorado Software, June 25, 2001
- Dorado
Software's flagship product is its Oware, a Java/EJB
based development environment for next generation
carrier services.
Dorado offers a range of "Redcell"
applications based on its Oware environment,
including software for subscriber centric network
resource and service management; directory-enabled
global policy management; configuration,
provisioning and activation of infrastructure
resources and services; and a life cycle service and
resource deployment and management system for DSL
broadband access networks.
The software solutions could be used to
provide advanced IP layer services through network
elements at the edge, aggregation point or core of
next generation networks.
- In March, Dorado
Software closed $24 million in financing.
The funding was led by Insight Capital
Partners. Dorado
is based in Folsom, California.
WAVESMITH
RAISES $31 MILLION FOR ITS MULTISERVICE SWITCHES
WaveSmith Networks, a start-up based in Acton,
Massachusetts, secured $31 million in second round
financing for its DN multiservice switching product
family, which provides carriers with a migration path
from today’s services to IP/MPLS.
General availability of the WaveSmith platform is
scheduled for Q4. Fidelity
Ventures was the lead investor.
WaveSmith’s A-round investors, Bessemer Venture
Partners, Atlas Venture, and Commonwealth Capital also
contributed to the company’s second round.
http://www.wavesmithnetworks.com/
WaveSmith Networks, June 25, 2001
- WaveSmith
Networks is building a next generation multiservice
switch supporting ATM, Frame Relay, TDM/CES and IP
services. The
switch scales to 320 Gbps and hundreds of ports in a
single node. By
using integrated components and miniaturized
connector technology, WaveSmith plans to deliver a
600% capacity-to-footprint improvement over
incumbent products.
Its solution will use a high-speed serial
core fabric that is agnostic to services and
protocols, including ATM, Frame Relay, TDM, IP and
optical lambda.
The architecture will also feature an Open
Call Model that collapses the control plane so that
any service connection can be controlled natively
through the transport fabric, effectively enabling
flow-through provisioning that ties in directly with
a carrier’s existing network management system.
WaveSmith is also developing a telephony
grade operating system that runs all software
processes in separate protected memory regions. The
microkernel OS architecture would allow any process
to be upgraded or repaired independently of the
others while the system continues running.
- WaveSmith
Networks was founded in March 2000 by Robert Dalias
(formerly with Castle Networks, acquired by
Unisphere Solutions), John O'Hara (a member of the
start-up team at New Oak Communications, acquired by
Bay Networks), Chad Dunn (a member of the start-up
team at Omnia, acquired by CIENA), Jim Philippou (a
founder at New Oak), Gary Styskal (formerly with
Cabletron/Enterasys), Abe Schryer (Ennovate
Networks) and Andrea Carr-Evans (Unisphere
Solutions).
BAYNET
OPTICS INTRODUCES DESIGN FOR AUTOMATED OPTICAL
MANUFACTURING
Baynet Optics, a start-up based in Santa Clara,
California, announced an automated system for mass
production of all-optical components.
The automated manufacturing systems aims to
eliminate highly labor intensive manufacturing, which
leads to high costs and high error rates in optical
components. Pilot
production will occur in the company’s in-house
facility, while bulk production will be contracted to
partner manufacturing facilities in Asia.
The first products are expected in Q3.
http://www.baynetoptics.com/
Baynet Optics, June 25, 2001 |
