NETWORK ELEMENTS ANNOUNCES 10 GBPS MODULE INTEGRATING OPTICS AND MULTIPROTOCOL PROCESSING
Network Elements, a start-up based in Beaverton, Oregon, announced a 10 Gbps optical networking module featuring integrated multi-protocol processing for 10 Gigabit Ethernet, Packet-over-SONET (POS) and SONET/SDH applications in the LAN, MAN and WAN.  At the center of Network Element's new module is a 2 million gate ASIC that provides standard protocol processing, advanced packet filtering for admission control and flow-based traffic monitoring, built-in test stream generation, and support for both next-generation and standardized SONET signaling.  The multi-protocol processor ASIC implements a 10GbE processor, POS processor, SONET processor, statistics monitoring processor and packet filter.  The multiprotocol support allows it to be used for a single line card design that could be provisioned by the equipment manufacturer as required (10 GigE, 10 Gbps POS, or 10 Gbps SONET/SDH).  API software provides an abstracted user interface for the more complex features of the module, such as SONET monitoring and packet filtering, automatically handling functions such as counter, table and queue management.  The module is configured with 1310nm serial optics supporting 2km and 12km reaches.  Network Elements said the high level of integration of its lithium module could save six months in product development time while offering reduced space, power, and cost.  The module is priced at $7,000 in quantity.  http://www.nei.com 
Network Elements, September 10, 2001

• In January, Network Elements secured $77 million in venture capital, bringing its total funding to $100 million.  Strategic investors include Intel Communications Fund and Nortel Networks.  Additional investors include Credit Suisse First Boston Private Equity, Western Technology Investment, New Enterprise Associates and Alloy Ventures.

KESTREL WINS RBOC CONTRACT FOR ITS OPTICAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM
Kestrel Solutions was awarded a master purchase contract by a Regional Bell Operating Company (RBOC) for its optical transport products.  Financial information and the name of the RBOC were not disclosed due to the contract’s terms.  Shipments are already underway. http://www.kestrelsolutions.com/ 
Kestrel Solutions, September 10, 2001

•  Kestrel's TalonMX platform combines frequency division multiplexing, digital signal processors (DSPs) and optical modulation to serve as a bandwidth enhancer for metropolitan networks.  The single-fiber, single-wavelength optical transport system is designed to deliver up to 10 Gbps with less than 20 GHz bandwidth space.  Key advantages of the platform over conventional DWDM include the ability to operate over any quality of fiber, including older fiber common in many RBOC infrastructures.  Kestrel was founded in 1997 and is based in Mountain View, California.
   

• In June, Kestrel Solutions announced plans to acquire TeON Optical Networks, another start-up developing a common technology for a new generation of advanced optical networking transport equipment.  Financial terms were not disclosed.  In addition, Brian Jervis resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer of Kestrel.  John Barter, Kestrel’s CFO, also has resigned for personal reasons.  Marty Kaplan, currently the President and CEO of TeON, was named interim CEO of Kestrel.  Kaplan formerly served as Senior Vice-President and Chief Technology Officer for Sprint. 

PACTOLUS DEVELOPS SIP-BASED APPLICATIONS FOR PACKET VOICE NETWORKS
Pactolus Communication Software, a start-up based in Westford, Massachusetts, introduced a set of three carrier applications for next-generation, converged voice networks.  The applications include prepaid calling card, postpaid calling card, and conference calling -- all of which are based on the use of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) as a signaling mechanism at the core of the network.  Pactolus’ products are sold directly to carriers and through OEMs that develop media gateways, softswitches, media servers and line side applications. The company is a Powered Partner in Sonus Networks’ Open Services Partner Alliance (OSPA).  http://www.pactolus.com 
Pactolus, September 10, 2001 

• In June, Pactolus raised $6 million in second round venture funding.  Investors include Commonwealth Capital Ventures, YankeeTek Ventures and Mid-Atlantic Venture Funds.
   

• Pactolus is headed by Paul Blondin, who previously served as CEO of IP Highway, a software company in the Internet infrastructure market.  Blondin also formerly served as CFO of Cascade Communications, until Ascend Communications acquired Cascade in June 1997.  The company was founded by Dave Horton, who previously was Vice President of Engineering for Open Development Corporation (ODC), where he led the development of calling card, conference calling, and ACD applications.

TI INTRODUCES FAST DSP-SYNC FIRST-IN, FIRST-OUT (FIFO) DEVICES
Texas Instruments introduced its fastest 3.3-V DSP-Sync First-In, First-Out (FIFO) devices designed for high-bandwidth telecom and internetworking applications.  The products, which provide a glueless interface with TI's DSPs, offer 3.0 Gbps data-rate performance (166 MHz max clock cycle frequency) and data access times of 4.5 ns.  The new FIFOs could be used in multi-channel applications that require buffering large amounts of data, such as wireless base stations, remote access servers (RAS), xDSL systems, network security camera systems, cable modems, advanced medical/industrial imaging applications, precision instrumentation, and multi-channel telephony systems.  http://www.ti.com/sc/docs/news/2001/01154.htm 
Texas Instruments, September 9, 2001

SPIRENT UNVEILS CENTAUR LAB AT NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
Spirent Communications, North Carolina State University, the North Carolina Networking Initiative and the Internet2 Initiative opened a state-of-the-art networking laboratory at North Carolina State University’s Centennial Campus.  The Collaboration for Excellence in Network Testing, Analysis and Unique Research (CENTAUR) Lab will serve as the new home of the North Carolina Internet2 Technology Evaluation Center (NC-ITEC), a project under the NCNI umbrella, which provides testing and evaluation in support of the Internet2 Abilene backbone.  Spirent provided the space and much of the equipment for the lab. At least 10 other major networking companies also contributed to the $4.5 million project.  http://www.spirentcom.com/news/pressreleases/sccentaurunveils.asp 
http://www.centaurlabs.org
Spirent Communications, September 7, 2001

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY COMPLETES MPLS TEST ROUND
The Advanced Internet Lab (AIL) at George Mason University completed another round of multivendor interoperability testing focused on MPLS.  This session focused on vendor interoperability for RFC 2547 and the MPLS Label Distribution Protocol for efficiently provisioning VPNs.  The LDP testing for VPN support used MPLS-enabled devices from Agilent Technologies, Alcatel, Avici Systems, Cisco Systems, Ericsson, Nortel Networks and Unisphere Networks.  Service provider sponsors presented their own technical requirements for MPLS implementation to AIL's Technical Advisory Committee representatives. The next round of testing at AIL is scheduled to begin in February 2002.  http://www.ail.gmu.edu 
George Mason University, September 7, 2001

What is this new protocol that leading telecommunication experts claim “will take over the world”?  Well, you can rest your worried mind – IP and ATM are not on death row.  In fact, it is my belief that MPLS will breathe new life into the marriage of IP and ATM.

The best way to describe the function of MPLS is by using an analogy of a large national firm with campuses located throughout the United States.  Each campus has a central mail-processing point through which mail is sent around the world, as well as to its other campuses.  Since its beginning, the mailroom has been under orders to send all intercampus correspondence via standard first-class mail.  The cost of this postage is calculated into the company’s operational budget.

However, for months now, some departments have been complaining that they require overnight delivery and package-tracking services.  As a manager, you set up a system to send three levels of mail between campuses – first class, priority, and express mail.  In order to offset the increased expense of the new services, you bill the departments that use these premium services at the regular USPS rate plus 10%.

Priority and express mail are processed by placing the package into a special envelope with a distinctive label.  These special packets with distinctive labels assure the package priority handling and tracking capability within the postal network.  In order to avoid slowdowns and bottlenecks, the postal facilities in the network created a system that uses sorting tables or sorting databases to expedite these special packets.  

The Construction of an MPLS Network

In an IP network, you can think of routers as post offices or postal sorting stations.  Without a means to mark, classify, and monitor mail, there would be no way to process different classes of mail.  In IP networks, you find a similar situation. 

Read the Full Tutorial >>
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