Sunday, April 16, 2006

Strix Scales Wireless Mesh Networks

Strix Systems introduced a new, third-generation Outdoor Wireless System and a new High Performance Modular Architecture for large-scale mesh networks.



The new OWS 2400-30 offers increased user density, provides enhanced transmit power and receive sensitivity, a 30% smaller form factor and lower cost per radio compared to earlier products. The new design doubles from 64 to 128 the number of WLAN associations permitted per radio, allowing up to 768 concurrent users per node. Modularity lets the OWS 2400-30 scale to up to six radios as needed (802.11a/b/g/j, 802.16d/e, 2.4 GHz, 4.9GHz and 5 GHz in any access and backhaul configuration.



The new High Performance Modular Architecture offers Scalable Mesh Fast Re-route (SMFR) capabilities for distributed localized node intelligence, network topology-independent fast re-route, instant roaming, zero throughput loss, and zero latency over multiple hops. Strix said it is able to deliver cero throughput loss and zero latency for over 10 hops, enabling real-time applications and lowering OPEX costs for the number of wired connections needed for a given area.



When networks are turned up, every node automatically scans to locate all other network nodes and selects the best path to the wired node based on round-trip delay (RTD), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and other criteria. The nodes continue to scan and evaluate the best path and alternate paths to the wired node, automatically self-healing to the next-best path within milliseconds if the criteria of the best path drops below the set threshold or the path is blocked.



Strix also noted that in mobile applications, its Scalable Mesh Fast Re-route can deliver hand-offs for trains traveling at up to 200 mph.



SMFR also supports real-time node-state status indication, real-time backhaul path analysis, a congestion-avoidance algorithm, and an optimal channel re-use algorithm.

http://www.strixsystems.com







Which
Mesh Architecture is Best for Delivering VoIP?


by
Cyrus Irani
For
wireless data networks, voice is a "killer app." This article
will first look at the four key mesh network performance requirements for
real time applications; the three mesh architectural options when
deploying wireless voice over IP (wVoIP) over a WiFi mesh network; how a
multi-radio, multi-RF architecture positively impacts the capital cost to
deploy; and the operating expenses involved to properly operate such
networks.

DiVitas Develops Enterprise FMC Platform

DiVitas Networks, a start-up based in Mountain View, California, is developing an enterprise-class fixed-mobile-convergence (FMC) platform that would enable seamless roaming between Wi-Fi and cellular networks. The platform is being designed to work with in any corporate WLAN environment, with any PBX, and over any type of fixed, mobile, or wireless network. A light, client application would run on the dual-mode handset.



DiVitas said thekey mission for its forthcoming platform is to provide the cost advantages of seamlessly bridging cellular calls over to lower cost WLANs while enabling enterprises to retain control of this process. This would include the ability to monitor media quality in order to specify when and how handoffs should occur, and the ability to implement advanced security. Security capabilities include application-layer authentication, authorization and access control, session-layer end-to-end encryption, packet filtering and bandwidth policing, network-layer STUN, NAT/Firewall Traversal and automatic pre-authentication.



The platform is currently in beta testing. Full product details have not yet been disclosed. DiVitas has conducted interoperability testing with Trapeze Networks' WLAN Mobility System to enable enterprise campus mobility with fixed mobile convergence. DiVitas has also entered into a relationship with G-Tek Electronics Group, which supplies a dual-mode SIP Wi-Fi handset that integrates GSM/GPRS and Wi-Fi modules.



DiVitas was founded by president and CEO Vivek Khuller and CTO Venkat Kalkunte. Khuller was previously a venture partner at Clearstone Venture Partners, entrepreneur in residence at Matrix Partners, and an executive at Sycamore Networks and Verizon. Kalkunte formerly worked at Cisco, and was founding engineer of Transmedia Communications, which Cisco purchased in 1999. He also worked at Alteon, Stratacom, and other technology companies.

http://www.divitas.com
  • DiVitas has raised $8 million from Clearstone Venture Partners (investors in Meru, SiNett, and Good), venture debt and private investors.

ZyXEL Selects PMC-Sierra's Multi-Service Processor for CPE

ZyXEL Communications has selected PMC-Sierra's MSP4120 and MSP4200 Multi-Service Processors for its VoIP Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) solutions. Its VoIP family includes Analog Telephone Adapters (ATA), VoIP Routers and Wi-Fi VoIP Ethernet Gateways. PMC-Sierra's devices provide both voice and routing functions.



The MSP4120 and MSP4200 VoIP router-on-a-chip products combine a DSP for processing up to four voice channels together with a MIPS32 4Kec core for high performance routing and control functions. The MSP4200 offers the additional benefit of a PCI interface to enable the inclusion of 802.11 Wi-Fi subsystems to create Wi-Fi access points.

http://www.pmc-sierra.com/voip

Force10 Debuts 10 Gbps Security Platform

Force10 Networks introduced a security appliance that inspects, monitors, captures and blocks traffic at line-rate 10 Gigabit speeds. Force10 Networks said its security platform leverages a Dynamic Parallel Inspection (DPI) architecture for signature processing. The technology employs multiple hardware-based engines to simultaneously process thousands of rules on a single packet. The P-Series directly embeds security rules and signatures into hardware to ensure line-rate processing, inspection and monitoring of traffic on the network. The ability to write new signatures directly to hardware in real time provides IT managers with deterministic, predictable performance regardless of traffic conditions.



The Force10 P-Series family of security appliances includes the P10, a 1RU appliance the offers two line-rate 10 Gigabit ports for an aggregate inspection throughput of 20 Gbps. As a complement to the P10, the two-port Force10 P1 delivers inspection at line-rate Gigabit speeds. The Force10 P-Series supports open source network security applications, enabling customers to specify policies from public domain signatures or standard network monitoring libraries. An open application program interface also allows IT managers to develop custom signatures for firewalling, denial of service attacks and packet and flow analysis applications.



Force10 said it already has more than 20 government organizations, Internet exchanges and national laboratories using P-Series security platforms. Among these are the Amsterdam Internet Exchange, Oakridge National Laboratory, Oxford University, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, SRI International, Seaton Corp, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Peter Kiewit Institute.
http://www.force10networks.com

Level 3 to Acquire ICG Communications

Level 3 Communications will acquire ICG Communications, Inc., a privately held Colorado-based telecommunications company, for $163 million in stock and cash.



ICG primarily provides transport, IP and voice services to wireline and wireless carriers, Internet service providers and enterprise customers. ICG's network has over 2,000 metro and regional fiber miles in Colorado and Ohio and includes approximately 500 OPs. ICG serves more than 1,600 customers.
http://www.Level3.com

Triple Play Alliance to Open Lab in Germany

The Triple Play Alliance (TPA), an organization backed by nine industry vendors and service providers, will open a Triple Play Lab interoperability test and demonstration lab near Munich, Germany.



The lab, designed to serve as an international competence center for triple play technology, allows TPA members to test and demonstrate triple play scenarios in a real-world environment.



Extreme Networks is providing the core switching solution in the Triple Play Lab.



Additional member of the alliance include: Avaya, Colt Telecom,
ComLoc, Comptel, Kerpen, Power PLUS Communications, and Schroff.

http://www.extremenetworks.comhttp://www.triple-play-alliance.com

Modulus Video Encoder Certified for Microsoft TV

Modulus Video's ME6000 high definition MPEG-4 AVC video encoder has been certified for the Microsoft TV IPTV Edition software platform. The platform is also now providing integrated support for Microsoft TV Picture-in-Picture (PIP) functionality. Modulus said its ME6000 is currently in deployment by operators worldwide.

http://www.modulusvideo.com

Nike Launches "JogaTV" Broadband Channel with Maven Networks

Nike is launching its own "JogaTV" broadband channel over the Web, providing video programming for soccer fans worldwide. Nike is using Maven Networks' Video publishing and distribution platform.



Video programming on JogaTV features international stars of the game including Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry, and Wayne Rooney demonstrating the values of beautiful soccer - - Joy, Honor, Skill, Heart and Team.

http://www.maven.net/http://www.joga.com

Nortel Names Chief Marketing Officer

Nortel announced the appointment of Lauren Flaherty as Chief Marketing Officer, responsible for the company's global marketing strategy, brand development and advertising, and the corporation's internal and external communications. Flaherty most recently served as IBM's vice president, worldwide marketing, small and medium business. http://www.nortel.com

Verizon Appoints VP of Brand Management

Verizon announced the appointment of Andrea Fant-Hobbs as vice president of brand management, reporting to Jerri DeVard, senior vice president of marketing and brand management for Verizon. Previously, Fant-Hobbs was vice president and account director for Vigilante, where she managed the Manhattan-based advertising agency's largest client, General Motors. http://www.verizon.com