LSI Delivers its ARM-based Axxia 4500 Processor for SDN

LSI announced first commercial delivery of its Axxia 4500 family of communication processors for enterprise and data center networking applications such as evolving application aware networking.

LSI's Axxia 4500, which is the company's first ARM technology-based communication processor, features a new "StreamSight" next-generation Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) engine that provides improved Software-Defined Networks (SDN) controller traffic inspection, efficiency of network management, QoS, security and other network functions. The Axxia 4500 processors combine LSI's acceleration engines with up to four ARM Cortex-A15 cores with a CoreLink CCN-504 coherent, QoS aware interconnect in 28nm process technology. The processors also include up to 100 Gbps of L2 switching functionality.

The company said that by combining its Ethernet switches, networking accelerators and "Virtual Pipeline" technology with power-efficient ARM cores, its new Axxia 4500 can address the performance challenges facing next-generation networks. Customers using the Axxia 4500 are able to solve the control plane scalability challenges of SDN and extract the necessary information required to enable Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) implementations without burdening the server processor.

“With so much content and so many applications residing in the cloud, the need to manage network traffic both more efficiently and securely is increasingly important,” said Jim Anderson, senior vice president and general manager, Networking Solutions Group, LSI. “The Axxia 4500 communication processor family, with its combination of intelligence and acceleration, delivers the high performance necessary for efficient SDN implementations.”

http://www.lsi.com/company/newsroom/Pages/20131120bpr.aspx

Read More

Qualcomm Intros 4th Gen Modem Chipset Supporting LTE-Advanced

Qualcomm introduced its fourth-generation 3G/LTE multimode modem chipset, the Qualcomm Gobi 9x35, and RF transceiver chip, the Qualcomm WTR3925.

The Qualcomm Gobi 9x35 is a cellular modem implemented in 20nm technology.  It offers support for global carrier aggregation with up to 40 MHz for both LTE TDD and FDD Category 6.  This enables download speeds of up to 300 Mbps. It is backwards compatible and supports all other major cellular technologies, including DC-HSPA, EVDO Rev. B, CDMA 1x, GSM and TD-SCDMA.

The Qualcomm WTR3925 is the first announced RF transceiver chip based on the 28 nm process, and is Qualcomm Technologies’ first single-chip, carrier aggregation RF solution that supports all carrier aggregation band combinations approved by 3GPP. The WTR3925 pairs with the Gobi 9x35 chipset and the Qualcomm RF360 Front End Solution, which enable the mobile industry’s premier global, single-SKU LTE platform. Sampling is expected to begin sampling early next year.

“We’re excited to be expanding our portfolio with a fourth generation of 3G/LTE multimode connectivity solutions,” said Cristiano Amon, executive vice president, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., and co-president, QCT. “Not only do these products extend our industry-leading Gobi roadmap, they enable the creation of thinner and more efficient mobile devices capable of connecting to the fastest 4G LTE Advanced networks worldwide.”

http://www.qualcomm.com/media/releases/2013/11/20/qualcomm-technologies-announces-fourth-generation-3glte-multimode-modem

Read More

Palo Alto Networks and VMware Partner on Network Virtualization Security

Palo Alto Networks and VMware announced a jointly-developed solution that uses the VMware NSX network virtualisation platform to automate provisioning and distribution of Palo Alto Networks next-generation network security in their software-defined data centers.

The companies said the combined solution will enable customers to use the network services insertion capabilities of VMware NSX to deploy, move, scale and protect applications.   Key features include:

• Automated provisioning of advanced network services
  
• A consistent network security model that protects against cyber threats - known and unknown - across both physical and virtual workloads
  
• Native segmentation of virtual machines into virtual networks
  
• Transparent traffic steering and enforcement at the virtual interface
  
• Fine-grained visibility into applications, users and content associated with virtual machine context
  
• Context-sharing across virtual infrastructure and security management platforms
  
• Separation of duties between server, network and security IT administrators.

"The cloud introduces new security challenges, and legacy security systems based on physical attributes such as port and protocol just aren't adequate to secure these highly dynamic environments," said Jon Oltsik, senior principal analyst at the Enterprise Strategy Group. "A next-generation security approach that eases operational challenges through integration with network virtualisation is a requirement for customers to confidently extend their deployments to cloud."

http://www.vmware.com
http://www.paloaltonetworks.com

Read More

Metaswitch Announces Support Service for Legacy Class 5 Switches

Metaswitch Networks has extended its technology service and support to include a range of legacy Class 5 switches. The service targets the DMS-10 and DMS-100 families of switches (originally manufactured by Nortel Networks and acquired by Genband) and the 5ESS Class 5 switches (made by Western Electric, which became part of Alcatel-Lucent).

Metaswitch said its service for these switches will include 24-hour-a-day, 365-days-a-year “Level 3” support to assist service provider network operation center (NOC) employees managing day-to-day operations. The company continues to encourage network migration for all service providers.

http://www.metaswitch.com

Read More

VSS Monitoring Delivers Network Data to Big Data Analytics Systems

VSS Monitoring, which is now a subsidiary of Danaher, introduced a Big Data Visibility solution that scales analytics and forensics to larger datasets than they could with legacy technology.

The VSS Monitoring’s vMesh architecture can connect hundreds of packet broker nodes, gaining real-time views into big data across their entire global network.  The new Big Data solution leverages two new advances in the vMesh Architecture: vSpool and vNetConnect.

The vSpool hardware module for VSS Monitoring’s vBroker chassis enables network data to be captured directly from the network infrastructure, and delivered to and analyzed synchronously or asynchronously by any network analytics, forensics and big data systems over a common storage or content platform.

vNetConnect software enables agent-free visibility into VMware and Cisco virtual switches, providing visibility into physical and virtual workloads and the associated network traffic without requiring any additional software to be installed on the hypervisor or as a virtual machine.

VSS Monitoring said the addition of vNetConnect enables packets from both virtual switches and physical switches to be directed into the network packet broker layer, while vSpool provides capture and delivery of those packets to analytics tools and content platforms from a single point and in an open standard format.

“Big-data systems are often blind to an invaluable resource: the data that represents every transaction in any networked business,” said Martin Breslin, Founder and President, VSS Monitoring. “Bridging this gap by linking network data with big data systems, enables a comprehensive view of the information that the business needs to make the right decisions.  vSpool addresses these challenges by delivering line-rate performance and advanced traffic grooming, while vNetConnect provides total visibility into network traffic from both physical and virtual hosts, and from active and stored data alike.  No longer are variations in data types, interfaces between systems, network latency, or physical locations of network assets a limitation to high-quality analysis.”

http://vssmonitoring.com

Read More

Qualcomm Atheros Debuts Processor for Internet of Everything

Qualcomm Atheros is launching an Internet Processor (IPQ) product line to transform networking devices like home gateways, routers and media servers into “Smarthome” platforms. The new device is aimed at the next generation of IP-based content, applications, systems and things, known as the Internet of Everything, in homes and businesses.

Qualcomm’s “Smarthome” platform combines its dual-core 1.4 GHz Krait CPU with its new dual-core 730 MHz Packet Processor Engine, to offload network traffic, supporting up to 5 Gbps of aggregate capacity across LTE, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, HomePlug powerline, hybrid wired/wireless, and Ethernet.

“Just as Qualcomm helped propel the smartphone experience and ecosystem, we are now employing the company’s mobile DNA to enable the Smarthome as a platform to deliver an advanced class of content, applications and services that can be enjoyed throughout the home. Qualcomm is bringing together its mobile and networking expertise in the Internet Processor to extend its portfolio and enable new capabilities for network platforms,” said Amir Faintuch, president, Qualcomm Atheros. “With this new class of high-performance, energy-efficient and agile processors for home gateways and enterprise access points, Qualcomm is again demonstrating its ability and commitment to elevate consumer experiences by driving innovation at the edge of the network.”

http://www.qualcomm.com

Read More

Altera Releases New 100G Ethernet and Interlaken IP Cores

Altera expanded its intellectual property (IP) portfolio with four additions: an ultra-high performance and ultra-low latency 100G Interlaken, 100G Ethernet, 40G Ethernet and 10G Ethernet IP.

The new Interlaken and Ethernet IP cores are optimized for use in Altera's high-performance Stratix V FPGAs as well as future Generation 10 FPGAs and SoCs. Customers today via early access software are using these best-in-class IP cores in 20 nm Arria 10 FPGA designs.

http://www.altera.com/bic_ip

Read More

Saudi Telecom Awards Managed Services Contract to Huawei

Saudi Telecom Company (STC) has awarded a four year managed services contract to Huawei.

Under the contract, Huawei will provide operations and maintenance, network performance management services for STC’s wireless, microwave, and core networks. Huawei noted that its work with STC dates back to 2000 and includes 9 years of Hajj event assurance, Internet protocol television (IPTV) consultancy support, network performance management, and customer experience management.

http://www.huawei.com

Read More

Freescale Demos Simultaneous LTE and WCDMA on a Single Base Station Processor

Freescale Semiconductor's QorIQ Qonverge BSC9132 SoC for small cell base station can now run simultaneous WCDMA and LTE thanks to the company's integrated VortiQa Layer 1 (L1) software.

“The addition of WCDMA multimode capability to our comprehensive portfolio of LTE L1 software underscores Freescale’s strong commitment to the small cell market,” said Stephen Turnbull, wireless marketing manager for Freescale’s Digital Networking business. “Freescale is helping accelerate the ability of small cell manufacturers to deliver multimode picocell solutions that work together seamlessly and meet the requirements of wireless network operators.”

http://www.freescale.com

Read More