Monday, December 1, 2014

Alcatel-Lucent Delivers Virtualized Motive Security Guardian

Alcatel-Lucent introduced its Motive Security Guardian, a virtualized security solution for protecting service provider’s networks, machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, and mobile and home devices.


The Motive Security Guardian can be used to alert IT departments, care agents and consumers to malware threats so they can be swiftly and proactively removed. When malware is found on a device, its owner is immediately alerted with step-by-step instructions on how to remove the threat.

The solution is powered by Motive Security Labs (formerly Kindsight Security Labs), which processes more than 120,000 new malware samples per day and maintains a library of over 30 million active samples. Residing on an operator’s cloud network,  it can identify and pinpoint malware on mobile or home devices without having to be installed on them.

The Motive Security Guardian can be onboarded and managed using Alcatel-Lucent’s CloudBand 2.0 NFV platform and can be rapidly scaled up or down to meet market demand.

“Motive research shows that 65 percent of subscribers expect their service provider to protect their devices,” said Patrick Tan, General Manager of Network Intelligence, Alcatel-Lucent. “As customer experience becomes the new frontier for competitive differentiation, operators can leverage this trusted security service role to provide always-on and up-to date protection of their subscribers’ devices that ensures an excellent service experience.”

http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/press/2014/alcatel-lucents-motive-deliver-virtualized-security-solution-help-service-providers-ensure-safe

CoreOS Launches Rocket Container as Docker Alternative

CoreOS released Rocket, a new portable container format, as an alternative to the Docker runtime. The idea is to provide a “standard container” that can be used for moving workloads between multiple servers and environments.

CoreOS is a San Francisco start-up building a new Linux distribution for modern infrastructure stacks. It consumes 40% less RAM on boot than an average Linux installation and features an active/passive dual-partition scheme to update the OS as a single unit instead of package by package. Applications on CoreOS can run as Docker containers.

Until now, CoreOS has been a big supporter of Docker. In a blog posting, the company said the Docker company has strayed from its early principle of building a simple, composable container unit that could be used in a variety of systems and supported by everyone. So CoreOS is now developing Rocket around the App Container specification and promoting it as a new set of simple and open specifications for a portable container format.

https://coreos.com/blog/rocket/

https://github.com/coreos/rocket

Cavium Releases its ARMv8 ThunderX

Cavium announced availability of both single socket and dual socket versions of its ARMv8 ThunderX  family of processors aimed at next generation data center and cloud infrastructure.

It is fully compliant with ARMv8 architecture as well as ARM's Server Base System Architecture (SBSA), while bringing to market significant enhancements including:

  • The first ARM based SoC that scales from 24 to 48 cores in a pin compatible foot print.
  • The first ARM based SoC to be fully cache coherent across dual sockets using Cavium Coherent Processor Interconnect (CCPI).
  • Integrated I/O capacity with hundreds of Gigabits of I/O bandwidth.
  • Up to four DDR3/4 72 bit memory controllers capable of supporting 2400MHz memories up to 1TB of memory capacity in a dual socket configuration.
  • Hundreds of integrated hardware accelerators for security, storage, networking and virtualization.
  • Standard based low latency Ethernet fabric enabling interconnections of thousands of ThunderX nodes.
  • Full system virtualization using Cavium virtSoC technology.

"Over the past decade, Cavium has been a pioneer in delivering high performance, multi-core processors to the market. ThunderX is our flagship ARMv8 multi core processor family with the highest core counts and the most comprehensive set of I/O and accelerators in the market. The ThunderX based solutions are fully optimized for a wide variety of next-generation Data Center and cloud workloads," said Gopal Hegde, VP/GM of Data Center Processor Group at Cavium. "ThunderX is a disruptive technology that enables our customers to deliver highly integrated, high performance, best in class platforms," he added.

http://www.cavium.com/ThunderX_ARM_Processors.html



Cypress to Acquire Spansion -- Microcontrollers and Specialized Memories

Cypress Semiconductor and Spansion agreed to to merge in an all-stock, tax-free transaction valued at approximately $4 billion. Spansion shareholders will receive 2.457 Cypress shares for each Spansion share they own.

The combined company, which will be headquartered in San Jose, California and called Cypress Semiconductor, will be a $2 billion global leader in microcontrollers and specialized memories for embedded systems.

The current Cypress supplies programmable system-on-chip families for consumer, mobile handsets, computation, data communications, automotive, industrial and military applications. Cypress is the world leader in capacitive user interface solutions including CapSense touch sensing, TrueTouch touchscreens, and trackpad solutions for notebook PCs and peripherals. Cypress is a world leader in USB controllers, which enhance connectivity and performance in a wide range of consumer and industrial products. Cypress is also the world leader in SRAM and nonvolatile RAM memories.

Spansion supplies flash memory, microcontrollers, analog and mixed-signal products used in a range of applications, from automotive electronics and industrial systems to highly interactive consumer devices.

http://www.spansion.com
http://www.cypress.com

Infonetics: Big Jump in Carrier Ethernet Switch Sales

While sales of service provider routers continue to slow, sales of carrier Ethernet switches are trending sharply up, according to a new report from Infonetics Research.

“The ‘SDN hesitation’ we first identified four quarters ago remains in effect, slowing router spending in the third quarter of 2014 as carriers remain cautious about investing in equipment and software that might need to be replaced in the future,” says Michael Howard, principal analyst for carrier networks and co-founder of Infonetics Research.

“Meanwhile carrier Ethernet switches (CES) had an unprecedented quarter, with global revenue up 32% from the previous quarter and up 14% from a year ago, driven by ZTE in China and Cisco in North America,” continues Howard. “Fundamental changes are on the horizon as the market transitions from hardware-driven to software-driven, but no doubt routers must be fitted with higher-capacity blades to accommodate growing traffic, and there is intensifying focus on content delivery networks (CDNs) and smart traffic management across routes to make routers and optical gear cooperate more closely.”

Some highlights:

  • Combined, service provider routers and switches—including IP edge and core routers and carrier Ethernet switches—totaled $3.7 billion worldwide in 3Q14, down 3% from the previous quarter
  • All regions except CALA (Caribbean and Latin America) were down sequentially in 3Q14
  • However, the market is up 3% from the year-ago 3rd quarter, reflecting the long-term slow growth trend Infonetics has been tracking
  • Infonetics expects the global carrier router and switch market to slowly grow to $17 billion by 2018, a five year (2013–2018) compound annual growth rate of just over 3%
  • Looking at rolling 4-quarter router market share, Huawei increased its share the most of any vendor (+4.6 points) from 3Q12 to 3Q14, as edge and core router revenue stayed relatively flat.

http://www.infonetics.com/pr/2014/3Q14-Service-Provider-Routers-Switches-Market-Highlights.asp

GEN14: What's Driving Business Ethernet Services?


Vertical Systems Group recently reported that customer installations of Carrier Ethernet services in the U.S. will reach one million ports in 2018.  The projected figure includes all retail Ethernet services at speeds ranging from sub-10 Mbps to more than 10 Gbps. So, what's driving the market for business Ethernet? The recent MEF GEN14 conference in Washington, D.C., which brought together over 1,000 attendees from 36 countries, featured...


Dynamic Spectrum Alliance Builds Roster

The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance, a global organization advocating for laws and regulations that will lead to more efficient and effective spectrum utilization, announced the addition of AirTies, Aruba Networks, ATDI, Broadcom, and Saankhya Labs to its membership roster.

“Governments around the world recognize that expanding Internet access is key to their economic growth as it will help them deliver healthcare, education, emergency
communications, and other government services to their citizens, as well as enable a new generation of small- and medium-sized businesses and increase output for key sectors such as agriculture. Having just toured Asia and Africa, it is clear that leading regulators and policymakers now recognize that these goals can only be achieved with increased reliance on dynamic spectrum sharing regimes” said Prof. H Nwana, Executive Director of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance.

The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance’s mission is to expand dynamic and opportunistic access to unused radio spectrum. It is not chartered to support any specific technology.

Some notable members of the alliance include BSkyB, Google, InterDigital, Mediatek, Microsoft, Japan's NICT and SpectraLink Wireless.

http://www.dynamicspectrumalliance.org/

MGBASE-T Alliance Targets 2.5G and 5G

A new MGBASE-T Alliance has been formed to support the IEEE in its efforts to bring 2.5G and 5G Ethernet speeds to enterprise access points and other systems relying on unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cabling.

The Alliance is supporting a specification that leverages many of the fundamental technologies in Ethernet standards as defined in the IEEE 802.3 10GBASE-T, enabling faster time to market with minimal research and development efforts for ecosystem vendors. The specification is available royalty-free to all members.

Initial backers include Aruba Networks, Avaya, Broadcom, Brocade, Delta Electronics, Delta Networks, Freescale Semiconductor, Pulse Electronics and Ruijie Networks.

"Formed in June, the goal of the Alliance is to work alongside the IEEE to accelerate the deployment of 2.5G and 5G BASE-T from multiple component and system vendors by enabling an end-to-end solution," said Simon Assouad, President, MGBASE-T Alliance. "The new Ethernet speeds will enable enterprise users to unleash the full benefits of next generation 802.11ac (Wave 1 & 2) wireless technology using existing cabling infrastructure."

The MGBASE-T Alliance members will support the work of  the IEEE 802.3 that  allows the industry to achieve interoperability and ultimately enable widespread and

http://www.mgbasetalliance.org

Altice Bids EUR 7.4 Billion for Portugal Telecom

Altice confirmed an offer to acquire Portugal Telecom from Oi for EUR 7.4 billion n on a cash and debt-free free basis which includes EUR 500 million consideration related to the future revenue generation of Portugal Telecom. The transaction, net of financial debt, accrued post-retirement liabilities and other purchase price adjustments will be financed by new debt and existing cash from Altice. The deal includes the existing business of Portugal Telecom outside of Africa and excludes Portugal Telecom's Rio Forte debt securities, Oi treasury shares and Portugal Telecom financing vehicles.

Altice is a multinational cable and telecommunications company with presence in three regions-Western Europe (comprising France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal and Switzerland), Israel and the Overseas Territories (currently comprising the French Caribbean and the Indian Ocean regions and the Dominican Republic).

http://www.altice.net/


  • Last week, Altice completed the financial transaction that combined SFR and Numericable.  Vivendi received EUR 13.366 billion in cash of which EUR 200 million will be contributed to the financing of the acquisition of Virgin Mobile by Numericable Group. The amount of  EUR 13.166 billion will be subject to an accounting analysis to confirm the estimated amount of net indebtedness, in accordance with the contract. Vivendi will keep a 20% stake in the new combined entity, which it will be free to sell after a one-year lock-up period, subject to Altice's pre-emption right. 

  • Numericable currently has over 5.2 million fiber homes in France, with more than 10 million homes passed.  SFR has 3G/4G mobile networks in France as well as 1.6 million fiber homes.

  • Patrick Drahi, founder and Chairman of the Altice group, parent company to Numericable, said: "By bringing together SFR and Numericable we will create the French champion in very high speed broadband and in the convergence of fixed and mobile networks. This is a trend throughout the sector, borne out across Europe and around the world. Our project, which is founded upon perfectly complementary networks and skillsets, will generate strong growth, which in turn will create jobs and stimulate investment."

Ooredoo Algeria Deploys 400G with Alcatel-Lucent

Ooredoo Algeria is deploying a high-capacity optical transport network to connect Algeria’s mains cities of Algiers, Constantine and Oran using Alcatel-Lucent's 1830 Photonic Service Switch platform.  The agile optical network is Africa’s first Alcatel-Lucent 400G backbone. It will be fully operational before the end of 2014.

Alcatel-Lucent is supplying Ooredoo Algeria with its soft decision forward error correction (SD-FEC)-based 100G coherent optical technology developed using the company’s 400G Photonic Service Engine (PSE). SD-FEC increases the performance and reach of 400G signals.

The 1830 PSS is now Alcatel-Lucent’s primary terrestrial optics platform, in use with over 500 customers.

“Ooredoo Algeria has the fastest growing 3G network in the country and in north Africa.  Our 400G network will be instrumental to support the best quality of experience (QoE) for our customers as well as to increase our market share in Algeria. Through this game-changing achievement we intend to consolidate our technology leadership within the Maghreb region but also in Algeria in order to offer to our clients best-in-class network in terms of capacity and speed. We are proud of our team who has been able to successfully implement cutting-edge projects to meet highest standard of the industry with the support of our partner Alcatel-Lucent. One again, Ooredoo demonstrates the Algerian telecoms leadership not only in the Maghreb but also in Africa,” stated Josepg Ged, Chief Executive Officer at Ooredoo Algeria.

http://www.alcatel-lucent.com
http://www.ooredoo.dz

UNH-IOL Expands for 40G/100G, Power over Ethernet, Backplane and Automotive

The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL) announced expanded interoperability testing and support for 40 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet (40G/100G) including 25Gb/s serial-lanes, Power over Ethernet (PoE), Backplane Ethernet and Automotive Ethernet. This activity is taking place within several of the UNH-IOL’s consortia and collaborative testing programs.

Some highlights:

  • The Consortium has received its first 100G products for testing. To better support its member community, over the past six months the Consortium has added twelve new Ethernet test suites; in particular, Physical Layer (PHY) electrical testing for hosts, modules and cables covering IEEE clauses 83, 85, 86, 92 and 93 of the 802.3 standard.
  • The UNH-IOL is working closely with test and measurement manufacturers to upgrade its test equipment for 25Gb/s Ethernet solutions. This testing will focus on IEEE 802.3 clauses 92 and 93, which are designed for Backplane and twin-axial based implementations. Future testing will target chip-to-chip and chip-to-module applications, both of which are described in the upcoming IEEE Std 802.3bm Ethernet standard. 
  • The UNH-IOL is collaborating with the Ethernet Alliance on a plugfest slated for 2015 targeting 40GbE and 100GbE technologies. 
  • In partnership with the Ethernet Alliance, the UNH-IOL Power over Ethernet (PoE) Consortium will facilitate a plugfest focused on IEEE 802.3af and 802.3at, standards relevant to IP cameras, wireless access points, automation, and other applications. 
  • The Power over Ethernet plugfest will test participants’ devices to the respective IEEE 802.3 PoE specifications, which distinguishes IEEE 802.3-based devices from other non-standards based PoE solutions. 
  • Testing activity surrounding 10G Backplane Ethernet, or 10BASE-KR, is also on the rise. Of special interest is channel training and channel modeling, as several of the 40G standards are implemented using four lanes of backplane-based 10G. 
  • From June 2013 to June 2014, membership in the UNH-IOL Backplane Ethernet Consortium grew nearly three-fold.
  • The UNH-IOL Automotive Ethernet Consortium is now open to car manufacturers and parts suppliers worldwide. 

“Interoperability has been a defining feature of Ethernet since its start forty-one years ago,” said UNH-IOL Senior Manager, Ethernet Technologies, Jeff Lapak. “From our first testing of Ethernet technology in 1988 to our current work in 40G/100G, PoE, Automotive and other areas of Ethernet, member companies have turned to us for reliable interoperability results to build consumer confidence and support their go-to-market strategies.”
http://www.iol.unh.edu