Las Vegas show: availability+flexibility

ATM improvements dominate debuts With an emphasis on asynchronous transfer mode, frame relay and data equipment, companies introduced products and services at last week's Networld+Interop show that aim to bring high technology to users at an affordable price.

Fujitsu Network Communications is buying ATM edge switch vendor Ascom Nexion. FNC will integrate Nexion's 8000 multimedia ATM switch into its network to provide end-to-end voice, video and data services to customers looking to consolidate networks. The acquisition follows the Orckit asymmetrical digital subscribe line agreement hammered out last month.

Hitachi Telecom unveiled its new 10 Gb/s, next generation ATM edge switch. The product is targeted at service providers building carrier-class ATM networks. The new AMS 5010 integrates multiple services with DS-1 and N x T-1 scalability, frame relay internetworking, remote concentrating and multiple solutions for Internet protocol over ATM, including Ipsilon's IP switching scheme, multiprotocol over ATM and local area network emulation. Similar offerings are from Cascade, Northern Telecom and Fore Systems.

Teleport Communications Group rolled out enhanced frame relay services for hybrid frame relay/ATM solutions and turnkey LAN interconnections. This is the first time TCG has focused its data services on customers with lower bandwidth requirements. TCG will offer managed frame relay-to-ATM interworking and Ethernet-over-frame relay services based on Cascade Communications' B-STDX 9000.

Northern Telecom introduced a new low-entry ATM switch, the Magellan Passport 30, for branch and remote offices. Westinghouse Network plans to use the switch, which is a smaller version of the Magellan 50 with the same capabilities, for its cell transfer mode managed services connecting back to its larger Magellan switches. The switch is now in customer trials and will be available in July. Nortel also displayed its own version of multilayer IP switching for intranets and virtual private networks. The capability, dubbed Virtual Network Switching, simplifies configuration of cell, frame or virtual private networks and provides a migration path to ATM. VNS is now available on the Magellan Passport.

3Com is now adding inverse multiplexing over ATM to its AccessBuilder 9600 multiservice access platform for carriers and enterprises that want to multiplex several T-1 lines instead of jumping to T-3. 3Com also revealed its virtual private network architecture for enterprises over the public network using both standards-based and proprietary protocols. Its VPN strategy is based on TranscendWare software.

Hypercom outlined quality of service for frame relay on its IEN switch/router, similar to the QOS introduced by Cascade earlier this year. The new Optimal Access capability includes four classes of service: constant frame rate, real-time variable frame rate, non real-time variable frame rate and available/unspecified frame rate. Hypercom will deliver its QOS promise on a permanent virtual circuit basis. Users can control the new QOS offering through prioritization, bandwidth management, congestion control notification and memory management.

Telecommunications Techniques Corp. has introduced a new service to provide carriers with advanced applications engineers when they need help creating customized applications and managing testing equipment. TTC's AAE service provides specialized personnel for software customization, on-site application assistance, test procedures development and network consulting services.

Rockwell announced it will form a new division to focus on building components for high-bandwidth network access devices. Among the first products from the Network Access Division will be the ATM SAR controller, a single-chip solution that supports all industry-standard traffic management services, including available bit-rate (ABR) specifications. The ATM SAR controller is used to monitor network performance with respect to service level agreements. The chip provides real-time information for network traffic flow control for constant bit rate, variable bit rate, unassigned bit rate and, later this year, ABR.

StorageTek and WheelGroup Corp. unveiled a security system that could provide carriers and ISPs with what could become a value-added service for security-conscious data network customers. The NetRanger is a real-time remote intrusion security product that recognizes attacks, reports them and automatically introduces remedies in real time. Such countermeasures occur at a single, centralized point on the network and alert all the nodes on the system through an encrypted side band to prevent system control functions from being co-opted by hackers.