NetPerformer builds on the best of cells, frames

ACT Networks, known for its frame relay access devices, is introducing two products this week that move the company closer to its goal of unified services.

The newest members of the NetPerformer family, the SDM-9400 and the SDM-9300, deliver advanced features such as quality of service, self-healing network capabilities, and remote monitoring and diagnostics.

The 9400 integrates and optimizes data, voice and video for regional offices. The product has eight multiprotocol auto-sensing ports, each providing speeds up to 2 Mb/s.

The 9300 targets small remote offices and has four data ports, one local area network port and two analog voice channels.

ACT has a patent pending for a technique called Virtual Connections that marries the flexibility of cell-based transmissions with the efficiency of fast-packet networking. Each cell varies in length and has a small header to reduce latency.

Cells from different traffic sources are combined in a single frame traveling over the common network. The process lets NetPerformer devices establish end-to-end virtual connections at the cell level over public frame relay or private leased-line networks. Any legacy traffic can then be routed throughout a network in its native form.

The product's goal, called Unified Access Architecture, aims to broaden access in today's enterprise networks, said Martin Shum, chief executive officer of ACT Networks.

ACT Networks must convince users to try voice-over-frame-relay services, said Abner Germanow, an analyst in IDC's data communications program. A key stumbling block is the lack of a standard for voice-over-frame relay, he said.