System-on-Chip facilitates wireless networking. ZigBee™ Solution

Based on CC2420 ZigBee(TM) radio transceiver, Series CC2430 combines radio, programmable microcontroller, flash memory, and both IEEE 802.15.4 and ZigBee(TM) software, all on single silicon die. Three different models offer 32, 64, and 128 kByte flash configurations, each with 8 kBytes of RAM. Units are based on SmartRF[R]03 platform in 0.18 [micro]m CMOS and are available in 7-7 mm 48-pin package. During receive and transmit modes, current consumption is 27 and 25 mA respectively.

Three new System-on-Chip Products form Chipcon's Second generation ZigBee(TM) solution and allows more OEMs to quickly bring cost effective ZigBee(TM) solutions to market

Oslo, Norway (September 12, 2005) - Chipcon, the world's leading provider of low system cost low power RF chipsets and networking software, announced the availability of the CC2430 family, the world's first available true One-Chip ZigBee(TM) solution. This is the World's First true SoC Zigbee[c] one-stop-shop offering, providing on-chip programmable flash memory as well as a certified Zigbee(TM) software stack, all on a single silicon die. The CC2430 is a key part of Chipcon's SmartRF[R]03 product family, and is based on Chipcon's industry leading CC2420 ZigBee(TM) radio transceiver which has already surpassed 1 million units shipped. Measuring approximately the size of a 1 ct diamond (7-7 mm), the CC2430 represents an extremely clean design combining a robust radio, programmable micro-controller, flash memory, and both IEEE802.15.4 and ZigBee(TM) software -- all in one easy-to-use and cost-effective chip. The CC2430 SoC family will be available as three different products (CC2430-F32, CC2430-F64 and CC2430-F128). The difference between these three products is the size of on-chip flash memory, each cost-optimized for different IEEE 802.14.4/Zigbee(TM) applications.

The availability of Chipcon's ZigBee(TM) SoC solution is a huge leap for OEMs with products targeted at home and building automation, HVAC, automated meter reading (AMR), medical devices, home entertainment, logistics, and other end markets where wires will be replaced by extremely inexpensive low-power wireless communications. The CC2430 will enable OEMs to seamlessly develop compact, high performance and reliable wireless networking products using the chip as the only active device in the system, thus reducing both time-to-market and, production and test costs to the minimum. The CC2430 combined with the market leading Z-Stack(TM) ZigBee(TM) protocol software and other Chipcon software tools represent the market's most comprehensive and competitive ZigBee solution. It provides a significant design advantage and reduces engineering risk.

"Using an industry, global standard creates many opportunities in the automation application markets, and complete SoC solutions will offer the ability for manufacturers to add this wireless capability with less in-house expertise," said Joyce Putscher with market research firm In-Stat

"True single chip solutions like Chipcon's CC2430 will drive the cost of standard ZigBee(TM) solutions down thereby increasing the demand and market acceptance of the ZigBee(TM) standard", commented Pat Gonia, Senior Staff Scientist at Honeywell and member of the ZigBee(TM) Board of Directors. "This is an extremely positive step for the market."

"From the very outset we positioned ourselves to be the company that doesn't just announce solutions for ZigBee(TM), but actually delivers real, shippable solutions," commented Geir Forre, President and CEO of Chipcon. "Chipcon delivers real products today, with a robust set of development tools for a complete ZigBee(TM)-compliant solution. While other providers struggle with their first generation solutions, Chipcon already has two ZigBee(TM) generations and has a bona-fide roadmap to generations three and four. The fact that Chipcon is a Promoter of the ZigBee(TM) Alliance and has delivered the world's first IEEE 802.15.4 radio, the world's first ZigBee(TM) one-chip solution, and the world's leading ZigBee(TM) software is not a simple coincidence. It's a testament to our ability to deliver real market leading solutions."

CC2430 One Chip Technology

The CC2430 represents Chipcon's second generation ZigBee(TM) compliant platform and is a true System-on-Chip (SoC) solution, combining the industry leading radio 2.4GHz transceiver of the IEEE 802.15.4 compliant CC2420 with an industry proven, compact and efficient 8051 microcontroller. The CC2430 SoC family consists of three products (CC2430-F32, CC2430-F64 and CC2430-F128). The difference between them is the different flash configurations, 32, 64 and 128 kBytes with each configuration having 8 kBytes of RAM and other powerful supporting features. The CC2430 is based on Chipcon's SmartRF[R]03 technology platform in 0.18[micro]m CMOS and is available in a small 7-7 mm 48 pin package. During receive and transmit modes, the current consumption of the CC2430 is as low as 27 mA and 25 mA respectively. CC2430's sleep modes and its short transition times to active modes make it an ideal solution for applications that require very long battery lifetime. This configuration can be used for all kinds of ZigBeeTM wireless network nodes, including coordinators, routers and end devices.

HDTV Networking over Coax Will Launch at CES

While most of the buzz at CES surrounding home entertainment networking will come from the wireless sector, such as Broadcom's soon-to-be-announced 125 Mbps 802.11g router technology, a new group promising HDTV over coax is stirring new interest in wires. The Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA), which was announced today, will develop and certify products that use in-home coaxial cables to network home entertainment devices.

According to MoCA, the coax approach provides more security than wireless communication since the signal will be constrained to a cable. The group claims the service will be capable of 270 Mbps throughput which is five times higher than 802.11g. It also claims the service will support DVD and HDTV networking around the home.

"MoCA is an important step in delivering a home network that can securely connect the most advanced entertainment, wireless and computer devices in the home without the need for new wiring or connections," said Ladd Wardani, President of MoCA in a written statement. "The companies founding MoCA represent the commitment of industry leaders at each key level of the value chain to simultaneously distribute high quality digital video and broadband data throughout the home."

The founders of the new alliance include Cisco Systems, Comcast, EchoStar, Entropic Communications, Matsushita Electric (Panasonic), Motorola, RadioShack Corporation, and Toshiba.

According to a press release from MoCA, the key products will be those that use in-home coax without the need for new connections, wiring, point of entry devices or truck rolls. The first MoCA enabled products will reportedly be released within the next year. We'll have more details from MoCA after attending the group's press conference on Wednesday at CES.

AMD Includes Ragula Systems' FatPipe Internet Sharing Software in AMD's Home Phoneline Networking Alliance - HomePNA - Evaluation Kit - Product Inform

Ragula Systems Inc., a leading provider of Internet connection sharing software, Wednesday announced that its Internet-sharing FatPipe software is featured in the PCnet-Home controller evaluation kit from AMD.

This evaluation kit provides OEMs complete and easy-to-use development tools for the AMD PCnet-Home controller home phoneline networking device. The kit includes an evaluation copy of the FatPipe Internet connection sharing software along with device drivers for the PCnet-Home device and file/printer sharing setup for home phoneline networks.

"We are excited to work with AMD. We can help AMD's customers in providing a user-friendly product to the marketplace," said Dr. Bhaskar, president of Ragula Systems. "FatPipe's ease of installation and advanced features will certainly help home users have a positive experience with networking their home computers," Bhaskar said.

"Ragula Systems' FatPipe software for Internet sharing is a strong addition to AMD's PCnet-Home controller evaluation kit, and provides another differentiator for board manufacturers to offer their customers," said Dr. Laila Razouk, vice president of AMD's Network Products Division.

"Now, not only will users be able to link multiple PCs and share peripherals such as printers and scanners in the home, but also they'll be able to simultaneously access the Internet. This extension outside the walls of the home greatly enriches the user experience as well as the value of home phoneline networking," Razouk said.

The FatPipe Internet sharing software enables the computers on a home network to share a single Internet connection - dial-up, DSL, or cable modem. The software is compatible with Internet-based applications and a majority of multi-player games. FatPipe software includes a DHCP server for easy and automatic configuration of home networks.

The software also includes a speedmeter, speed graph, and a log of websites visited by all the computers on the network.

The PCnet-Home controller is a single-chip device that allows users to link multiple PCs over existing telephone wiring without impacting telephone services. It is the industry's first product to meet the widely endorsed HomePNA 1.0 technology specification. Home phoneline networking permits PC users to share data, peripherals, and Internet access from any phone outlet in the home.

The PCnet-Home controller includes all of the hardware and software required for PC or peripheral manufacturers to quickly bring to market inexpensive phoneline networking devices based on the HomePNA 1.0 specification. The PCnet-Home controller and evaluation kit are available direct through AMD and authorized AMD distributors.

Ragula Systems Inc., based in Salt Lake City, is a privately held company specializing in mission critical Internet access software. The company markets its products worldwide through a network of authorized distributors and dealers.

AMD is a global supplier of integrated circuits for the personal and networked computer and communications markets. AMD produces microprocessors, flash memories, and integrated circuits for communications and networking applications. Founded in 1969 and based in Sunnyvale, Calif., AMD had revenues of $2.5 billion in 1998.

AMD's Network Products Division is one of the world's foremost suppliers of end-to-end networking IC devices including adapters, controllers, switches, hubs and PHYs for the Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet and Home Networking markets. A leading networking component supplier since 1984, AMD's Network Products Division has shipped over 250 million network ports in the past five years.

The Home Phoneline Networking Alliance is an incorporated, non-profit association of industry-leading companies working together to help ensure adoption of a single, unified phoneline networking industry standard and rapidly bring to market a range of interoperable home networking solutions. AMD is a founding member of the HomePNA.

Network configuration management: an innovative, additional layer of network security - Storage Networking

With the increased number of cyber attacks and the overall complexity of enterprise networks today, IT professionals are challenged with the daunting task of protecting networks from known and unknown malicious activity. To combat network security issues, many organizations are deploying a layered security architecture that spans from the Internet to the desktop. The typical network security solutions companies deploy include firewalls, intrusion detection systems, anti-virus software, etc. Many organizations also utilize vulnerability assessments, penetration tests and other means to identify network vulnerabilities.

While traditional security solutions and services are being deployed to protect the network, devices continue to fall victim to attacks. As a result, many organizations are looking outside the "security application box" to other solutions that can more effectively secure, manage and maintain critical devices throughout the network. One particular application category IT professionals are turning to is Network Configuration Management.

Network configuration management solutions are specifically designed to automate the process of changing, securing and managing devices throughout the enterprise. Companies are turning to network configuration management solutions because there is a direct correlation between properly configured devices and network security. Whether configuration changes are introduced through malicious attacks, manual update errors, or network product defects, devices can become vulnerable and place your business at risk.

By leveraging a configuration management solution as part of your security strategy, organizations can arm IT professionals with device security and intrusion response functionality that is not found in traditional security solutions. Additionally, network configuration management solutions provide organizations with a disciplined, change management methodology that ensure IT professionals can only make changes that comply with the enterprise security policies.

Configuration management solutions enable IT professionals to:

* Identify vulnerabilities throughout the network

* Define network security policies

* Automate the deployment of security and device configuration updates

* Inform it of network intrusions and unauthorized configuration changes

* Arm management with critical security and device configuration forensics information

Addressing Network Vulnerabilities Using Configuration Management Solutions

The first thing an IT professional asks when network vulnerabilities have been identified is "What segment of my network is affected and what devices will be impacted?" While most companies document a snapshot of their network at one time or another, in all likelihood, that snapshot becomes outdated just days (if not hours) after it is produced. Without a real-time view of the network and a well-documented history, IT professionals must spend precious time understanding the current state of their infrastructure before they are in the position to answer this simple question.

Access Important Network Configuration Documentation

Configuration management solutions arm IT professionals with the real-time documentation and device configuration change history necessary to understand network vulnerabilities and dramatically reduce the meantime-to-repair. By accessing accurate network documentation through a configuration management solution, IT professionals can quickly identify what systems have been impacted and the configuration history of those devices before the vulnerability was introduced.

Deploy Critical Device Configuration Changes

Configuration management solutions not only assist IT professionals during the troubleshooting process but also help solve the problem at hand. Many times, new vulnerabilities are discovered. This quick discovery immediately enables IT to deploy widespread updates to security policies and device configuration changes. Having a configuration management solution that supports security policy templates enables IT professionals to quickly update the policy and apply the change to every device that is impacted by the policy, often before any real damage can be done.

Vulnerabilities can be introduced through network attacks, manual errors, even by personnel changes within the IT department itself. What happens when an employee leaves or a partner decides to move on and work with a competitor? This single event can create serious security vulnerabilities, and to address this issue the IT department must deploy new passwords and access privileges to potentially thousands of devices throughout the enterprise.

Most IT organizations are already running at capacity dealing with ongoing projects and service requests. When passwords or password policies must be changed it can take days, if not weeks, to manually update the devices. Even if scripts are used to expedite the process, different scripts must be written for thousands of different devices that come from a multitude of manufacturers.

Software supports independent protocol networking

Designed to meet requirements for interconnecting diverse networks, Communications Server for AIX[R] v6.3 offers connectivity options for AIX, Linux(TM), and Windows(TM) platforms. It includes TN3270E Server LU visibility for reporting IP connections to host, and SLI-LUA Interface for LU 0, 1, 2, and 3. Software provides remote API client/server support, HTTPS protocols for security, and support for many types of LAN and WAN connections, including Ethernet and token ring.

Communications Server for AIX:

Helps meet your requirements for interconnecting diverse networks

Enables security enhanced communications between workstation users and applications and other workstations and central computer applications, independent of the networking protocols used in each system

Helps you get users communicating with each other in networks of all sizes, from small workgroups to large corporate headquarters

Opens the door to protocol-independent networking with support for workstations communicating across SNA and TCP/IP networks

Overview

Communications Server for AIX[R] V6.3 adds connectivity options for AIX, Linux(TM), and Windows(TM) platforms. It includes the same industrial-strength features and functions you have come to rely on for your mission-critical, core business applications for the distributed Communications Server product line. These features and functions have been well proven in the OS/2[R], Linux, and Windows environments across a wide variety of server systems - from relatively small single-processor to high-end multiprocessor systems.

The New Networking Crock

Don't worry, if you haven't been invited once or twice already, you will be. You'll be invited to join one of the so-called social and business networks that are cropping up on the Web. The names are already becoming very familiar: Friendster, LinkedIn, Mixermixer, Ryze, and others. They use the Web as a nexus for mapping degrees of separation between you and anyone else in the known universe that is connected to other members.

These systems are designed to make our lives better and more efficient through connections. You've been wanting to have dinner with George Lucas, haven't you? After all, you have this great script for Star Wars: Episode Minus 1.

But who are we kidding? George Lucas is not showing up at your house anytime soon. This is plain, old-fashioned, hopeless Silicon Valley utopianism at work. Grab your wallet and hold on for dear life!

I'm sure these companies will become magnets for venture capital this coming year, and perhaps the public will want stock in them. I'm also sure that all of these companies will have business plans showing how they can make money with value-added services and by selling upgrades, T-shirts, hats, lapel buttons, RIM BlackBerry pagers, Web publishing, and advertising. I can also see the home brew version that always comes with this kind of service: the standalone, noncommercial, shrink-wrapped, personal networking tool. Your church can now network all its members in one easy step! And let's not forget the domino effect when the services fill up with people, get clogged, become too costly to manage, and—unless Microsoft stupidly buys these services for its mailing lists—go broke one after the other. It's all too predictable.

The entire flawed concept is a rehash of the touchy-feely community notions that emerged during the dot-com debacle. Everything had to be a community. Community means sales—big money! How? Nobody knows, but it does somehow. This new idea, sad to say, is largely based on the once-popular Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon notion, whereby you can show that there are never more than six people who know each other between you and Kevin Bacon. For example, your spouse (1) has a sister (2) whose best friend's (3) husband (4) used to date a make-up artist (5) whose best friend (6) was Kevin Bacon's hairstylist. So what genius decided to turn this folly into a business?

One obvious imperfection is that the links are too often weak and sketchy. Otherwise, all the connected people would be hanging out together. In other words, you won't get Kevin Bacon over for dinner, either. Having links also implies that the linked people actually like each other, which excludes dubious acquaintances like prison bunk mates and codefendants.

Utopian concepts mostly destroyed the dot-com era. The amount of New Age idealism in Silicon Valley is disconcerting, especially when smart people dream up what are more properly called drinking clubs or lonely hearts societies. And I suppose going to a local Friendster mixer with high hopes of meeting your yuppie soul mate amidst a sea of drips, poseurs, and phonies is better than sitting alone at home watching reruns of SpongeBob SquarePants. Maybe.

In fact, the social-networking systems will survive and the business networking systems will fail as the latter get bigger and more diluted. Let's face it: They'll attract the bottom feeders looking for a free lunch.

Then there is the issue of privacy. Do I want to be a CEO in a computerized networking system looking for a new CFO? What if someone is spying on the system? Can you imagine the leverage you'd have if you knew who was talking to whom? Even at lower levels, this is valuable information. I read the privacy statements of these systems, and I see no reason why these companies can't do this kind of monitoring. How would you know? Because they say they won't? How many dot-com promises were broken the last time around?

This kind of abuse is less likely and less important on the social networks. Who cares who is talking to whom? People are only concerned about the next party, meeting up for casual sex, finding a job as a Web page designer, or getting a new apartment.

You can expect to hear a lot of noise about these systems in the next year as the PR buzz machine cranks up and phony-baloney success stories are revealed to key media parrots. My advice: Be wary.

Home Networking reaches 128 MBPS and beyond with HomePNA 3.0 - HomePNA 3.0

The Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA), the organization driving the development and adoption of a single phoneline networking technology, set a new standard for home networking today by finalizing its third-generation technology, HomePNA 3.0. Surpassing industry expectations, the final HomePNA 3.0 reaches an unprecedented data rate of 128 Mbps with optional extensions reaching up to 240 Mbps. As the only home networking industry specification capable of reaching above 100 Mbps and with inherent deterministic Quality of Service (QoS), HomePNA technology complements wireless networking technologies providing the ideal high speed backbone for a home multimedia network requiring a fast and reliable channel to distribute multiple, feature-rich digital audio and video applications throughout a home.

Using existing home telephone wiring, HomePNA 3.0 enables consumers with multiple PCs to take advantage of a single, high-speed Internet connection to simultaneously check e-mail, browse the Web, and share peripherals as well as to stream audio and video content to consumer electronics devices and PCs without interfering with standard telephone services.

"HomePNA 3.0 has set the bar for reliability and performance for home networking technology," said Rich Nesin, president of HomePNA and vice president of marketing at CopperGate Communications. "With the rollout of HomePNA 3.0, the organization has exceeded its own high expectations and has delivered to the consumer a specification that will meet their home networking needs for years to come. HomePNA has redefined its position as a powerful interface for the multimedia home network."

"Telecommunications service providers recognize the incredible potential of broadband DSL fueled home networking, and as an industry, we are converging on new standards, specifications and provider best practices that are setting the stage for home networking excellence," said Tom Starr, chairperson and president of the DSL Forum (http://www.dslforum.org). "With 36 million users of broadband DSL globally as of year-end 2002, the pace of subscriber adoption is accelerating and DSL Forum is focused on tailoring DSL to empower networked homes around the world. HomePNA is to be congratulated for stepping forward to forge this initiative that will help shape the future of our business."

Deterministic Quality of Service makes HomePNA 3.0 unique among "no new wires" home networking specifications in its ability to deliver multiple high-speed real-time audio and video data streams without disruption in addition to "best effort" data. While HomePNA 2.0's QoS enabled equipment manufacturers to prioritize telephone voice data higher then computer data, multimedia home networking requires much stronger QoS. HomePNA 3.0 greatly enhances version 2.0 capabilities adding deterministic QoS support for real-time data. The technology permits users to assign specific time slots for each stream of data guaranteeing that the real-time data will be delivered when it is required with predetermined latency and without interruption. This capability enables providers to offer "triple play" services of POTS, high speed Internet access, broadcast and on-demand video over the home network to lower customer churn and increase revenue per customer. It also allows HomePNA V3 to transport data with inherent QoS requirements such as IEEE1394.

"The real purpose--and benefit--of consortiums like HomePNA is to develop standard technologies that meet consumers' needs and that will stand the test of time," said Kurt Scherf, vice president of research at Park Associates, a Dallas-based market research and consulting company. "By reaching 128 Mbps and beyond, HomePNA 3.0 lays the foundation for the next generation of home networking solutions geared toward multimedia applications. By addressing such issues as QoS for such applications as streaming video and audio, HomePNA 3.0 addresses the critical need of a plethora of vendors and service providers for a reliable, low-cost, and easy-to-use backbone solution that can complement additional networking technologies."

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has already adopted global phoneline networking standards G.989.1, G989.2 and G989.3 based on the HomePNA 2.0 specification. HomePNA members companies are working together and will shortly present recommendations based on version 3.0 to the ITU-T. The HomePNA 3.0 physical interface is based on version 2.0 physical layer technology and is fully backwards compatible and interoperable with HomePNA version 2.0 network components proven by field trials in hundreds of homes and shipping in products from multiple leading vendors for over two years.

Silicon solutions incorporating the HomePNA 3.0 specification are being developed to power a variety of devices including pre-configured PCs, network interface cards and adapters, residential gateways, broadband modems, printers, multimedia devices, Internet appliances, set top boxes and consumer electronics products such as TVs, DVDs, DVRs and home entertainment systems. HomePNA 3.0 silicon products supporting adapters and bridges are expected to be available later this year.

Getting disk into the backup process; adding benefits of disk while supporting existing processes - Storage Networking

As the new serial ATA disk technology begins to be integrated into backup, end users and integrators are beginning to face a new set of challenges. The issues they face include integrating the new system into enterprise backup, creating and managing the path to tape, and getting optimal performance out of the system. There are effective answers to all three, but the experience is again showing IT managers why it takes effective managed-system design to solve complex storage problems and not just new components.

Integrating Disk Into Enterprise Backup

The first major challenge to implementing a disk backup strategy is integrating it into an existing environment. Enterprise backup is complex, heterogeneous, and can touch all of an enterprise's data in hundreds or thousands of separate jobs each night. Moreover, backup isn't limited to copying and recovering files. It also organizes data sets based on what the data pool looked like at many different points in time. It keeps track of different versions. And it manages the rotation and use of media for long-term disaster recovery and data retention compliance. With this kind of scale, users can't simply insert disk resources into the process without re-architecting procedures and using different versions of backup software.

The easiest way to let enterprise backup take advantage of the performance and fault tolerance of disk is to make a disk-based system look like tape to backup applications. The technology to do that--virtual tape technology--has not been generally available for open systems backup. When ADIC created its Pathlight VX disk-to-tape system, we developed a variation of virtual tape technology built specifically to support open systems backup and we embedded it in a local controller. The system it creates provides a layer of disk-based storage with its performance and fault tolerance gains, but allows it to fit directly into an existing backup system designed around tape without requiring that a user change applications or basic processes (Figure 1). The process that is supported includes a path to real tape creation.

The Path to Tape

For long-term storage, for removability, for disaster recovery, and for compliance with data retention regulations, a removable medium like tape remains an essential part of most organizations' comprehensive data protection systems. So before any disk-based storage is made part of a backup system, two key questions need to be asked: How will data get to tape? And what kind of format and management support will it have?

How Data Gets to Tape

For the first question--how data will get to tape--there are two basic answers (see Figure 2). The fist architecture writes data to disk once, and then uses a second, on-line process to move the data to tape. The second architecture embeds the movement to tape, creating removable media off-line, in the background, and over isolated connections.

Cisco Systems Inc. Unveils Optical Networking Software Tool - Product Announcement

With the introduction of its Network Planning Tool solution, Cisco Systems Inc. (www.cisco.com) hopes to give network administrators the tools they need to adequately plan and manage optical network implementations.

The new optical networking planning and assessment tool is based on a tool that was originally developed by optical networking pioneer Monterey Networks, which Cisco acquired in September 1999.

Cisco positions this product as a graphical planning tool that helps users of its Wavelength 15900 series routers stage a sequence of simulated what-if scenarios as a means to develop and refine prototypical optical network topologies. Cisco sources say the Network Planning Tool also will help customers handle the overall capacity and utilization levels of optical networks -- an important first step in establishing acceptable thresholds for service level agreements.

Cisco expects the Network Planning Tool to find its greatest level of acceptance among service providers, who typically use long-haul optical switches and routers in carrier-type implementations.

According to Cisco spokesman Jon Philips, wavelength-type routing architectures such as those built around the Cisco 15900 series require the use of sophisticated planning tools to ensure that an optical environment remains optimized, even in the midst of network expansion and other topological changes.

Accordingly, the Cisco Network Planning Tool lets users take a snapshot view of an existing network environment and compare it with a model of what that network might look like and with predictions of how it might behave in the aftermath of various changes, adjustments, or hardware failures.

Network administrators can also choose to create models that take into account high-availability features, such as network load balancing. The Network Planning Tool is capable of modeling failure scenarios, as well, by simulating cuts in optical links and by predicting the resulting network behavior.

Perhaps most significantly, Cisco representatives say the tool can help network administrators determine the equipment resources that they will need to address their specific network growth requirements -- down to the port-level.

Network Planning Tool is geared toward large, carrier-type service providers, but John Adler, director of marketing for Cisco's core optical transport unit, says that optical networking technologies -- and the planning problems and issues that necessarily accompany them -- are trickling down to large enterprise environments, as well.

"[Optical networking] started as a simple application of creating more wavelengths with more fiber in the ground, and the economics worked out that it was more efficient to do that in long-haul implementations," Adler acknowledges. "But what we see happening is that the waves are starting to move out into the middle of the network, and this technology is trickling down."

Sam Alunni, president of enterprise and Internet infrastructure at Sterling Research (www.sterlingresearch.com), says optical networking technologies are increasingly cropping up in Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) implementations.

As optical networks trickle down and become increasingly more prevalent in conventional networks, Alunni reasons, the corresponding need for optical networking planning and management tools will become more critical.

Greg Berthold, a network analyst at Pennsylvania State University's (www. psu.edu) office of business services, says a tool like Cisco's Network Planning Tool makes a great deal of sense, although he agrees that because of its service-provider pedigree, it's probably excessive for most conventional enterprise environments.

"For any kind of high-speed connection, you're always looking out for potential bottlenecks that might occur and how your bandwidth is going to be utilized. Those are always your biggest concerns, especially with something as new as optical technologies," he points out.

According to Berthold, a tool such as Cisco's Network Planning Tool might be useful as a means to help identify potential network bottlenecks in the planning stages -- always a tricky endeavor when mixed fiber and conventional networking topologies are involved.

"When optical impulses get converted to an electrical signal -- as must happen whenever you cross from a fiber topology to a more conventional network topology -- that's where you're going to have the most corruption taking place," he explains. "That's also where it's going to be hardest to determine what kind of bottlenecks you're going to experience."

Console Servers provide secure out-of-band networking

Equipped with v3.6.0 software that supports Federal Information Processing Standard 140-2 security standard, Series LX provides encryption, suppression of unsecure protocols, and audit trail of legitimate and illegitimate attempts to access network equipment. Servers are available in 4, 40, or 48 port models, providing remote power management and integrated infrastructure/security alarming through single management interface.

FIPS 140-2 is Emerging Federal Government and Finance Security Standard; Augments Authentication and Security Capabilities of LX Series Console Server Family

CHATSWORTH, Calif., Sept. 13 / -- MRV Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRVC), a leading provider of network equipment and services, today announced new software for its LX Series console servers that supports the Federal Information Processing Standard ("FIPS") 140-2 security standard along with an upgraded Linux kernel. Together, these additions improve network protection and add compliance with key U.S. information technology ("IT") regulations.

MRV's LX Series products are industry leading console servers that provide secure out-of-band networking, giving network managers a remote means of managing, configuring and upgrading servers and other networking equipment via their serial ports. The LX Series also provides remote power management and integrated infrastructure/security alarming through a single management interface.

FIPS 140-2 is a security standard for IT systems that is mandatory in U.S. and Canadian government applications, and is gaining popularity in security- sensitive enterprise applications including banks, stock brokerages and other financial institutions. FIPS 140-2 is the second of four security levels defined within FIPS and includes both data encryption and a product design that detects evidence of tampering.

With support of the FIPS 140-2 standard, LX Series devices meet a rigorous set of rules set by an unbiased third party, and provide a much higher level of security, including higher encryption levels, suppression of unsecure protocols, and provide an audit trail of legitimate and illegitimate attempts to access network equipment. This security is suitable for compliance with strict government mandates such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA") and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 among others.

The LX Series includes the compact LX 1000S with up to four ports, the rack-mountable LX 4000S, with up to 48 ports, and the NEBS-compliant LX 8000S with up to 40 ports. The new features are in the LX Series system software Version 3.6.0, which is available now. FIPS certification by Atlan Laboratories, a U.S. government-certified testing agency, is underway.

"Improving network access -- especially in a crisis -- is critical for today's network-centric enterprises, which is why there is an increased push to implement secure out-of-band networking capabilities," said Mary Jane Gruninger, general manager of MRV's LX Series product line. "With this new software release, the LX family is continuing its long-held position of being the most secure console server available."

"IT security remains one of the biggest problems for the Federal Government and remote access with authentication are key issues. NIST FIPS 140-2 drives these requirements," said Ed Lewis, Technical Director/Security Engagement Manager, Force 3, Inc. "Supporting the FIPS standard is an acknowledgment of MRV's commitment to meeting the needs of their customers, and demonstrates MRV's position as a leading provider of secure out-of-band networking solutions."

IPv6 Tops List of Additional Features

Other new features in Version 3.6.0 include support for IPv6 networks and expanded support for SNMP v3, which provides for encryption. A new Ethernet redundancy capability allows one port to act as a back up to the primary connection.

Version 3.6.0 is based on the Linux 2.6 kernel, which enables improved security, application and performance enhancements.

The LX Series Version 3.6.0 also has been upgraded to support the Event Horizon fault management capability in MRV's Megavision Pro network management software, which provides enhanced support backup and restore capabilities. Using Megavision Event Horizon, a user can manage alarms generated by either the LX Series Console Servers or by MRV's IR-7104 Alarm Master alarm and control concentrator.

Pricing and Availability

LX Series Version 3.6.0 is shipping today on all LX Series Console Servers. It also supports MRV's 5150 Power Control series and IR-7014 Alarm Master. It is a free upgrade for existing LX Series customers via MRV's website.

About the LX Series Family of Console Servers

The LX Series of console servers are all powered by 32-bit RISC processors, can scale from one to hundreds of ports and feature the functionality and redundancy required to support large, distributed enterprise networks. The devices feature complete console management capabilities, allowing IT staff to remotely manage and configure network devices and servers as well as perform software upgrades. These capabilities are augmented by the ability to monitor contact alarms and to remotely control power for back up servers or other equipment. Advanced security features include FIPS 140-2, per port password protection, RADIUS, Secure Shell v2.0, SecurID, TACACS+, PPP PAP/CHAP, PPP dial-back, on-board database and others.

Networking Platform helps create/deploy digital services

Designed to provide digital services for smart phones and other intelligent mobile devices, Me Inc. operates using edge processor software technology running in network-based UNIX or MS Windows operating environment. Edge processor offloads logic and data from end-point devices; enables secure access to enterprise and Internet-based information, services, and resources; and enables coordination, communication, and control for mobile work groups.

New Me Inc. Digital Network Services Platform Positions Company To Deliver Mobile Solutions Into The Fast Growing Smart Handheld Device Market

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., DEMO Conference, Sept. 19 / -- The SCO Group, Inc. ("SCO") (NASDAQ:SCOX), a leading provider of UNIX(R) software technology for distributed, embedded and network-based systems, today announced an advanced networking platform, providing feature-rich consumer and business digital services for smart phones and other intelligent mobile devices. SCO's Me Inc. digital services platform is being unveiled this week at the DEMO conference, the technology industry's premier event for the unveiling of promising new products and services.

Me Inc. provides a new approach to mobile communications, collaboration and control that allows users of smart handheld devices, such as the Palm Treo, to be more productive and effective. In the near future, SCO plans to make Me Inc. available to users of other popular handheld devices such as RIM BlackBerry, and those that run Microsoft Windows Mobile and the Symbian OS.

Me Inc. operates using unique edge processor software technology running in a network-based UNIX or Microsoft Windows operating environment to simplify integration of mobile devices with backend resources. The Me Inc., edge processor offloads logic and data from end-point devices, enables secure, efficient access to enterprise and Internet-based information, services and resources, and enables a new level of coordination, communication and control for mobile work groups of any size.

Me Inc. has been a multi-year development effort by SCO and builds on technologies that the company gained through a Web Services technology acquisition in 2003.

The Me Inc. networking software platform is designed to allow service providers and carriers to create and deploy new digital services for a market that is seeing significant growth. According to IT industry research firm IDC, smartphones will make up approximately 85 percent of all intelligent mobile device shipments by the year 2007. Research from The Radicati Group indicates that the worldwide mobile workforce will grow from 17 percent of corporate professionals in 2004 to 89 percent in 2008.

"SCO is a company that has been creating innovative technology and Me Inc. is a result of the creative ideas and hard work coming from our employees," said Darl McBride, president and CEO, The SCO Group, Inc. "We've successfully used Me Inc. internally during the past year to improve the way we work as a company and we've anxiously anticipated the time when we would deliver it to the marketplace. We're pleased with the early customer acceptance of Me Inc. and look forward to making it broadly available in the coming weeks."

Me Inc. will initially provide a number of digital service components that can be used individually or integrated into custom mobile applications and services. At introduction, Me Inc. component digital services will include the following:

Shout -- A highly flexible way to capture, communicate and share multimedia messages. Shout allows users to distribute voice or text communications to individuals or groups of any size.

Action -- A mobile way to easily plan, delegate, track and report on the progress of projects, goals, objectives and action items of individuals and groups.

Vote -- A rapid and reliable way to conduct and display opinion polling and other real-time research data capture.

People -- Allows users to create groups with enhanced multimedia profiles of people from existing directories or a users' mobile service.

"Me Inc. is an innovative digital services platform that SCO has worked on for more than 30 man years," said Chris Sontag, senior vice president and general manager for Me Inc., The SCO Group, Inc. "With Me Inc., SCO is providing a platform for digital network services that will allow us to enter new markets while also leveraging our SCO UNIX technology for a demanding edge processing environment. SCO has created a rich mobile experience that we believe will resonate with end users and provide them with new ways to connect, communicate, coordinate, and control their information in a mobile computing environment."

Initial Me Inc. user feedback has shown enhanced business effectiveness in those organizations that have tested it and has resulted in signed deals with SCO even prior to the product's announcement. Musco Food Corporation, a premier distributor of Italian food products based in Maspeth, New York, was looking for a more reliable way for their field sales representatives to enter and process orders while onsite with customers. ASK Technologies, the reseller and technology consultant for Musco, recommended Me Inc. as the solution because it would allow cost-effective mobile access to current product and inventory information and enable mobile order entry and reporting. SCO and ASK were able to develop and provision this solution for Musco in less than 12 business hours thanks to Me Inc.'s advanced design.

Cable Management Products target networking applications

Enabling end-to-end, integrated cable management and maintenance, IBDN Cable Management Solutions encompass everything required by commercial networks for housing, storage, and protection of data hardware, as well as discrete components for cable handing and routing. Products include enclosures and racks in variety of vertical, open frame, and wall mount configurations; cable ties in range of sizes for varying load capacities; and surface raceways for wire enclosure applications.

FORT MILL, S.C., Jan. 23 - Belden CDT Networking, a global leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of a wide range of cabling and connectivity solutions for the networking marketplace, is pleased to introduce Belden IBDN Cable Management Solutions. As one of the largest structured cabling system suppliers in the industry, Belden CDT Networking has leveraged its engineering and manufacturing expertise to develop a comprehensive family of products designed to enable end-to-end, integrated cable management and maintenance. Belden IBDN cable management components are available for every kind of commercial network installation, from data centers to riser systems, telecommunications closets, horizontal wiring and workstations in single buildings or campus networks.

According to Bill Miller, Director of Marketing for Belden CDT Networking, "Our complete line of Belden IBDN Cable Management Solutions is yet another demonstration of our ongoing commitment to meet changing customer needs in the commercial data networking environment. In offering Belden IBDN cable management components, our goal is to streamline and simplify the complexity involved in building, expanding and maintaining state-of-the-art networks. This means customers installing one of our structured cabling systems can now enjoy the convenience of filling all of their cable installation and management needs through a single, trusted source."

Belden IBDN End-to-End Cable Management

The Belden IBDN line of cable management products encompasses everything required by commercial networks for the housing, storage and protection of data hardware and equipment, as well as discrete components designed to simplify cable handling and routing and facilitate orderly installation and ongoing maintenance.

The new product line includes:

-- Enclosures and Racks. Available in a variety of standard and customized vertical, open frame and wall-mount configurations, which also include numerous mounting, cable and patch cord management options and accessories.

-- Cable Ties. Belden IBDN cable ties come in a complete range of sizes for varying load capacities and are available in standard or weather-resistant nylon.

-- Surface Raceways. The Belden IBDN Surface Raceway System, which provides a functional, affordable solution for wire enclosure applications, includes extruded raceways with pre-applied adhesive backings, plus a variety of fittings and junction boxes.

All Belden IBDN Cable Management Solutions, when installed within a Belden IBDN Certified System, carry the exclusive Belden IBDN 25-Year Product Warranty. The components are also warranted to meet or exceed the specifications of standards organizations such as ISO/IEC, CENELEC and TIA/EIA for the category or system installed.

Full product line availability will occur during the first quarter of 2006, for more information about the Belden IBDN family of cable management products or to request a catalog, call 1-800-262-9334, or visit the Web site at http://www.beldenibdn.com/ .

About Belden CDT Networking

Belden CDT Networking, a unit of Belden CDT Inc., is a world leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of a broad range of cabling and connectivity components for the commercial communications market. The division offers both cabling components as well as complete end-to-end structured cabling systems (e.g., Belden IBDN(TM) System 10GX(TM), Belden IBDN Copper and FiberExpress(TM) Systems) and Belden IBDN Cabling Management Solutions. Headquartered in Fort Mill, South Carolina, Belden CDT Networking has manufacturing facilities in North America and Europe, and distribution centers in the U.S., Canada, Singapore, Australia and the Netherlands. A majority of this division's manufacturing, engineering and support functions are registered to the International Organization for Standardization.

Networking with Cisco Systems: 'central to the mission of UNDP' - United Nations Development Programme

Cisco Systems, Inc., a global leader in networking for the Internet, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly launched the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Initiative at the G-8 Summit in July 2000. Since the announcement of the strategic partnership, CISCO SYSTEMS, UNDP, the United Nations Volunteer programme (UNV), the United Nations Information Technology Service (UNITeS) and the United States Agency for International Development have been working together to train students for the Internet economy by establishing the Cisco Networking Academy Program in more than half of the world's LDCs that suffer from poverty, as well as from weak human resources and economic institutions.

The Networking Academy Program is a comprehensive 560-hour course designed to provide students with conceptual and practical skills that will enable them to design, build and maintain computer networks. It comprises Web-based educational content, online testing, student performance tracking, hands-on laboratories, and instructor training and support, and is offered at high schools, technical schools, universities and other community-based organizations. At the end of the curriculum, students are prepared for the Cisco Certified Networking Associate examination.

The LDC Initiative highlights the possibilities of strategic partnerships and is a leading example of the collaboration between the United Nations and the private sector to meet the urgent needs of LDCs, by giving their students the same quality training in information technology (IT) as in advanced countries. There are currently 49 LDCs designated by the United Nations, the majority in sub-Saharan Africa. Constituting the most deprived part of the international community and their economic and social development, LDCs have a combined population of 610.5 million, or 10.5 per cent of the world's population. As UNDP consulted country offices, Governments and academic institutions of LDCs, using its expertise in economic and social development and familiarity with the local and regional situations in 132 different countries, Cisco Systems established a deployment strategy for each country. Shortly, the partners were able to create strong communication links at all levels, mainly through e-mail

Cisco Systems, Inc., a global leader in networking for the Internet, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly launched the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Initiative at the G-8 Summit in July 2000. Since the announcement of the strategic partnership, CISCO SYSTEMS, UNDP, the United Nations Volunteer programme (UNV), the United Nations Information Technology Service (UNITeS) and the United States Agency for International Development have been working together to train students for the Internet economy by establishing the Cisco Networking Academy Program in more than half of the world's LDCs that suffer from poverty, as well as from weak human resources and economic institutions.

The Networking Academy Program is a comprehensive 560-hour course designed to provide students with conceptual and practical skills that will enable them to design, build and maintain computer networks. It comprises Web-based educational content, online testing, student performance tracking, hands-on laboratories, and instructor training and support, and is offered at high schools, technical schools, universities and other community-based organizations. At the end of the curriculum, students are prepared for the Cisco Certified Networking Associate examination.

The LDC Initiative highlights the possibilities of strategic partnerships and is a leading example of the collaboration between the United Nations and the private sector to meet the urgent needs of LDCs, by giving their students the same quality training in information technology (IT) as in advanced countries. There are currently 49 LDCs designated by the United Nations, the majority in sub-Saharan Africa. Constituting the most deprived part of the international community and their economic and social development, LDCs have a combined population of 610.5 million, or 10.5 per cent of the world's population. As UNDP consulted country offices, Governments and academic institutions of LDCs, using its expertise in economic and social development and familiarity with the local and regional situations in 132 different countries, Cisco Systems established a deployment strategy for each country. Shortly, the partners were able to create strong communication links at all levels, mainly through e-mail

Agere Systems and Yafo Networks announce joint development of high-speed adaptive receiver technology for optical networking systems - New Products

Agere Systems and Yafo Networks, a provider of adaptive optical subsystems, announced a partnership to jointly develop integrated adaptive receiver technology for high-speed optical transmissions. This device will offer receiver performance and low distortion at 40 gigabits-per-second, giving systems manufacturers the ability to develop the next generation of optical networks by eliminating one of the most limiting impairments in high data-rate systems.

Under this agreement, Yafo and Agere will develop 40 Gbit/s receivers that incorporate polarization mode dispersion (PMD) compensation and other features inside a compact, integrated module. This agreement spans product definition and development of integrated receiver modules, combining Yafo's industry-leading PMD compensation technology with Agere's expertise in 40 Gbit/s receiver design and other optical component technologies.

Agere Systems, Alcatel Optronics, Nortel Networks announce multisource agreement for compact EDFAs for optical networking systems - Business

Agere Systems, Alcatel Optronics, and Nortel Networks announced a multi-source agreement (MSA) for compact EDFAs used in optical networking systems. The agreement establishes a standard that specifies uniformity for product package outlines, pin function definitions, and optical and electrical characteristics. Agere, Alcatel Optronics and Nortel Networks will independently develop and market compact EDFAs based on this standard, ensuring that optical systems manufacturers have a choice among compatible sources.

Compact EDFAs offer condensed, small form factor packaging with high flexibility at low cost. These devices target single-channel or narrow-band applications from the metro edge to ultra long-haul, and are typically used when a quantity of channels are split off of the main networking path to a switch elsewhere in the network.

Compact EDFAs improve system performance by overcoming optical power or attenuation losses inherent with multiplexers or demultiplexers. This adds more flexibility in optical add/drop switch applications, and delivers preamp functionality in receivers to extend the reach of long and ultra long-haul systems.

Through this multisource agreement, system designers can feel more confident about getting the components they need and being able to incorporate them without costly and time consuming system redesign. Under the terms of the MSA, Agere, Alcatel Optronics and Nortel Networks are expected to manufacture compact EDFAs that conform to specified packaging dimensions and pin functionality, and meet or exceed specified optical and electrical characteristics.

Networked storage systems break the boundaries

Modular storage systems ushered in a new era in storage by delivering more flexibility and modularity than their monolithic storage systems predecessors. A new generation of storage system, the Networked Storage System, is now creating a dislocation in the marketplace by taking a page from distributed computing models and leveraging advances in storage networking.

Users with tight IT budgets have readily adopted modular storage systems as a path to acquire storage infrastructure at a fraction of the cost of large monolithic systems. As growth outpaced the extensibility (up until Fall 2003 most modular storage systems had a maximum raw storage capacity of 35TB) of these modular systems, users were forced to upgrade to a more powerful models or added additional systems. Upgrades required system downtime and resulted in business disruption. Increasing the number of systems meant an upgrade in SAN infrastructure and layers of software applications to manage theses systems. The complexity of managing multiple systems, inefficiencies in the utilization of this storage, and support costs quickly out-stripped the initial savings.

At the core of the issue is the architecture of a typical modular storage system. Most modular storage systems use single or dual storage managers housed in a common enclosure with some number of disk drives. Capacity is increased by daisy chaining additional disk cabinets. A fixed number of disk channels is an architectural limitation for capacity expansion. Host connectivity is limited by a fixed number of dedicated host channels. Performance is limited by the power of the pair of storage managers. Lastly, availability is disadvantaged by a dependency on a common backplane between the storage managers. Challenged to scale modular systems beyond the architectural limitations, vendors added virtualization software, storage resource management software, and a web of fabric switches.

Problem solved.

Not quite. Whatever happened to the simple elegance of modular storage and reducing cost?

The extensibility of modular mid-range storage systems is indeed limited by architecture; however, marketing also plays a role. The extensibility of modular systems is limited in part to protect the premiums associated with high-end systems, and the profits derived from the software and services required to create networks of modular systems.

Agere Systems announces line of small-form-factor transceivers for SONET/SDH optical networking systems - New Products

Agere Systems announced the industry's most complete line of small-form-factor (SFF) transceivers for developers of SONET/SDH-based optical networking systems. Part of Agere's NetLight transceiver portfolio, this new family of high-speed pin-through-hole transceivers offers systems designers a single source for cost-effective, high-performance devices.

Announced here at the Networld+Interop (N+I) Conference, Agere's NetLight NLT series covers transmission speeds from OC-3 (155 Mbps) to OC-48 (2.5 Gbps) at distances from two to 80 kilometers. These transceivers are optimized for high-density, high-speed data transport in metropolitan and access networks.

Agere's new NetLight NLT family includes high-performance transceivers, called NLT HP, which use Agere-developed laser and receiver sub-assemblies and are designed specifically for long-reach and extended-long-reach applications from OC-3 to OC-48., Optical transceivers designed for shorter-range access applications are also available using standard laser and detector optical sub-assemblies. These devices provide cost-effective solutions for use inside a building, central office, or campus. Future designs will incorporate Agere's laser chips in these sub-assemblies.

Sorrento Networks announces interoperability with Hitachi Telecom USA Inc. long-haul Optical networking systems - Test/Trials - Hitachi Telecom U.S.A.

Sorrento Networks and Hitachi Telecom USA Inc., a subsidiary of Hitachi America Ltd., a provider of telecommunications equipment including long-haul DWDM systems and SONET, announced successful completion of interoperability testing demonstrating optical transport over both Hitachi Telecom's long-haul and Sorrento's metro/regional optical networking systems.

Interoperability testing between Sorrento's GigaMux DWDM optical transport platform and Hitachi Telecom's AMN 7100 with micro-Transmux systems empowers telecommunications and cable/MSO carrier customers to select a pre-tested long-haul and metro network solution. Successful end-to-end interoperability was demonstrated using OC-48 (2.5 Gbps) and OC 192 (10 Gbps) signals with and without forward error correction (FEC).

Sorrento Networks' GigaMux is a metro and regional DWDM platform that expands the capacity of a new or existing fiber network up to 64 times, transforming any fiber plant into a high performance, multi-protocol transmission network. GigaMux is a compact, flexible and cost-effective system based on a "pay as you grow" architecture. Sorrento's EPC product family consists of sub-rate access aggregation multiplexers that increase bandwidth utilization by aggregating a wide variety of traffic for transmission over a single wavelength. Jump Start-400 is the company's 4-channel coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) platform targeted at storage area and simple network extension applications.

Hitachi's AMN 6100/7100 product line offers multiple rate inputs, ultra high channel count and ultra long-haul capabilities in a single platform. The products offer scalability to 128 10 Gbps signals, and support 100 GHz ITU grid spacing with in-service upgradability to 50GHz lTU grid spacing. Flexible optical add/drop multiplex (OADM) capabilities enable optimization of the network configuration according to traffic demands. Output power control automatically maintains constant per channel output power to ensure reliable, robust transmission under changing conditions.

NEC America's Optical Network Systems Division introduces optical network management solution - New Products - introduces SpectralWave Networking Soft

NEC America Inc. (NEC) Optical Network Systems Division announced it will introduce its SpectralWave Networking Software (SWNS) this month. A family of software modules that enable operators to improve network efficiency and generate new revenue streams, SWNS is the industry's first suite of solutions that integrates control plane, network management and network planning software. Ideally suited for next generation IP networks, NEC will make its SWNS suite available to operators in the third quarter of 2002.

NEC's approach in developing the industry's first integrated solution consists of several components:

SWNS Control Plane Software -- This distributed network control software increases network flexibility and efficiency. Both GMPLS (Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switch) and LMP (Link Management Protocol) is included to realize UNI (User Network Interface) and NNI (Network Node Interface) in a network environment. Automated network configuration recognition, network route search, path setup, and network protection function are realized, as well.

SWNS Network Management System -- In addition to existing OAM&P (Operation, Administration, Maintenance, and Provisioning) functions, this system can share network resources information with the distributed control plane, and support gradual migration from existing centralized management to distributed management. It also supports standardized CORBA-based interface to operate in a multi-vendor network environment.

SWNS Network Planning Tool -- In addition to managing current demands, this tool assesses existing network resources and facilities, and projects future needs to provide an optimized network expansion path. It also supports path design through multi-layer network and protection path design for network failure recovery.

GSM/3G driving mobile broadband networking

Results from the latest survey by GSA, Global mobile Suppliers Association, show that the GSM family continues to be the de-facto standard for operators upgrading their networks for voice and enhanced mobile data services. Service providers across the Americas, Asia, Australasia, Europe, and the Middle East have all deployed high-speed mobile networks based on WCDMA and EDGE open standards.

GSA confirms that there are 64 WCDMA networks in commercial service in 31 countries, delivering 3G services to over 16.26 million subscribers at December 31, 2004 (2.68 million at end 2003). A further 9 networks are close to service launch and at "pre-commercial" stage. This confirms that 56 percent of the 129 WCDMA license holders in 43 countries have already launched, or are close to launching, their services.

GSA also reports the continuing globalization of EDGE and confirms that 123 GSM/ GPRS operators in 72 countries have committed to the EDGE upgrade, equivalent to more than half of the number of commercial GPRS networks globally. A total of 43 networks in 32 countries have launched commercial EDGE-enabled services. WCDMA and EDGE are complementary technologies ensuring lower capital expense and optimum flexibility and efficiencies. An increasing number of GSM operators are delivering 3G services on a combined WCDMA/EDGE network.

The wide variety of WCDMA and EDGE devices and increasing availability in commercial volumes from several manufacturers is a major factor supporting accelerating 3G deployments and service offerings. Related research by GSA identifies 108 WCDMA devices and 62 EDGE-enabled devices are shipping or announced in the market today, serving all market segments. Alan Hadden, President, GSA, said,

"This latest survey underlines the continuing success of the GSM family and its evolution to 3G. WCDMA is the most widely accepted 3G/IMT-2000 technology globally. WCDMA and EDGE are mature technologies ensuring that operators are competitive and can re-use their GSM core network and services."

Optical networking a wild ride for MEMS suppliers

Revenues for MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical Systems) devices sold into the optical networking market declined by 27.2 percent from 2003 to 2004, although the level of unit shipments remained essentially flat, reports EmTech Research, a division of Small Times Media. Once considered the golden child of telecom, suppliers developing MEMS-based components for optical networking applications continue to be battered by poor market conditions.

"Even a new strategy, in which many MEMS suppliers are now offering intelligent modules such as Wavelength Selective Switches (WSS), rather than just components, may not be enough," said Marlene Bourne, Vice President of Research and Principal Analyst with EmTech Research. "2005 will be a pivotal year where survival will be the main business focus."

A report from EmTech Research also finds that:

- Despite current market conditions, MEMS suppliers pursuing this segment received $63.5 million in funding over the past twelve months.

- At a little more than $150 million in 2009, this year's revenue forecast is just a tenth of the forecast back in the heyday of late 2000.

- Unit shipments are forecast to increase at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 9.4 percent over the next five years.

The new report, MEMS Market Brief: Last Call for Optical Networking?, takes a look at the companies offering MEMS-based solutions for the optical networking market. Forecasts of unit shipments and revenues are provided through 2009.

Toshiba expands wireless networking in the office - Toshiba Mania SG30 from Toshiba's Computer Systems Group

Delivering upon the promise of affordable, 802.11b wireless capable networking for demanding business environments, Toshiba's Computer Systems Group has introduced the Magnia SG30 Wireless Mobility Server. Designed for use in small to medium-sized businesses or remote offices in large corporations, the Magnia SG30 enhances collaboration and productivity through fast and easy file sharing, printer networking and access to the Internet.

About the size of a Toshiba notebook, the Magnia SG30 is simple to deploy and manage, reducing the need for ongoing IT support, while also providing full-featured networking capabilities. A configurable firewall application and standard virtual private network (VPN) protect valuable electronic information from unauthorized access. Robust storage capacity--up to 160GB--ensures that business professionals are able to access shared data while in or away from the office. As part of Toshiba's Magnia Mobile Productivity Solutions, the Magnia SG30 can also be used as a platform for solution developers to create customized business applications, such as programs that for example, can track billable hours or manage financial information.

Available now, pricing for the Toshiba Magnia SG30 Wireless Mobility Server starts at $1499.