Stardust Forums to Host IP Multicast Interoperability Event
Helps Vendors Ready
Products for Widespread Customer Deployment;
Customers to Benefit from Improved Product
Quality
Business Wire - May 05, 1998 12:50
CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 5, 1998--Many of
the world's leading IP Multicast product vendors will gather this June
1-5 in Campbell for the first IP Multicast Interoperability Invitational
Event.
The event, sponsored by Stardust Forums, will allow participating
vendors to test their products for interoperability with other IP
Multicast-enabled products.
"The IP Multicast Interoperability Invitational is important because it
will foster improved interoperability among participating vendors'
products," said Martin Hall, co-chair of the IP Multicast Initiative and
CTO of managing member Stardust Forums. "Customers are the
primary beneficiaries of multi-vendor interoperability bake-offs,
because these events invariably improve product quality."
World's Leading IP Multicast Vendors Demonstrate Commitment to
Open Standards
The five-day event will feature the active participation of numerous
companies who are committed to IP Multicast interoperability.
Participating vendors include Ascend Communications
(NASDAQ:ASND), EMULive Imaging Corporation, Fore Systems
(NASDAQ:FORE), Ganymede Software, Gilat Satellite Networks
(NASDAQ:GILTF), Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HWP), IBM
(NYSE:IBM), ICAST, Packet Engines, Packeteer, StarBurst
Communications, Torrent Networking and others.
Five Day Event Features In Depth Interoperability Testing
The IP Multicast Interoperability Invitational will feature five days of in
depth interoperability testing. Products from participating vendors will
be tested in various network environments. Participating engineering
teams from each vendor will work closely with one-another to identify
interoperability issues and resolve problems on the spot. In the spirit of
Internet technology interoperability testing, test results will remain
confidential.
During the event, participating engineers will contribute to the
development of a robust test matrix, which will provide guidelines for
evaluating multiple interoperability concerns. Interoperability concerns
addressed by the matrix include network management tools;
diagnostic tools; routing protocols with various edge considerations;
WinSock 2 stack support; IGMP interoperability; and IGMP snooping.
Switches will be tested for 802.1p interoperability.
Stardust to Document Interoperability Guidelines
In addition to dramatically improving product interoperability,
knowledge learned during the event is expected to contribute to best
practices for IP Multicast deployment. Following the event, Stardust
Forums will draw on this knowledge to author an interoperability
guidelines document designed to assist end-user organizations who
plan to deploy IP Multicast.
The guidelines will form the basis of an entire chapter in the second
edition of the IP Multicast Deployment Guide, a comprehensive
workbook and step-by-step planning guide for deploying IP Multicast.
The Deployment Guide which will be published in late June, and is
offered at an introductory price of $99 per copy.
Vendors Speak out about IP Multicast Interoperability Invitational
Event
Ascend Communications
"Ascend welcomes the opportunity to participate in the IP Multicast
Interoperability Invitational test as part of our ongoing efforts to deliver
carrier-class solutions that support IP Multicast standards," said Fred
Sammartino, Director of IP Marketing, Ascend Communications Inc.,
Core Systems Division. "Our service provider customers are very
interested in IP Multicast and the benefits and services it promises. As
a member of the IPMI Forum, Ascend is committed to helping
customers realize these benefits. Industry-wide interoperability testing
is an important step toward the early acceptance and adoption of new
technologies such as these that are required for the next generation of
Internet capabilities."
EMULive Imaging Corporation
"We are extremely pleased to be participating in Stardust's IP
Multicast Interoperability Event," said Jory Anick, chief technology
officer of Montreal-based EMULive Imaging Corporation. "This
event presents the opportunity for us to discuss with our worldwide
counterparts the possibility of creating partnerships as well as strategic
alliances."
Fore Systems
"IP multicasting is a critical component of the emerging multi-service
network environment," commented Ashok Madanahalli, FORE
Systems' product line manager for ATM internetworking. "Without it,
video delivery and even data replication services consume too much
bandwidth to be practical. With IP multicast protocols, workstations
and servers specify which 'feeds' are of interest to them, and
networking devices like our PowerHub and ES-3810 family deliver the
multicast traffic as needed."
Hewlett Packard Company
"HP is testing its networking solutions, including HP-UX servers,
workstations and ProCurve switches, at the IP Multicast
Interoperability Invitational," said Jan Bell, worldwide marketing
manager at HP's Workgroup Networks Division. "This marks a
significant milestone in the successful deployment of IP Multicast."
IBM
"IBM, as a charter member of the IPMI, is dedicated to providing
standards-based solutions for efficient information distribution and
management," said Don Haile, Vice-President of Development for
IBM's Network Hardware Division. "Interoperability events are
crucial to guaranteeing customer satisfaction in a multi-vendor
environment. IBM's complete e-business solutions include IP
Multicast capabilities for the most efficient use of network resources."
ICAST
"ICAST believes that interoperability is where the rubber of open
standards meets the road of implementation," said Brian Smithson,
director of product management at ICAST. "A multi-vendor focus on
interoperability can move the whole industry toward interoperability,
create a spirit of community among the vendors, and provide
invaluable feedback to the standards process. The IP Multicast
Invitational Interoperability Event will benefit the industry and
customers alike."
Packeteer
"Packeteer looks forward enthusiastically to this event," Peter Schein,
director of product marketing at Packeteer. "IP Multicast
interoperability represents Packeteer's commitment to industry
standards and reinforces Packeteer's position as the leader in
multi-protocol, multi-service bandwidth management for
business-critical applications on wide-area networks."
Packet Engines
"Packet Engines is excited to include the PowerRail Enterprise Routing
Switch in the IP Multicast Interoperability Invitational," said Kevin
Sheehan, director of product marketing at Packet Engines. "With the
rapid growth of IP Multicast applications, users need to be assured of
multi-vendor interoperability. This event provides Packet Engines an
excellent forum in which to demonstrate standards-compliance and
interoperability, and to reaffirm our leadership in high performance
networking."
Torrent Networking Technologies
"Torrent is very enthusiastic about this event," said Lou Martinage,
Director of Product Marketing at Torrent Networking Technologies.
"We look forward to demonstrating full multivendor interoperability for
the unmatched multicast routing capabilities of our IP9000 Gigabit
Router."
About the IP Multicast Initiative
Founded in 1996, the IPMI is a multi-vendor cooperative effort to
promote the deployment of industry-standard IP Multicast technology.
The IPMI is managed by Stardust Forums, a division of Stardust
Technologies. The IP Multicast Initiative's web address is
ipmulticast.com
About Stardust
Stardust Forums, based in Campbell, is a leading provider of emerging
Internet technology forums and events for market stimulation,
expansion and education. Stardust develops new technology markets
by building and managing communities of vendors to achieve common
goals. Stardust also produces and manages educational events focused
on these leading edge Internet technologies, protocols and standards. |
