BAY Unveils Industrial Strength, Carrier-Class Dedicated Internet Access Platform
[Q199 general availability. Level 3 reference is interesting]
Business Wire - May 26, 1998 13:54
%BAY-NETWORKS BAY %CALIFORNIA %COMED %COMPUTERS %ELECTRONICS
%TELECOMMUNICATIONS %INTERACTIVE %MULTIMEDIA %INTERNET V%BW P%BW
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 26, 1998--
-- Versalar(TM) IP Access Switch 15000 delivers sophisticated IP Class of Service
(CoS) capabilities, breakthrough density levels and dramatic cost-per-port savings --
Bay Networks(R), Inc. (NYSE:BAY) today introduced a next generation Internet
access platform that provides Internet Service Providers (ISPs) with unprecedented
IP CoS features and an extremely high concentration of dedicated connections;
scaling to over 1,000 IP access lines that support line speeds from FT1 to T1 to
DS3. Addressing the explosive growth within the dedicated Internet access market,
the Versalar IP Access Switch 15000 is a new class of product that combines the
reliability and density of Layer 2 frame relay switches with the IP CoS and control of
Layer 3 routers at the edge of service provider networks."
The Versalar 15000 solves the dedicated access issue by providing six times the
density at one third the price of today's multi-box solutions, with far greater
functionality. Its sophisticated CoS features allow service providers the ability to offer
service level agreements (SLAs) and usage-based billing options, while its compact
design saves on valuable real estate in the central office.
"Bay Networks is tackling the huge demand for dedicated Internet and VPN access
at the edge of service provider networks, where existing multi-box solutions have
poor density and old technology; and are very expensive to deploy and manage," said
Ilan Carmi, vice president and general manager of the Router Platform Division at
Bay Networks. "To address this rapidly escalating demand, the Versalar 15000 is a
new category of product optimized for leased line Internet services and makes a
quantum leap in density and performance."
"Given the exploding demand for dedicated Internet access from customers, the
Versalar IP Access Switch 15000 is a perfect solution for service providers. Being
able to replace both the Layer 2 switch and the enterprise router with a single,
telco-class, high-density IP access switch is a huge win," said Mr. Thomas Sweeney,
Vice President of Marketing at Level 3 Communications. "The Versalar IP Access
Switch also brings added value to ISPs by providing the IP-centric routing
intelligence needed to deliver Differentiated Services and Class of Service
guarantees."
Supporting the Bay Networks Adaptive Networking Access cornerstone, the
Versalar 15000 adds tremendous value at the edge of service provider networks by
allowing for much higher levels of aggregation; as well as providing an application
intelligent platform for the delivery of value-added IP Services, such as virtual private
networks (VPN) and voice-over-IP, through flexible CoS capabilities. The
performance of ultra high-speed hardware-based packet forwarding combined with
the control of IP routing, further supports the company's commitment to delivering
open, interoperable solutions that optimize IP networks, and the Internet, for business
critical applications.
"This platform provides lower cost of ownership through its extremely high density
and has exactly the type of Class of Service capabilities that service providers need
to offer value-added, differentiated business services to their enterprise customers.
Bay Networks is delivering sophisticated CoS features that are critical to evolving the
Internet into a business class network." said Christopher Jenkins, president of
ZipLink, a significant provider of Internet backbone and access services for the
WebTV Network.
The Versalar 15000 will leverage the powerful Bay Networks Routing Switch
Processor (RSP), an industry-leading Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC)
technology that combines routing and switching on a single chip. The Bay Networks
RSP is programmable like a conventional CPU, but contains functions that are
optimized for a routing switch. Because of the software programmability, the RSP
ASIC delivers extremely high performance while protecting hardware investments via
easy software upgrades. Additionally, the differentiated services are supported by the
RSP, allowing it to provide wire-rate performance even with sophisticated CoS
capabilities enabled. Bay Networks has combined multiple RSP's to build the highly
scalable Versalar 15000.
"The Versalar 15000 is the first IP switch designed from the ground up to cost
effectively terminate hundreds of T1 ports. This results in significant cost savings for
service providers," said Ray Keneipp, Principal Analyst,Carrier Infrastructure for
Current Analysis, an industry analyst firm headquartered in Sterling, Virginia. "The
Versalar 15000's Differentiated Services architecture facilitates an ISP's ability to
classify traffic in the provisioning of revenue-driving services such as SLAs."
The Versalar 15000 leverages over a decade of routing software experience from
Bay Networks in building large networks that use Bay Routing Services (BayRSO).
Internet-optimized BayRS is modular and open, which enables emerging standards
integration without forklift upgrades.
Value-added traffic management, classification, policing and accounting capabilities
allow service providers to offer Differentiated Services, and generate revenue via new
usage-based SLAs. The Versalar 15000 allows differentiation between multiple
classes of premium and non-premium traffic to provide service level agreements
based on delay or packet loss without having to over-engineer the backbone.
"This is as much about software as it is about building robust hardware. Features such
as SLA policing and accounting provide more flexible service offerings for the end
user and more profitable usage-based revenue generation for the service provider,"
said Sally Bament, vice president of product management of the Router Platform
Division at Bay Networks. "This hardware/software solution combines the benefits of
world-class IP routing and telco switching to deliver industry-leading cost-per-port,
density, redundancy, scalability and management."
Hardware/Software Architecture
The Versalar 15000 is housed in a NEBS-compliant 30" high 12 slot mid-plane
chassis. It provides fully redundant logic, power and cooling. The system is available
with either -48V or 220V AC power sub-systems.
Access Options - 4 Access slots that can be populated with any combination of:
o 6-port Channelized DS-3 Access Interface o Dual-port Channelized OC-3 Access
Interface with SONET APS support o High Density E1 Access Interfaces o Frame
Relay and PPP Access Protocols supported on all access cards
Dual Redundant Trunk Options
o OC-12c ATM o OC-3c ATM o OC-12c POS o Gigabit Ethernet
The Versalar 15000 has a unique design in that it decouples forwarding and control
planes. This revolutionary architecture combines both ASIC-based hardware
forwarding with Bay's Internet proven BayRS control plane software. The BayRS
control plane supports BGPv4, OSPF, I-ISIS, MPLS, Bay Command Console
(BCCO), and SNMP. The RSP-based fast forwarding plane supports wire rate
speed under fully loaded conditions and with integrated CoS features.
Pricing and Availability
Pricing: Less than $500 per T1 (average sale price) Early Availability: Q4 CY 1998
General Availability: Q1 CY 1999
About Bay Networks
Bay Networks - Where Information Flows(TM). Bay Networks, Inc. (NYSE:BAY)
is a leader in the worldwide networking market, providing a complete line of products
that serve corporate enterprises, service providers and telecommunications carriers.
The company offers frame and ATM switches, routers, shared media, remote and
Internet access solutions, IP services and network management applications, all
integrated by Bay Networks' Adaptive Networking strategy. With headquarters in
Santa Clara, California, Bay Networks markets its products and services around the
world, providing 7x24 support coverage. For additional information visit the
company's World Wide Web site at baynetworks.com or call
800-8-BAYNET.
This release, other than historical financial information, may consist of
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may
differ materially from actual future events or results. For instance, factors which could
cause results to differ from future events include the rate of adoption of new
technology, competitive pricing actions and marketing programs, among others.
Readers are referred to the documents filed by Bay Networks with the S.E.C.,
specifically the most recent reports on forms 10-K and 10-Q, which identify
important risk factors which could cause actual results to differ from those contained
in the forward-looking statements.
Bay Networks is a registered trademark of Bay Networks, Inc. Bay Networks -
Where Information Flows, BayRS, BCC and Versalar are trademarks of Bay
Networks, Inc. Other brand and product names are registered trademarks or
trademarks of their respective holders
CONTACT: Bay Networks
Media Relations
Matt Burke, 978/916-1320
mburke@baynetworks.com
OR
Investor Relations
Sandra Toms, 408/495-1181
stoms@baynetworks.com
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