Bay Networks - Industrial Strength, Carrier-Class, Boasts Superior CoS, Gets Kudos from New Fiber Carrier - Dedicated Internet Access Platform - NEBS Compliance - VoIP
Business/Technical Editors
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. |
