Article from Internet Week dated 10/7/98 on DSP by Analog Devices which makes managing multiple services easier. Why does this technology come from Analog Devices rather than Lucent?
DSP Makes Managing Multiple Services Easier
(10/ 7/98; 11:00 AM EST)
By Chuck Moozakis, InternetWeek
A new DSP from Analog Devices could make managing multiple services a lot easier for data administrators.
Analog Devices' ADSP-21mod970 multiport gateway processor appears to be the industry's first device capable of handling common data, fax, and voice protocols across any one of its six ports, according to observers. The six-port unit is geared toward ISPs and enterprise managers who are eyeing the addition of services such as voice- and fax-over-IP to their already existing data traffic.
"The demand being placed on networks to handle services ranging from e-commerce to telephony is creating problems," said Bob Fine, modem product line manager. "This puts all those functionalities on one device."
Analog is pitching the DSP to three market segments: on-switch remote-access servers for LECs and competitive LECs, RAS concentrators for CLECs and ISPs, and Windows NT server-based RASes for enterprise deployments.
Shannon Pleasant, an analyst with Cahners In-Stat Group, said the DSP's support of various protocols will save headaches for those who have to manage various traffic types. "It's difficult to manage edge equipment, so this will give administrators the additional ability to handle density and multiple protocols. Analog did a good job to integrate what needs to be done," Pleasant said.
The processor can handle protocols supporting ISDN, V.90 K56Flex, V.34, and IP telephony. The ports can be configured dynamically at the point of connection to run any protocol at the same time; it can also provide fail-over protection by running the same protocol over more than one port.
In addition to multiprotocol support, the DSP has 960 kilobytes of on-chip SRAM, enabling data managers to drop additional features and protocols via software downloads to the on-chip memory. The chip itself has 312 million instructions per second of processing capacity.
Fine said the DSP can save IT and ISP managers a significant amount of money now earmarked for administrating data traffic. Instead of having to set aside a specific number of ports for, say, ISDN traffic that may or may not be realized, the DSP's programmability will let managers allocate modems as demands change.
The DSP, available now, is priced at $208 each in quantities of 10,000 units. Prices should drop as soon as competitors such as Rockwell International begin rolling out similar DSPs.
© 1998 CMP Media, Inc. |
