Nbase not included...as far as I can see?
List of Members:
Members
Last updated: December 1, 1997
3Com Corp.
Apple Computers
Ascend Communications, Inc.
ascom BroadNet
ATM Ltd.
Bay Networks, Inc.
Cabletron Systems Inc.
Cisco Systems Inc.
Data Connection Ltd.
Digital Equipment Corp.
Digital Technology, Inc.
FORE Systems, Inc.
Fujitsu Nexion Inc.
General Datacomm
General Signal Networks
GN Nettest Inc.
Harris & Jeffries, Inc.
Hewlett Packard
Hitachi America Ltd.
IBM Corp.
Interphase Corp.
Madge Networks
Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
NEC Inc.
Network General Corp.
Olicom Inc.
Radcom Equipment, Inc.
Sequent Computer Systems, Inc.
Sun Microsystems
Tekelec
Telogy Networks, Inc.
U.S.Robotics
Wandel & Glotermann, Inc.
Xylan Corp.
( BW)(GIGABIT-ETHERNET) Gigabit Ethernet Consortium Members Complete
Interoperability Tests at University of New Hampshire Interoperability Lab
Business Editors/Computer Writers
DURHAM, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 1997--
Independent Testing Confirms Gigabit Ethernet
Product Interoperability
The Gigabit Ethernet Consortium, a Gigabit Ethernet testing organization comprised of 18
members, today announced that it has completed a series of robust product interoperability tests in
conjunction with the University of New Hampshire. The tests, which were conducted last week at
the InterOperability Laboratory Facility on the campus of The University of New Hampshire, were
the most recent in a series of interoperability tests aimed at ensuring interoperability of Gigabit
Ethernet products in multi-vendor network architectures.
Twelve companies provided 16 products representing a broad range of Gigabit Ethernet
products including gigabit-to-gigabit switches, aggregating switches, full-duplex repeaters
(buffered distributors), network interface cards (NICs), and a network management product.
Companies who participated in the testing were: 3Com Corp., Acacia Networks, Inc., Alteon
Networks, Inc., Bay Networks, Inc., Cabletron Systems, Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc., Extreme
Networks, Foundry Networks, Hewlett Packard, Prominet Corp., Sun Microsystems, and XLNT.
"This kind of official testing helps bolster end-user confidence as network managers consider
deploying Gigabit Ethernet products in their mission-critical corporate networks," commented Bob
Grow, Vice Chair, Technical Liaison of the Gigabit Ethernet Alliance and Industry Relations Vice
President for XLNT, one of the companies that participated in last week's tests. "The University of
New Hampshire is a nationally recognized network testing organization whose experts test and
verify networking products for robust interoperability and compliance with standards."
During last week's Gigabit Ethernet testing, the major focus was on the interoperability of
devices as specified in the IEEE 802.3z draft standard. In addition to the products' general
interoperability and ability to transfer data using Gigabit Ethernet, three critical functions were
examined: auto-negotiation, packet loss rates and 802.3x flow control. Products were tested
against the official Interoperability Laboratory Gigabit Ethernet Consortium test suites and against
each others' products in a diverse, multi-vendor network environment.
Auto-negotiation is a protocol for the exchange of information during link activation which
includes negotiation of full- or half-duplex operation and flow control protocol characteristics.
Products were checked for proper operation by breaking and reconnecting the link in various
configurations with multiple link partners. Packet loss rate testing was done over "worst case"
channel conditions and by passing sufficient data to estimate link bit error rates. The flow control
test consisted of measuring packet loss in configurations where the applied load forced the use of
flow control frames.
According to Barry Reinhold, manager of the UNH-IOL's Gigabit Ethernet Consortium, "last
week's Consortium testing was the first 802.3 product testing against a detailed test suite. We
were impressed with the high level of interoperability of Gigabit Ethernet products. We look forward
to continued Gigabit Ethernet product testing and feel that the participants' work last week will allow
for more extensive testing of the 802.3z draft standard at future group test periods and in the
Laboratory on a daily basis."
Earlier this year the Gigabit Ethernet Alliance hosted the world's largest multi-vendor Gigabit
Ethernet interoperability demonstration in October at the NetWorld+Interop show in Atlanta. In May
of this year, the Alliance also showcased the first multi-vendor Gigabit Ethernet technology
demonstration at the Networld+Interop show in Las Vegas. These two events paved the way for
last week's official testing at the UNH. The three multi-vendor Gigabit Ethernet technology and
interoperability efforts have paralleled the swift and steady progress of the 802.3z standard draft
effort.
About The Gigabit Ethernet Consortium
In July of this year, the Gigabit Ethernet Alliance facilitated the formation of the Gigabit Ethernet
Consortium at the University of New Hampshire's InterOperability Laboratory. Though founded by
members of the Gigabit Ethernet Alliance, the Gigabit Ethernet Consortium is an independent
organization open to all organizations. The charter of the Gigabit Ethernet Consortium is to provide
a forum for formal testing of Gigabit Ethernet products against a number of test suites. Test suite
outlines were completed in September with implementation occurring over the last few months. The
test suites support product testing from both an interoperability and a conformance perspective
and offer vendors critical development information, thereby providing users additional confidence
that products will interoperate. Currently 18 companies belong to the Consortium: 3Com Corp.,
Acacia Networks, Inc., Alteon Networks, Inc., Bay Networks, Inc., Cabletron Systems, Inc., Compaq
Computer Corp., Cisco Systems, Inc. Extreme Networks, Foundry Networks, Hewlett Packard,
Jato Technologies, Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd., Packet Engines, Inc., Prominet Corp., Sun
Microsystems, Texas Instruments, XaQti Corp., and XLNT.
About The University of New Hampshire*s InterOperability Laboratory
The University of New Hampshire's InterOperability Laboratory encourages vendors to conduct
such testing by providing facilities for a multi-vendor test environment and has the capabilities to
allow remote testing. To date, vendors have concentrated on interoperability of products within a
campus environment, working toward the customer's desire for a truly heterogeneous network. The
goal of the University of New Hampshire's InterOperability Laboratory is to provide complete
testing for all products used in networking. UNH-IOL provides interoperability testing for 10Base-T,
ATM, Fast Ethernet, FDDI, FDSE, Fiber Channel, Gigabit Ethernet, IP/Routing, Network
Management, Token Ring, 100VG-AnyLAN, and Wireless. Information on the UNH-IOL can be
obtained from their World Wide Web Server at iol.unh.edu .
About the Gigabit Ethernet Alliance
The Gigabit Ethernet Alliance was formalized around four common objectives -- to fully support
the Gigabit Ethernet standards activities being conducted in the IEEE 802.3z Task Force, to
contribute technical resources to facilitate convergence and consensus on technical specifications,
to provide resources to establish and demonstrate product interoperability, and to foster two-way
communications between potential suppliers and consumers of Gigabit Ethernet products. This
multi-vendor effort is committed to providing customers with open, cost-effective and interoperable
Gigabit Ethernet solutions, and it supports the CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with
Collision Detection) protocol of the original Ethernet standard. To date, representatives from more
than 120 networking, computer, component and test equipment companies are participating in the
Gigabit Ethernet Alliance. The Gigabit Ethernet Alliance headquarters is located in Cupertino,
Calif. Phone: 408-241-8904, Fax: 408-241-8918, Email: 73530.2267@compuserve.com, Web
Site: www.gigabit-ethernet.org .
--30--blm/sf*
CONTACT: Marilyn Callaghan, 650-342-6087
mcallagh@pacbell.net
KEYWORD: NEW HAMPSHIRE CALIFORNIA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS COMED
TELECOMMUNICATIONS |
