Mike, Frank & Denver Techie - What do you know about Hughes Network Systems and their quality of service management delivery system? Apparently, this help service providers set QoS levels with a mix of ATM, frame relay and IP networks. I copies this description off their web site.
Ken
HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS
INTRODUCES INDUSTRY'S FIRST
END-TO-END QUALITY OF SERVICE
MANAGEMENT SOLUTION FOR FRAME
RELAY, ATM AND IP NETWORKS
Company delivers QoS-enabling switching infrastructure;
announces plans for distributed global policy management and
support for MPLS
GERMANTOWN, MD, JUNE 2, 1998.Hughes Network Systems (HNS) today announced a
comprehensive end-to-end, quality-of-service QoS management delivery solution. Unlike competing
alternatives, the HNS offering is the first single solution for ATM, frame relay, and IP networks. As a
result, carriers and service providers can efficiently meet service level agreements and reduce network
management costs.
HNS is delivering end-to-end QoS management across these diverse networks in an evolutionary,
multiphased approach. Available now is HNS' RadiantT QoS-enabling ATM, frame relay and IP
switching infrastructure. Subsequent phases will include a carrier-class distributed global policy
management server and full support for multiprotocol label switching (MPLS).
"HNS has been an industry pioneer in delivering practical switched internetworking solutions since the
introduction of our Streaming technology in 1996," said Kumar Shah, senior director of marketing for
HNS. "The introduction of the industry's first true end-to-end QoS management solution for ATM, frame
relay and IP networks is an important milestone not only for HNS, but the industry as a whole."
HNS is initially meeting carrier needs for end-to-end QoS by delivering up to four QoS planes in its
ATM, frame relay and IP switching infrastructure. Seamless interworking between those planes enables
the end-to-end QoS and allows for maintaining consistent priorities. The HNS switching infrastructure is
designed to accommodate the diverse QoS needs of Internet/intranet, SNA, voice, fax and a variety of
other traffic while delivering service-level guarantees through the HNS Radiant family of multiservice
switches.
Critical to HNS' ability to deliver a true end-to-end QoS solution are recently announced strategic
partnerships with Motorola and Torrent. The HNS Radiant product family has been expanded to include
Motorola's multimedia access devices and concentrators as well as Torrent's gigabit IP routing solution.
As a result, HNS' Radiant product family provides one of the most comprehensive switching, routing and
access solutions in the industry today.
Distributed Global Policy Management
Later this year, HNS will make available the next phase of its end-to-end QoS solution, a distributed
global policy management feature. HNS' Distributed Radiant Director will deliver unprecedented
scalability and ease to accommodate even the global Internet. Targeted for delivery in the fourth quarter
of 1998, Distributed Radiant Director will eliminate the need for defining policy management at every
level of the network. Instead, definitions will be programmed at one central location, saving significant
amounts of time and money, and resulting in easier, more efficient network management.
Support for MPLS
The final phase of the HNS solution, targeted for 1999, will be full support for MPLS, a new standard
promulgated by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to address the scalability problem associated
with connection-less IP routing technology that is deployed in the Internet today. Designed to provide
route aggregation, MPLS attaches labels to routes, thereby simplifying the route look-up associated with
traditional routing.
HNS' Streaming provides one-hop routing across a switched infrastructure using switched virtual circuits
(SVC's). Moving forward, the company will provide support for MPLS flows at the edge of the network
that get mapped to dynamic SVC's. Moreover, HNS will deliver the additional value-added feature of
QoS management for each of these MPLS flows end-to-end through the switched infrastructure.
"HNS' proposed MPLS solution of tying MPLS flows to QoS streams that are set up using SVC's is the
most pragmatic solution I have seen to-date," said Tom Nolle, president of industry research firm CIMI.
"In addition, HNS' distributed Radiant Director is a unique and graceful integration of policy and service
management, one likely to be very useful in both service provider and private network applications."
About Hughes Network Systems
A pioneer in delivering integrated switching and routing via Streaming, Hughes Network Systems
Enterprise Networks Division specializes in highly reliable, cost-effective network solutions, supplying
ATM, frame relay and multiprotocol switching networks to enterprise and carrier organizations
worldwide. With networks installed in more than 40 countries, Hughes Network Systems maintains an
extensive distribution organization and provides 24-hour support around the globe.
A world leader in satellite products and network systems for more than 25 years, HNS has captured 65
percent of the global VSAT market and has shipped nearly 200,000 terminals. Headquartered near
Washington, DC, in Germantown, MD, the company operates sales and support offices worldwide. HNS
offers communications network solutions that include a complete line of integrated satellite and enterprise
networking products, and fixed and mobile wireless networks. HNS is a Hughes Electronics Corporation
company and an ISO-9001-certified manufacturer. The earnings of Hughes Electronics are used to
calculate the earnings per share attributable to GMH (NYSE symbol) common stock.
More information on Hughes Network Systems Enterprise Networks Division can be found at
hns.com.
-END-
Radiant is a trademark of Hughes Network Systems, a Hughes Electronics Corporation company.
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