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Technology Stocks : LAST MILE TECHNOLOGIES - Let's Discuss Them Here -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DenverTechie who wrote (1944)	8/22/1998 3:30:00 AM
From: Hiram Walker	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 12823

DenverTechie, you gave a mish-mash of fiber optic companies,some producing the lasers,like UNPH,some producing backbone systems like ALA,Perelli,LU,some with no known products in the market,Tellium,Osicom. I don't know what the significance is of putting all sorts of companies together. On the other side it TCOMA which is installing MetroDWDM in 14 cities,100 communities for local access,that is being provided by HLIT(Rah Rah!!). Wouldn't it be a kick if little HLIT ended up gaining a contract with T? I doubt it though,all their expertise is in the local cable access side. Who is going to connect to HLIT's MetroDWDM system does not matter,since they will be interoperable with all DWDM backbone systems due to their architecture. Its an opaque add/drop cross connect at the node,regenerating signal at 1310 nm. Hiram

To: DenverTechie who wrote (1944)	8/22/1998 4:43:00 AM
From: Kenneth E. Phillipps	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 12823

Denver Techie - I have copied an article I found on the Nortel web site dealing with T1 and T3 mux replacement because of year 2000 problems. As a non-techie, I need help in understanding articles such as this one. The article argues that because of the cost of upgrading T1 or T3 muxes to become year 2000 compliant, small to medium size businesses should consider replacing this equipment with ATM WAN enterprise switches or enterprise network switches which are internally or externally sourced. The article states that T1 and T3 muxes are TDM systems, not WDM systems, and are "not dynamic enough to fit a LAN based IP world but, because of the capital investment, are still being used to support mission-critical applications. LAN internetworking is being handled in parallel router networks running over physical circuits or frame relay." Of course, the article argues they should consider the Nortel Passport as a solution to this problem. Can you interpret these statements for a layman? What is an ATM WAN enterprise network switch? How does it differ from a T1 or T3 mux or a layer 2/3/4 switch? I think I understand the basic difference beween TDM technology and WDM technology. I am also familiar with the different layers in the OSI model. I certainly appreciate your help on these kind of issues. Ken Here is the article: T1 Replacement It's About Time! It's a commonly accepted fact that T1 muxes in the enterprise market are legacy equipment. Channelized/TDM systems aren't dynamic enough to fit a LAN-based IP world. However, in spite of this industry consensus, there is still a huge installed base of tens of thousands of T1 mux networks in the enterprise market, representing an initial investment of approximately $2-3 billion, although the book value is much less. In addition, these enterprise users continue to spend half a billion dollars each year on this outdated technology! So what's happening? A large portion of these networks is in the closet and largely being ignored, although they probably support mission-critical (albeit olde-style) applications. LAN internetworking is being handled in parallel router networks running over physical circuits or frame relay. This situation would probably remain unchanged were it not for the need to address Y2K requirements through additional investments. And some incumbent T1 mux vendors are demanding an unacceptable price for Y2K upgrades. The remainder of the market is actively being supported, upgraded, and expanded, with every attempt being made to squeeze the last bit out of these old work horses, particularly for high-growth InterLAN connectivity traffic. In some cases, public services are also used for this traffic; e.g., at the branch/remote site level. Given these enterprises are coming from an integrated backbone market view, they are either looking to move to frame/cell-based platforms, referred to as ATM WAN enterprise switches or enterprise network switches (ENS), that are either internally or externally-sourced. The general consensus within this industry is that IP and ATM-centric solutions are not the best solutions for integration--IP lacks class-of-service (COS) and ATM lacks universality. The advantage of frame/cell-based architectures is that they can consolidate bit, byte, cell, frame, and packet traffic onto a common WAN infrastructure, while making optimum use of bandwidth and meeting COS needs. Several years ago, the ENS product class was a new, unproven concept. The market has matured, with Nortel's and Cisco's being the #1 and #2 vendors, respectively. Industry leaders such as BankofAmerica, Kaiser Permanente, and Bear Stearns have embraced the concept of the enterprise network switch as their next-generation platform. This choice demonstrates the value of integrated enterprise networks: simplification, increased reliability, application agility, and cost-effectiveness. To ease the transition and shorten the selling and deployment cycles, Nortel is teaming with service providers and distribution channels to get to the thousands of small-to-large customers looking for integrated ENS-based solutions. We've also announced the Passport 6100 product line, which is specifically targeted at shortening the interval between identification of requirements and deployment to customers. This may not have the glamour of Layer 2/3/4 routing switches and switched routers; but in mainstream enterprise networks, this is a current concern particularly with Year 2000 on the horizon. To find out more information regarding Nortel's Time's Up for T1/T3 Multiplexers solution, contact us via e-mail or by calling 1-800-4NORTEL, Dept. 7Z, in North America, or +44 1628 438280 in Europe.