Subudhi Consulting Group

New Consortium Speeds IEEE 1588 Testing

August 30, 2010 08:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

DURHAM, N.H.–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), an independent provider of broad-based testing and standards conformance services for the networking industry, today announced that the organization will host an industry plugfest, providing participants the opportunity to perform interoperability testing of devices in compliance with the Precision Time Protocol IEEE 1588-2008 standard. The Precision Time Protocol Interoperability plugfest, which will take place September 27 - September 29 at the UNH-IOL’s 32,000+ square foot facility in Durham, N.H., will be held in association with the 2010 International IEEE Symposium on Precision Clock Synchronization (ISPCS) for Measurement, Control and Communication. The Symposium immediately follows the plugfest on September 29 - October 1 in Portsmouth, N.H., and is a forum for researchers and practitioners from industry, academia, and government involved in the area of Precision Clock Synchronization.

“Being able to reduce costs while increasing accuracy is why we’ve seen an increased demand for IEEE 1588-2008 complaint devices”

As use of Ethernet became increasingly widespread in networked measurement and control systems, an alternative to existing protocols was required that could increase the accuracy of clock synchronization while minimizing the cost of implementation. The standard, originally published in 2002, and revised in 2008 as IEEE 1588-2008, allows a variety of industries including telecommunications, industrial automation, power transmission, test and measurement and consumer electronics, to increase timing accuracies, minimize network administration and resources, and adapt to low-cost and low-end devices.

As an independent organization, the UNH-IOL is committed to neutral testing of open standards technology and the lab’s plugfests allow participating companies to test their devices and identify interoperability issues early, speeding go to market time for products. In addition to plugfests, the UNH-IOL offers a variety of testing programs, or consortiums, representing a collaboration of industry leaders in network equipment, test equipment and industry forums, as well as service providers. Working together, the participants can decrease research and development and quality assurance expenses, reduce product time to market and drive the industry acceptance of a technology.

In May 2010, the UNH-IOL IEEE 1588 Consortium was launched and is currently accepting founding member companies. Consortium members have access to a comprehensive test bed that supports the entire spectrum of profiles under the IEEE 1588-2008 standard resulting in a cost effective and efficient way to ensure interoperability.

As a plugfest participant, IXXAT, a leading supplier of data communication technology for the automation and automotive industry, is a strong proponent of the UNH-IOL’s involvement in the ISPCS Symposium.

“The UNH-IOL is a proven leader in interoperability testing in a wide range of emerging technologies,” said Bill Seitz, director, IXXAT. “The lab’s plugfest combines their staff’s extensive knowledge and expertise in the area of Ethernet and networking technologies, with a vendor-neutral approach. It’s one of the most efficient ways to test product interoperability and get early insights into any adjustments we could make to our products.”

“Being able to reduce costs while increasing accuracy is why we’ve seen an increased demand for IEEE 1588-2008 complaint devices,” said Jon Beckwith, senior engineer for the UNH-IOL. “By using the UNH-IOL as an independent lab or as an extension of internal testing labs, member companies have an economical way to test their products against existing profiles, and direct involvement on where to focus testing in the future. This open review approach allows for thorough, industry-proven testing and helps instill confidence in the industry.”

The UNH-IOL collaborative testing model distributes the cost of performing trusted, independent testing and validation through an annual membership. More information on becoming a member of the UNH-IOL IEEE 1588 Consortium can be found at http://www.iol.unh.edu/services/testing/1588/.

Click here to view press release on Business Wire.

Company Explores Cloud Computing, Global Expansion, and TV, Video and Media Developments

August 18, 2010 10:12 AM Eastern Daylight Time

NEW YORK–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–NTT America, a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com) and a global IP network services provider, today announced activities over the last quarter in support of major technology and global business trends. The company’s strategic investments are supporting customers in three main areas including cloud computing initiatives, network performance demands for new applications and the maturing of the Latin American market. Several company executives have also participated in a variety of key technology and business forums to share their experiences with Internet media market opportunities, IPv6 and business investments to support an unfolding global market.

Last quarter included NTT America’s most recent product announcement, which extends its VLink multi-location Ethernet solutions line to provide enterprises direct connectivity over multiple locations in the United States. Using VLink, content providers, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and enterprises have access to more secure network connections to interconnect corporate Ethernet-based LANs or to migrate from private lines to an Internet-based solution. VLink takes advantage of the reach and reliability of the NTT Communications Global Tier-1 IP Network to provide cost-effective IPv4 or dual stack IPv4/IPv6 on the same port.

Fostering corporate initiatives, company executives have taken part in several speaking venues on current and emerging trends in telecommunications and business including:

• Co-hosting the 27^th edition of Reunión Iberoamericana Tráfico Internacional, a bi-annual event, which brings together influential telecom executives and representatives from more than 150 carriers to discuss challenges and opportunities in the Latin American region. Michael Wheeler, vice president of the Global IP Network, NTT America, participated on the opening executive roundtable, “Regulation and Competence for New Investments and Infrastructures in Response to Challenges of Growth and Expansion of the Latin American Sector.”
• At the same conference, David Berrios, NTT America’s manager of business development for Latin America, spoke on “International Traffic Models,” discussing methods of reinventing traditional models in light of new competition and next generation networks (NGNs) opportunities.
• Bringing unique insights to executives in the converging world of film, television, music, video, cable, computing and telecom, Michael Wheeler joined other industry leaders on a panel entitled “Content Delivery-Rich Media-The Three Screen Challenge: PC, TV and Mobile,” at the Digital Hollywood Spring conference. Mr. Wheeler covered how decision makers can cost effectively deploy next generation services and applications to support additional revenue opportunities.
• Mr. Wheeler spoke on “Leveraging Infrastructure Assets to Get with the Program,” at the OTTcon East conference where he discussed how to combine a provider’s infrastructure assets (technology investments, financial depth, and international access) with a company’s existing assets to successfully deliver OTT TV and video, as well as other new applications. In addition, Mr. Wheeler touched on how new advances in IPv6 and 100GigE provide a platform to give broadcasters, ISPs and infrastructure providers a competitive advantage.
• Doug Junkins, NTT America’s CTO and vice president of IP development for NTT America’s Global IP Network, addressed “IPv6 Deployment & Commercial Applications at NTT America,” on a FutureNet conference panel entitled, “IPv6: Reality Check.” He discussed current issues and drivers of IPv6, such as new applications and IPv4 address depletion. NTT America is a leader in both the implementation of IPv6 and advocacy for IPv6 adoption and remains committed to sharing IPv6 experience, lessons learned and best practices with other leaders in the industry.
• The company provided additional support of IPv6 adoption through a gold sponsorship of the Rocky Mountain IPv6 Task Force’s (RMv6TF) IPv6 Summit, the largest annual IPv6 event in North America. Currently, approximately 20 percent of NTT America’s Global IP Network customer ports are IPv6 enabled and 40 percent of NTT America’s peering ports are also IPv6 enabled giving companies a flexible and speedy transition path. IPv6 allows businesses that need to stay competitive on a global basis the ability take advantage of new applications in every market from entertainment to disaster response, while helping to ensure business continuity as IPv4 addresses dwindle.

In addition, NTT America, in partnership with Dynamic Network Services Inc. (DYN Inc.), published a case study, “A DYNamic Duo in Infrastructure,” highlighting the benefits of selecting a Tier-1 Global IP Network in a market that demands high performance response, speed, engineering-based customer support and IPv6 readiness.

Click here to view the press release on Business Wire.

New Service Provides Early Access to 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s Interoperability Testing

July 27, 2010 08:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

DURHAM, N.H.–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), an independent provider of broad-based testing and standards conformance services for the networking industry, today announced the launch of a new consortium for companies preparing products for the IEEE 802.3ba standard for high speed Ethernet. The consortium is currently accepting founding member companies who will have an early opportunity to provide input into the testing process and have market ready products as the high speed Ethernet standards evolve.

As the demand for increased bandwidth continues to accelerate, the need to extend the current protocol to adapt to market needs was an imperative. The IEEE 802.3ba Ethernet standard was ratified this past June and is the first standard to specify two new Ethernet speeds - 40 Gb/s for computing and networked storage applications and 100 Gb/s for core networking applications. The IEEE 802.3ba Task Force goal in initiating the standard was not only to handle higher speeds, but to maintain compatibility with existing devices and preserve previous investments in research and development.

The UNH-IOL offers a variety of testing programs, or consortiums, representing a collaboration of industry leaders in network equipment, test equipment and industry forums, as well as service providers. Working together, the consortiums can decrease research and development and quality assurance expenses, reduce product time to market and drive the industry acceptance of a technology.

“As standards evolve, our on-going participation in Ethernet standards development has given us particular insights into the best ways to test products and ensure interoperability,” said Jeff Lapak, senior engineer for the UNH-IOL. “We encourage companies to get involved early to have the most impact on implementing the new standard and preparing for market adoption.”

The UNH-IOL collaborative testing model distributes the cost of performing trusted, independent testing and validation through an annual membership. The fee for participation in the 40 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet Consortium is $24K. More information on becoming a member of the 40 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet Consortium at the UNH-IOL can be found at http://www.iol.unh.edu/services/testing/ethernet/.

The UNH-IOL provides broad-based flexible testing services to cost effectively meet network interoperability requirements for the industry and has been conducting Ethernet testing for more than 16 years. By operating one of the world’s most comprehensive test beds, the UNH-IOL is the de facto standard for knowledge and experience in Ethernet testing.

Click here to view the press release on Business Wire.

New Service Offers Multi-Location Layer 2 Ethernet

July 15, 2010 08:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

NEW YORK–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–NTT America, a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com) and a global IP network services provider, today announced the latest evolution of VLink, a multi-location Ethernet solution that provides content providers, Internet service providers (ISPs), and enterprises direct connectivity among their multiple locations and provides an alternative to point-to-point connections. As companies move their internal IT services to cloud-based environments, the development of innovative solutions to meet the complex needs of these customers remains essential. VLink gives companies in the United States a simple way to integrate WAN reach into existing Ethernet-based LANs without additional overhead costs and training.

As a Layer 2 Virtual Private Network (L2VPN) solution, VLink maintains a prioritized path on the network to carry data, voice, and video all on the same physical link, offering more secure connectivity for companies to interconnect corporate Ethernet-based LANs or to migrate from private lines to an Internet-based solution without the perceived security risks associated with sending data over the Internet. VLink gives companies the ability to connect to three or more point of presence (PoP) locations in the United States by leveraging the reach and reliability of the NTT Com Global Tier-1 IP Network.

With VLink, customers can combine their L2VPN and Internet access (IPv4 or dual-stack IPv4/IPv6) on the same physical port, reducing the number of required ports, connections and overhead. The solution is available in three configurations to best meet customer requirements:

• VLink Direct - point-to-point architecture that links any 2 locations;
• VLink Plus - connecting a primary location with 2 or more other locations, often used in a headquarter and satellite office environment;
• VLink Mesh - connecting 3 or more locations to each other, establishing a fully connected model.

“As more and more companies look to the cloud for cost-effective network solutions, the delivery method for critical data is key,” said Teri Francis, executive director of customer solutions for NTT America. “VLink reduces the need to manage disparate technology platforms and enables customers to deliver information in a more secure and efficient manner.”

Backed by NTT America’s industry-leading Service Level Agreements (SLAs), which guarantee the VLink service to be free of network outages 100 percent of the time, the service allows dedicated bandwidth from 100 Mbps to 10Gbps in 100 Mbps increments for flexible, quick upgrades with simple software changes and secure port-based connections. As a virtual point-to-point connection operating over the NTT Com Global IP Network, VLink allows major content providers, ISPs and enterprises in the United States to efficiently deliver content through major Internet network nodes and data centers located in key U.S. cities, providing the best end-user experience for customers as video and user-generated content continues to drive bandwidth needs.

“As global demand for the delivery of dynamic, on-demand services and applications to a diverse set of users grows, reliability and performance of IP networks will continue to play a critical role in maximizing the value of cloud computing and connecting users to the cloud,” said Sandra Palumbo, research fellow at Yankee Group. “Investments in a reliable and secure network are a critical part of the infrastructure to support this anticipated growth.”

As companies face challenges managing rising customer demand for new content and services over the Internet, the performance and quality of the network has become a strategic imperative. The NTT Com Global IP network supports this demand by shaping IP transit bandwidth up to 10Gbps, delivered over both the current Internet protocol (IPv4) and the next generation Internet protocol (IPv6), and offering the fastest provisioning of any number of 10GigE ports available. In addition, NTT America provides flexible and fast dedicated access to the global Internet, the most aggressive Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in the industry and over 1Tbps of peering capacity globally allowing businesses to control network communications costs, consolidate services onto a common infrastructure, and enable more tailored services for consumers. (Note: To view the NTT Communications Global IP Network, visit: http://www.ntt.net/english/about/network_map.cfm)

Click here to view the press release on Business Wire.

Customer Demand for Energy Efficiency Driving Need for Interoperability Testing

June 28, 2010 08:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

DURHAM, N.H.–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), the networking industry’s premier independent third-party proving ground for developing technologies, today announced that the UNH-IOL is the first third-party testing facility that has the capability of testing Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE), or IEEE 802.3az, a new protocol which addresses the growing need for companies and enterprises to be both energy efficient and energy conscious.

The current Ethernet protocol maintains a constant link between devices that allows users instant connectivity, but at the cost of high energy consumption. The new EEE standard enables network devices to enter a low power idle mode when not transmitting data, drastically reducing energy requirements. Any network devices can be woken up and back in normal operation with minimal latency resulting in little or no impact on data transmission. The EEE standard is a key component to other energy efficiency standards such as the EPA’s Energy Star program for server and data center energy efficiency.

The UNH-IOL focuses on testing services for data, telecom and storage networking technology helping to cost effectively speed go-to market time for products. In compliance with the IEEE 802.3az Task Force’s current draft standard, the UNH-IOL’s EEE testing service allows member companies to assess the interoperability of devices before the standard is finalized, providing the opportunity to have market-ready equipment available as soon as the standard is approved.

“The standard is expected to be completed by 2011 and products that support the current draft of the standard are now being released,” said Jeff Lapak, senior engineer for the UNH-IOL. “Energy efficiency is top of mind with our member companies and their customers so the pre-testing process will allow them to be able to deliver new solutions in the quickest possible timeframe.”

In addition to working closely with companies on ensuring product interoperability, the UNH-IOL contributes extensively to technology standards development through participation in a variety of standards bodies and industry forums. The UNH-IOL has been tracking and offering input for the development of the EEE standard since its inception in 2006. In April of 2010, the UNH-IOL hosted the IEEE 802.3az Plugfest, sponsored by the Ethernet Alliance, where vendors demonstrated functional, pre-standard prototype devices. The Ethernet Alliance is a global consortium comprised of system and component vendors, end users, industry experts and university and government professionals who are committed to the continued success and expansion of Ethernet technology.

“Interoperability testing is a vital step in the development of new Ethernet technologies,” said Charlie Lavacchia, president of the Ethernet Alliance. “The UNH-IOL provides a neutral testing ground where companies can test against the current standard of EEE, while utilizing the deep domain expertise of the lab’s staff to gain insight into future growth opportunities.”

The UNH-IOL provides broad-based flexible testing services to cost effectively meet network interoperability requirements for the industry and has been conducting Ethernet testing for over 16 years. By operating one of the world’s most comprehensive test beds, the UNH-IOL is the de facto standard for knowledge and experience in Ethernet testing. Currently, the UNH-IOL offers EEE testing for Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet and will begin offering EEE testing in all flavors of Ethernet by 2011.

Click here to view the press release on Business Wire.

Dyn, Inc. Delivers Rock Solid Internet Infrastructure, Performance and Global Access for Corporate Customers

June 22, 2010 08:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

NEW YORK (EON: Enhanced Online News) NTT America, a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com) and a global IP network services provider, today announced the company is helping customers provide premium externally managed DNS options for corporations and enterprises that need global, 24/7 access and support through its highest quality, fully redundant, dual stack, Tier-1 Global IP Network, as illustrated in a case study with Dynamic Network Services Inc. (Dyn Inc.), the world’s fastest growing provider of managed DNS.

When selecting an infrastructure partner, Dyn prioritized top criteria including a high performance, IPv6 ready, global network supported by engineering based customer service and chose NTT America to help power the Web infrastructure of customers like Zappos, Netflix and Twitter. “For our customers, it’s all about performance; our goal is to optimize the speed of response,” said Tom Daly, Dyn’s President and CTO. “That’s why the only option is to go with a Tier-1 network and NTT America is one of the best in the world. The investment required to keep a global network running at the performance levels we need is one of the major factors in our choice of network partners.”

Dyn’s solutions for enterprises are based on the Dynect Platform, a scalable external DNS platform that directs Internet traffic, routes around outages and maximizes network performance. The platform has key features that enterprises demand in a premium service including active failover to avoid any outage events, efficient network load balancing and a CDN manager, which provides geographical or weighed load balancing to improve performance and cost efficiencies.

“The kind of advanced solutions we are able to offer depends fundamentally on two things, technical expertise and innovation, as well as support and service levels that are second to none,” commented Daly. “One of the things about NTT America that really impressed us, and maybe it’s because we are 90 percent staffed by engineers, is that if we have any issue or question, our calls are answered directly by a network engineer 24/7 in their Network Operations Center (NOC). You aren’t routed to a call center where your call is triaged by someone who doesn’t understand the issue. This is really critical to both us and our customers because we guarantee nearly 100 percent DNS resolution, just like NTT America guarantees 100 percent uptime.”

“Both Dyn and NTT America share a keen understanding of Internet and network infrastructure and Dyn can leverage a wide variety of NTT America’s infrastructure assets including financial stability, depth of services and a forward thinking approach on using innovation to help efficiently and cost effectively grow businesses,” said Shuichi Ikeda, vice president of sales and business development for NTT America’s Global IP Network Business Unit.

As a Tier-1 provider, NTT America’s Global IP Network (GIN) provides private peering and seamless service from a single global ASN (ASN2914), directly connecting telecoms, ISPs, content providers, CDNs and enterprises at the highest performance levels available. In addition to its US and Latin American networking capabilities, NTT America employs six transpacific cable systems to provide one of the shortest, fastest paths for transpacific Internet traffic, meeting and often exceeding the performance metrics set by customers. In addition, the transpacific portion of the network has reached 300 gigabytes (300Gbps) per second of available capacity, one of the highest available for any global Tier-1 network. (Note: To view the NTT Communications Global IP Network, visit: http://www.ntt.net/english/about/network_map.cfm.)

To view the complete NTT America / Dyn Inc. case study, visit NTT America’s website at http://www.us.ntt.net/products/case_studies/.

Click here to view the press release on Business Wire.