Alcatel this week announced successful third-party multi-vendor interoperability testing of Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) on the Alcatel 7670 Routing Switch Platform (RSP) and the Alcatel 7411 Broadband Access Server (BAS). The European Advanced Networking Test Center (EANTC), an independent equipment test facility, conducted the test.
Following the recent announcement of the new release of the Alcatel 7670 RSP, the multi-protocol platform demonstrated interconnection with core Internet Protocol (IP) routers using its STM-16/OC-48 packet over SONET interface. The Alcatel 7411 BAS introduced the dynamic setup of Border Gateway Protocol/MPLS virtual private networks (VPN), a critical factor to the commercial success of broadband remote access servers.
The tests proved the platforms' interoperability in the areas of:
* Label Distribution Protocol/Resource Reservation Protocol-Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) Signaling
* RSVP-TE and Traffic Engineering with CR-LDP (Constraint-based Router Label Distribution Protocol)
* VPN based on RFC 2547bis (Request For Comment)
* Label Edge Router and Label Switch Router applications
"The purpose of EANTC's testing is to ultimately improve the quality and compatibility of different vendors' equipment," explains Carsten Rossenhövel, managing director, research and manufacturer testing, EANTC. "By participating in this process, Alcatel demonstrates its commitment to multi-vendor interoperability and international standards as well as its desire to proactively meet customer needs on a global basis."
Successful interoperability results were also recently achieved in North America at the Advanced Internet Laboratory of George Mason University and the University of New Hampshire's Interoperability Laboratory.
"Tier one vendors can't hide behind lab coats and locked doors. It's vital that we participate in public third-party testing to deliver hardened, fully interoperable products," contends Michel Rahier, president, Alcatel Broadband Networking division.
The Alcatel 7670 RSP and the Alcatel 7411 BAS are part of Alcatel's carrier-class product portfolio that enables service providers to continue to grow existing revenue- generating services while supporting an evolutionary approach to building their next- generation core and edge networks. The products also provide the architecture to enable new IP-MPLS/VPN based services that are deliverable with improved quality of service to protect high-value service level agreements.
Founded in 1991, the EANTC tests services for network equipment manufacturers and network operators (carriers, service providers and enterprises). For more information, visit EANTC at www.eantc.com.
Alcatel builds next-generation networks and delivers integrated end-to-end voice and data networking solutions. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.alcatel.com.