BUSINESS WIRE

March 13, 2003; McLean, Virginia

Isocore today announced completion of the first round of 2003 leading-edge code testing for Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) at its Internetworking Lab.

Major vendors successfully demonstrated interoperability of their equipment relating to functions which are key to the deployment of next-generation Internet Protocol (IP) services in carrier networks, and for deployment of Layer 2 VPN services.

The tests demonstrated interoperability of the IETF specifications for Fast Reroute and Layer 2 services (including Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS)) in a test-bed consisting of edge and core products from multiple vendors.

The core of the test-bed included TSR/SSR from Avici Systems (AVCI), 12400 Series Internet Routers from Cisco Systems (CSCO), and BXR-48000 from Marconi (MONI), while the edge contained equipment from CoSine Communications (COSN), Cisco Systems (CSCO), Extreme Networks (EXTR), Foundry Networks (FDRY), Ixia (XXIA), Redback Networks (RBAK), Spirent Communications, and TiMetra Networks.

This event marked the first interoperability testing of VPLS and Hierarchical VPLS in the industry based on IETF draft-lasserre-vkompella-ppvpn-vpls. Point-to-Point Layer 2 VPNs, based on the IETF Martini drafts were also tested extensively for transport of various types of traffic, including Ethernet VLAN, Frame Relay, and ATM traffic.

In the core, Link Bypass and Node Protection with Fast Reroute were tested exhaustively, and interoperability, scalability, and performance of these mechanisms were evaluated.

A number of test scenarios illustrating MPLS-based Layer 2 services such as VPLS and H-VPLS running over a core network protected with MPLS Fast Reroute will be presented at Interop 2003 (April 27-May 2, Las Vegas, NV), as well as the fourth Public MPLS Interoperability Demonstration on October 29, 2003, following the MPLS 2003 International Conference (October 26-28, Washington DC).

The results of the interoperability testing will be discussed at the Isocore Internetworking Lab Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting to be held on March 16. Service providers and vendors will review these results and provide further technical requirements for MPLS-based services which will be validated and tested during the next round of interoperability testing at Isocore Internetworking Lab, scheduled for the summer of 2003.

The goal of Isocore's Internetworking Lab is to advance internetworking through validation and interoperability testing and to promote development and rapid deployment of new networking technologies.

Isocore's Internetworking Lab is supported by major service providers such as Cable and Wireless, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom, Masergy, NTT, Sprint, and Worldcom; leading networking equipment vendors such as Avici Systems, Cisco Systems, Cosine Communications, Extreme Networks, Foundry Networks, Hyperchip, Juniper Networks, Lucent Technologies, Marconi, Movaz, Redback, Riverstone, Tellabs, and TiMetra; and test equipment suppliers such as Ixia, Spirent Communications, Network Associates, and Navtel.

For more information about the Isocore's Internetworking Lab visit the web site at http://www.isocore.com.

Media Contact:
Vincent Dean (703) 556-4939 or vdean@isocore.com