Spirent introduces OpenFlow 1.3 testing solution

Spirent Communications has extended the support features of Spirent TestCenter for OpenFlow 1.3. The testing solution is expected to drive the deployment of OpenFlow-capable switches and controllers.

OpenFlow 1.3 provides support for IPv6, MPLS and other capabilities which help operators improve the quality of service while implementing software-defined technologies. The extended support for OpenFlow 1.3 is expected to help operators improve product quality while expanding test coverage, and reduce time-to-test and costs through collaboration across groups and sites. The Spirent TestCenter is available in the market in both the hardware and virtual versions.

TE Connectivity introduces backplane connectors

TE Connectivity has launched a series of high speed backplane connectors – STRADA Whisper. These backplane connectors transfer data at 25 Gbps, which can be increased to 40 Gbps. They allow organisations to avoid costly system upgrades with backplane or midplane redesign.

The backplane connectors operate at low noise levels (of less than 1 dB). The product, based on eye-of-needle technology, has folded signal pins surrounded by protective C-shaped shields, which makes it robust and flexible. The connector footprint in the STRADA Whisper helps keep crosstalk down. The STRADA Whisper backplane connectors are available in three versions – standard, orthogonal (for midplane structures) and a cabled version, which allows users to increase their coverage at a lower insertion loss than that associated with printed circuit board materials. These backplane connectors can be used in servers, storage equipment, switches, routers, optical transport and wireless infrastructure. Further, specific versions of the product are available for 100 ohm and 85 ohm applications to address impedance discontinuities.

EMC launches data and network security solutions

EMC has introduced hardware and software solutions – Data Domain, Avamar, NetWorker and Mozy.

The new products enable organisations to build advanced protection storage architectures that help them protect data from security threats. The new Data Domain systems provide protection storage to organisations, thereby helping them recover lost data, secure a backup and archive the required data and information. All the products leverage optimised data flow and user interface of data sources including the hypervisor, application and storage to ensure a higher level of security. Further, these security solutions create a catalogue of all data copies along with reporting and analytics for compliance.

The new Data Domain products including DD2500, DD4200, DD4500 and DD7200 systems help integrate the backup and archive data on to a single, easy-to-manage protection storage platform. These systems support up to 540 data streams, enabling complete consolidation of backup and/or archive data. The design of these systems helps reduce the total cost of ownership for backup and archive storage as these systems provide up to 38 per cent lower costs per GB. Further, Data Domain systems support direct backup from the SAP HANA Studio via NFS, enabling SAP HANA DBAs to leverage efficient protection storage while maintaining control of backup processes. To support a broader range of archive storage environments, Data Domain systems offer seamless integration with archiving applications from OpenText, IBM and Dell.

The Avamar 7 product supports all major data centre workloads being directed to data domain systems, with the addition of a file system and NAS/NDMP backups. With this addition, all major data centre workloads can be protected by the combined solution. Also, the new VMware vSphere web client allows VMware administrators to manage Avamar backup and recovery directly from a familiar interface.

NetWorker 8.1 provides integrated snapshot management, a new wizard-based user interface, auto-discovery, and intelligent assignment of snapshot storage. The product has been integrated with Data Domain systems with data domain boost support over the fibre channel. This enables 50 per cent faster backup and 2.5x faster restoration as compared to virtual tape library-based configurations. The company’s Mozy products enable organisations to scale up cloud backup while reducing costs and network complexity. The active directory integration helps organisations to do away with the need for separately creating user accounts. In addition, keyless activation accelerates the process for serving new users, thereby resulting in greater scalability.

 Dialogic unveils PowerMedia XMS WebRTC deployment solutions

Dialogic, Inc. has unveiled PowerMedia XMS 2.1, a software media server that helps companies address issues related to Web Real-Time Communications (WebRTC) deployment.

PowerMedia XMS 2.1 allows the mixing of diverse media streams, enabling connectivity among legacy networks, end-points and WebRTC, thereby simplifying multiparty communication and collaboration. The software media server supports companies’ migration to network virtualisation solutions. With exponential growth in data traffic, a large number of devices are expected to be equipped for real-time, peer-to-peer video, voice and data communication sessions through WebRTC and HTML5 browsers such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. By deploying PowerMedia XMS 2.1, network operators and application developers will be in a position to enable such click-to-communicate sessions without the need for additional hardware, proprietary software clients or plug-ins. It will also help normalise WebRTC specifications at the IP media subsystem level and offer a seamless experience for end- users. The software media server allows service providers and application developers to avoid the designing of their own multimedia processing and connectivity solutions.

Avaya introduces video collaboration solution for SMEs

Avaya has rolled out the Avaya video collaboration solution for IP Office specifically for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The Avaya video collaboration solution for IP Office provides comprehensive desktop, mobile and high definition (HD) room system video collaboration capabilities.

The key features of the solution are direct integration including a common dial plan with Avaya IP Office Version 8.1; and a “virtual conference room” for up to eight participants (with click-to-join capabilities from a standards-based room system, a desktop and a mobile device). The solution uses low bandwidth to deliver an HD multiparty videoconferencing experience and rich data collaboration through native SIP/H.323. It can also be deployed in an HD videoconferencing room system. The Avaya video collaboration solution delivers bring-your-own-device and HD room system capabilities to SMEs through collaborative capabilities which are aimed at helping SMEs increase productivity, enhance customer service, and reduce operational costs.

Dassault Systèmes introduces Exalead OneCall solution for enterprises

Dassault Systèmes has introduced the Exalead OneCall solution, which helps enterprises to reduce average call length and increases first-call resolution rates.

The Exalead OneCall solution aggregates and streamlines structured or unstructured data for customer service executives. It provides relevant information about the customer and sold products directly on the desktop. The Exalead OneCall solution provides customer history, multichannel look-up and contextual cross-selling/upselling. The solution also supports operational tools like single-screen viewing of teams and agent activities and real-time operational dashboards and analytics. It also provides consolidated key performance indicators and trend reporting.

 Juniper Networks launches automation solutions

Juniper Networks has introduced a set of network automation and orchestration tools to simplify data centre operations. The new automation tools have been built using the company’s Junos operating system and have been integrated with orchestration and IT automation platforms such as OpenStack and Puppet.

These solutions enable automation at a data centre across the full operations life cycle. They automate functions from network provisioning to management to orchestration to streamlining processes and eliminates risks resulting from human error. These solutions offer enterprises the flexibility to implement new and emerging technologies such as software-defined networking on their premises. The network automation switches – Juniper Networks EX Series and QFX Series – offer zero-touch provisioning, which enables network administrators to introduce new switches in the network without manual intervention. Once the initial set-up is complete, the Juniper Networks Junos Space Network Director provides a single network view, delivering a full lifecycle management solution, which includes configuration, event management and monitoring. To increase business agility through IT automation, Juniper Networks has integrated Puppet Labs software with the Junos operating system. Following the integration, the Puppet Enterprise for Junos OS is available on the EX Series, QFX Series and the MX Series platforms and allows IT teams to compute resources and manage network infrastructure simultaneously. This approach helps network administrators to add VLANs to top-of-rack switch ports. Instead, they can deploy Puppet Enterprise for Junos OS to make these changes. The solution is vendor neutral and open source, allowing customers to modify it to meet their requirements.

Further, Juniper’s EX Series switches, QFX Series switches and QFabric integrate with OpenStack through the OpenStack Networking plug-in. This simplifies the deployment of private, public and hybrid clouds through a set of standard application programming interfaces. Customers can deploy multi-tiered data centre applications faster and have greater flexibility in managing both the physical network and virtual network infrastructure through JunosV Contrail or VMware-based solutions.