|
Hello
Welcome to another issue of RAD at a Glance, the newsletter from
RAD Data Communications about developments in the communications
industry.
 ACCESS TRENDS
Preparing for
Disaster: Assuring Network Availability for Uninterrupted Communications
 One
of the outcomes of the September 11 tragedy is that organizations
and enterprises have begun to rethink their strategy toward safeguarding
their communications networks. They recognize the need to protect
their networks - not only from natural disasters or human error,
but also from deliberate acts of sabotage and terror.
Emergency Backup for Enhanced Reliability
Ever since the first computer crash, information technology (IT)
professionals have realized the importance of providing additional
resources to back up critical data. For some organizations, in the
financial services sector, for example, redundancy extended to their
communications networks. Surprisingly, however, many enterprises
and government networks are still vulnerable to a single point of
failure. The events of September 11, 2001 brought into stark relief
the necessity of maintaining redundant and dispersed computer networks
and communications systems. The revelations that the firefighters
in the World Trade Center had to depend on a central antenna atop
the Twin Towers for their communications only highlights this problem.
For these reasons, more and more organizations and corporate enterprises
insist on built-in redundancy in their communications infrastructure.
The simplest form of backup is maintaining two
separate WAN interfaces. If access is through the public network
then this could include a permanent link, leased line or packet
service, and an auxiliary dial-up or ISDN line. The WAN customer-premises
equipment should be able to support both, and offer automatic or
pre-programmed switchover should one of the links fail.
If the network is in a campus environment or the
end user owns the infrastructure - dark fiber, dry copper - then
ring or daisy-chain topologies are cost-effective and can provide
inherent resiliency with under 50 millisecond self-healing capabilities.
In cases where links have to be re-established quickly to a remote
or temporary office, then wireless solutions such as free space
optics or wireless LAN are excellent solutions.
Built-In Redundancy Enhances Reliability
Needless to say, the customer premises equipment used to access
the WAN should support line redundancy, where transmission automatically
switches to the backup link in case the main line fails. The units
should be able to interface to TDM, IP, ATM, ISDN and dial-up links,
depending on the redundant network of choice. These devices should
be equipped with backup modules that remain in standby mode and
become operational only if the main module fails. Likewise, dual
power supplies safeguard operations in case of a problem with the
main power supply. RAD offers a full complement of data/voice muxes
and other access devices that are "disaster recovery"
ready, if and when an emergency occurs.
Decentralized Networks
Some IT professionals are decentralizing operations to several locations
rather than concentrating all resources in one building. Resilient
Fast Ethernet Ring (RFER), an innovative technology recently developed
by RAD, enables enterprises, campuses, power companies, transportation
companies and utilities to create a low cost, highly reliable Ethernet
network using dark fiber or dry copper in a ring topology. RFER
provides self-healing capabilities on 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet fiber
or copper rings, re-routing traffic within 50 milliseconds in case
of link failure on any segment of the ring.
Remote network monitoring, control and configuration
enable detection of failures in real-time and assure fast resolution
of problems, without the cost and delays associated with an on-site
visit by a technician. RAD's manageable products include SNMP agents
for complete network control and monitoring of remote units from
a central site.
Disaster Recovery
If the network is harmed in any way, communications should be restored
quickly to enable business as usual. The network should automatically
switch to the backup link, be it ISDN or a secure fiber connection.
In cases where the main and backup infrastructure are damaged, wireless
links such as free space optics (dubbed "wireless fiber")
can be set up very quickly to reinstate the network.
Be Prepared
The goal of terrorists is to instill fear and to disrupt everyday
life. Therefore, quickly conducting business as usual is a very
appropriate response to terror. Safeguarding your network from such
an occurrence - and from natural disasters, accidents and the like
- will also help ensure the continued viability of your business.
Some customers that used RAD products in
their Homeland Security or Disaster Recovery networks:
- Rockefeller Group Telecommunications Services, New York City http://www.rad.com/Article/0,6583,11441,00.html
- Racine County, Wisconsin http://www.rad.com/Article/0,6583,11420,00.html
- Aragon, Spain
http://www.rad.com/Article/0,6583,11443,00.html
GENERAL NEWS
RAD to Supply Norwegian Carrier BaneTele with
Access Solutions for GSM-R, In-Station Video and Public SHDSL Services
 Norway's
BaneTele will deploy a suite of RAD access solutions in 2003, to
provide signaling monitoring and video integration among train stations,
a GSM network for internal railway use, GSM service in mountain
regions and SHDSL services to business users, connecting them to
BaneTele's IP/MPLS backbone. "We approached RAD again because
of the excellent support we are receiving on our existing project,
and we look forward to continuing our relationship with the RAD
team," said Kjell Hagen, System Specialist at BaneTele.
Full story: http://www.rad.com/Article/0,6583,11535,00.html
Local German Operator
Builds Complete City Network Using RAD Technology
Telekommunikation Lindau GmbH, the local operator in the
German town of Lindau, will be deploying RAD solutions in a new,
high speed, citywide data communications network that will serve
customers in banking, government, industry and small and medium-sized
enterprises. The revolutionary feature of this new Gigabit Ethernet
network is its original copper-based backbone, which will gradually
be replaced with fiber optic cable. The core of the solution is
DSL technology, which significantly increases the transmission capacity
of copper lines to produce sufficient bandwidth.
Full story: http://www.rad.com/Article/0,6583,11520,00.html
SUCCESS STORIES
London-Based Broadband Service Provider Uses
IPmux to Integrate Voice and Data over IP Networks for Multi-Tenant
Unit (MTU) Buildings
 RAD's
IPmux TDM over IP (TDMoIP) gateway has been selected by London-based
HighSpeed Office, a provider of advanced communications solutions,
to deliver high quality converged voice and data services to business
customers, with minimum disruption and preserving legacy equipment.
Full story: http://www.rad.com/Article/0,6583,11410,00.html
RAD Multiplexer Provides Communications Used
in Air Traffic Control System at New Korean Airport
 South
Korea's new Yangyang International Airport has installed Megaplex-2100
multiplexers from RAD Data Communications in its air traffic control
tower and radio sites in order to link the voice communications
control system between the tower and the radio equipment. Support
for 50 millisecond protection switching on the fiber main link was
an important factor in the selection of the product, since dependability
is vital in this airport application.
Full story: http://www.rad.com/Article/0,6583,11419,00.html
NEW PRODUCTS
RAD's New Voice Trunking Gateway Performs
High Quality Voice Compression over Circuit or Packet Networks
The new Vmux-2100 compressed voice gateway extends up to 16 E1 or
T1 lines over a single E1, T1 or Ethernet uplink. By employing RAD's
innovative packet-based TDM over IP (TDMoIP) technology, the Vmux
is able to support a more efficient use of bandwidth than VoIP through
even higher compression rates
Full story: http://www.rad.com/Article/0,6583,11527,00.html
WHAT'S NEW ON-LINE
Our Web Site Is Better Than Ever
The new RAD Web site is up and running, offering
fast and easy access to more information. Take the guided tour at
www.rad.com to learn about the
new, user-friendly features.
2003 Product Catalog
 Download
our new catalog in PDF format (English version) at http://www.rad.com/Home/0,6583,1865,00.html.
Other languages to follow.
Industry Insights
 New
on our Web site, Industry Insights presents a knowledgeable commentary
on the trends and fast-paced developments shaping the data communications
and telecommunications arena. It draws from publicly available research
reports and other industry resources to offer up-to-the-minute facts,
statistics and analyses. Join us each issue as Industry Insights
helps you find the right choices for your access network requirements.
http://www.rad.com/Home/0,6583,2065,00.html
New White Paper: Resilient Fast Ethernet
Ring (RFER)
RAD's innovative RFER technology delivers SDH/SONET-type resilience
at Ethernet cost for small to medium-sized applications.
Read the White Paper: http://www.rad.com/Article/0,6583,11180,00.html
Sincerely,
Shari Ingerman
Senior Editor, RAD Data Communications
| 
