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Riverstone Introduces 15008 Access Line Cards; New Product Option Extends Industry's Most Complete Carrier Ethernet Routing Portfolio

Posted on: Monday, 20 March 2006, 09:00 CST

Carrier Ethernet pioneer Riverstone Networks today introduced a series of access line cards for its 15008 Ethernet Edge Router platform. The A-Series access cards offer carriers an optimal mix of price-performance for their wireline and wireless Ethernet service needs, giving them the ability to grow from a medium-sized Layer 2 deployment to a large-scale Layer 2/3 deployment on a single system. Using the new cards, carriers can optimize their Ethernet infrastructure for today's service needs with the flexibility to change the network architecture as future needs dictate while preserving their existing investment.

The new A-Series cards, which support Layer 2 Ethernet and VPLS feature sets, can be deployed alone or in combination with the 15008's standard E-Series cards, which support Layer 2 Ethernet, VPLS and IP feature sets. The ability to mix-and-match the two series of line cards provides carriers with a cost-effective and flexible way to scale their network and add IP capabilities in the future on a highly resilient and fully-redundant platform.

"Ethernet aggregation based on MPLS label edge routing technology is emerging as a viable transport model that is aligned with traditional carrier operational models, and that is now dramatically coming down in price to meet the economic realities of the widespread deployment of bandwidth- and connectivity-intensive residential and business service networks," said Mark Seery, Vice President, IP Service Infrastructure, Ovum-RHK. "The Riverstone 15008 already supports Ethernet switching, VPLS/MPLS, and IP routing on its existing line cards, but the introduction of the A-series line cards provides an additional VPLS/MPLS-optimized option for Ethernet aggregation at a significantly reduced cost for network operators."

The A-Series line cards come in four variants: a 96 port 10/100, the industry's highest density; a 12 port GE (SFP); a 24 port GE (SFP); and a 1 port 10GE (LR, ER, and XR). They support MPLS/VPLS/H-VPLS, Layer 2 IP Multicast, and v4 dynamic routing less BGP. Riverstone is demonstrating the A-series cards this week at TelecomNext (booth #765) and will begin taking orders starting in April, with delivery scheduled in May.

The new modular access solution complements the recently introduced Riverstone fixed-form, 15100 and 15200 Ethernet Access Routers, which provide Layer 2 Ethernet, VPLS and IP services in a smaller, low-cost platform. With the introduction of the A-series line cards on the 15008, Riverstone is able to present carriers with multiple options to address their specific hardware, feature set and cost requirements of their access network.

The 15008 chassis has fully redundant hardware and software, including a modular operating system to dramatically reduce router software outages and reboots. According to a 2005 report by the consulting firm Network Strategy Partners, a modular operating system can increase routing reliability by a full order of magnitude vs. a monolithic architecture. This unique capability at the network edge, combined with the resiliency and traffic engineering attributes of MPLS, gives service providers a truly carrier-grade Ethernet solution.

The MEF carrier Ethernet certified 15008 also features ATM and POS interfaces, helping accelerate the migration of the carriers' legacy data networks onto a converged Ethernet infrastructure.

Riverstone Networks, Inc. is a leading provider of carrier Ethernet infrastructure solutions for business and residential communications services. Riverstone's Ethernet router portfolio uniquely delivers the reliability that allows carriers to meet the triple play -- voice, video and data -- service requirements of their customers in a cost-effective and scalable way. Riverstone allows carriers to offer new services over existing revenue-generating networks permitting them to evolve to a next generation Ethernet infrastructure.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including without limitation statements regarding the availability of Riverstone's A-Series cards and their performance in production networks are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include potential delays in delivery of functional cards due to parts shortages, longer-than-anticipated final quality testing along with those risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Riverstone Networks' SEC reports prior to February 10, 2006. The company assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements.

Source: Business Wire

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