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More efficient network traffic engineering
Rüschlikon/Switzerland, May 2001 — Dramatically increasing
data traffic on the Internet calls for the best possible use of
network resources in an ever more complex environment. These requirements
are met by drawing on more and more intelligence provided by network
processors.
In collaboration with IBM Microelectronics at Research Triangle
Park, NC, a research team at IBM Research - Zurich has
now developed unique network processor software to manage bandwidth
allocation dynamically and automatically. The new tool supports
guaranteed bandwidth (quality of service) and simultaneously allows
unmatched optimum use of available bandwidth at any time.
This breakthrough bandwidth allocation technology runs on next-generation
network processors (PowerNP) announced by IBM Microelectronics at
the end of April 2001. Zurich's software is combined with the PowerNP
hardware to create the PowerNP Traffic Engineering Reference Platform
(TERP).
Zurich's TERP was demonstrated at Networld + Interop, one of the
world's largest networking exhibitions held in Las Vegas in early
May. This advanced prototype subsystem allows equipment makers to
configure a "real world" media-speed router environment to conduct
thorough development, integration, and testing to speed the building
of their products. The demonstration setup includes network performance
analysis equipment provided by Ixia http://www.ixiacom.com/, which
displays the industry-leading performance of the IBM PowerNP, able
to process IP packets at 2.5 Gb/s (OC48 speed standard).
IBM Microelectronics provides more information on PowerNP.
For more information on TERP, contact Ed
Bowen.
Our Web pages also provide information on all Communication
Systems projects pursued at the Zurich Research Lab.
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