Alcatel introduced a Smart Continuous Switching (SCS) feature providing carrier-class reliability for its OmniSwitch 7000 and 8000 series of metro Ethernet products. SCS distributes intelligence functions throughout network interface modules, rather than through a central processor, to ensure that there is no interruption of services or performance during the loss of a critical network element. The Alcatel OmniSwitch also features a distributed ASIC and network processor architecture to ensure no single point of failure. The OmniSwitch line can also be tied into the Alcatel 5620 Network Manager to provide one-touch provisioning of VLANs and to centralize other management tasks. In addition, the OmniSwitch can be combined with VPN functionality on the Alcatel 7670 Routing Switch Platform (RSP) so that a carrier can support all flavors of VPNs (FR, ATM, IP) from a consolidated PoP.
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- In April 2003, Alcatel introduced Frame Relay to Metro Ethernet Service Interworking capability, enabling service providers to offer Ethernet access through their widely-deployed Frame Relay networks. The new capability for the Alcatel 7670 RSP allows carriers to offer switched VPN services to their customers with the choice of mixing Frame or cell relay with Ethernet access to the same VPN. The new software maps the Ethernet VLAN IDs into Frame Relay DLCI / ATM VCI parameters. While recommending its own OmniSwitch metro Ethernet solution, Alcatel said the new Service Interworking capability would be able to support any standard Ethernet VLAN implementation.
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Alcatel has shipped over 7,000 units of its OmniSwitch line for metro Ethernet deployment.
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Alcatel has 22 publicly announced customers for its 7670 RSP, including SBC, Bell Canada, Telus, Cable & Wireless, China Telecom, BT, France Telecom, Deutsche Telecom and others.