SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Juniper Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:JNPR - News) today announced that its M- and T-series routing platforms are the first network routers to be certified for the Department of Defense Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) Capable Approved Products List (APL). The Office of the Secretary of Defense National Information Infrastructure (OSD-NII) has mandated that all DoD Program Managers purchase products from the IPv6 APL, in keeping with the Department's overall directive that defense organizations transition network backbones from IPv4 to IPv6, the next generation Internet protocol, by 2008. The IPv6 Capable Special Interoperability Certification of Juniper Networks products were administered by the DoD Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC), which validated data analysis, tests and evaluated the M- and T-series routers for conformance and interoperability to IPv6 base requirements.

"Juniper Networks recognizes that IPv6 is a critical enabler of capabilities such as dynamic situational awareness, holistic information assurance, collaboration and standards-based protocol that are central to the Defense Department's net-centric vision," said Haywood Talcove, vice president, U.S. Public Sector, Juniper Networks. "To receive the DoD's IPv6 capable certification is a strong validation of Juniper Networks' capability to deliver IPv6 technology to meet the most demanding requirements."

The DoD IPv6 APL conforms to the Requests for Commands mandated by the DoD Information Technology Standards Registry and Internet Engineering Task Force. The certification is maintained for three years or until a dramatic change occurs in the Internet protocol stack.

Juniper Networks M- and T-series routers were tested using the DoD IPv6 Generic Test Plan (GTP), which specifies test criteria and procedures for IPv6 products involved in or connecting to the Global Information Grid. Product interoperability was defined as "the ability to exchange and use information, usually in a large heterogeneous network made up of several local area networks."

Juniper Networks Inc. (NYSE: JNPR)