Metaswitch Kickstarts MPLS-TP

LONDON -- Metaswitch Networks, the world's leading provider of network protocol software, announced today the industry's first portable software solution for MPLS Transport Profile (MPLS-TP), further solidifying its role as an MPLS technology leader. Many of Metaswitch's DC-MPLS customers have begun planning MPLS-TP support, or in some cases have implemented early versions based on DC-MPLS.

Carriers are increasingly moving to converged packet networks driven by changes in traffic mix and dramatic shifts in transport device economics away from circuit-oriented SONET/SDH to packet ethernet. Given this, service providers are eager to transition their transport architectures from SONET/SDH to packet. However, packet technology has not thus far been able to offer the resilience and manageability of SONET/SDH. This is where MPLS-TP fits in, providing the same QoS, protection and restoration, and OAM that is inherent in SONET/SDH and in a way that has a familiar look and feel for network operators.

Metaswitch's DC-MPLS network protocol software provides the foundation for MPLS-TP, including features such as static and dynamic ethernet pseudowires, pseudowire redundancy and end-to-end-recovery, plus GMPLS signaling for use as an MPLS-TP control plane. With this functionality, system vendors can begin to roll out MPLS-TP control plane with a simple upgrade to the DC-MPLS protocol solution.

"DC-MPLS is widely deployed and has demonstrated proven interoperability and scalability in the field," said Jon Berger, Director of MPLS Product Development in Metaswitch's Network Protocols Division. "We are closely involved in the MPLS-TP standards process within the IETF and our DC-MPLS GMPLS implementation already supports the necessary features for an MPLS-TP capable control plane. We are adding further enhancements to meet evolving MPLS-TP standards, to allow our customers to deliver MPLS-TP capable devices at the earliest opportunity."

In a separate release:

LONDON -- Metaswitch has built upon its market leadership position in offering technology solutions to manufacturers of networking equipment by delivering the industry's first portable protocol solution for signaling and routing in G.709 Optical Transport Networks (OTN). OTN provides a transparent, hierarchical network that supports the transport of both packet and optical traffic, greatly increasing network efficiencies. Metaswitch delivers standards-based OTN extensions of its Integrated Control Plane software to enable system vendors to dynamically signal and route connections in an OTN network.

The advent of Metaswitch's portable OTN software solution is well timed as many equipment vendors are rolling out hybrid Packet-Optical Transport Systems (POTS). The availability of a fully integrated control plane for these systems will enable service providers to offer a diverse set of packet, ethernet and optical services while greatly improving operational efficiencies.

With this announcement Metaswitch is continuing its leadership as a provider of portable protocol solutions to manufacturers of communications equipment. Metaswitch's support for OTN is the latest in a string of optical industry firsts from the company, going back to 2001 with the introduction of the industry's first portable protocol solutions for GMPLS and OIF UNI, closely followed by innovations in LMP (2002), and e2e LSP (2008).

The OTN is largely defined in the ITU's G.709 and G.872 specifications and in IETF RFC 4328. Metaswitch's portable control plane solution for G.709 OTN is delivered as extensions to the company's widely deployed DC-RSVP MPLS signaling software and DC-OSPF and DC-ISIS routing stacks. "Metaswitch's OTN control plane technology is available today to our MPLS and IP routing customers as a straightforward, in-service software upgrade," said Jonathan Hardwick, Director of Product Management for Metaswitch's Network Protocols Division. "This enables our customers to introduce an industry standard OTN control plane solution in the fastest time possible."

Metaswitch Networks