Hypercom advances migration to new WAN technologies by protecting X.25 investment; Continues strategy of enabling users to upgrade quickly and cost-effectively.PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 1, 1996--To allow corporate users to protect hardware investments while migrating to newer, more cost-effective WAN technologies, Hypercom Network Systems has added support for X.25 switching protocols to its Integrated Enterprise Network' (IEN IEN - Internet Experiment Note ) branch networking product range. The new protocol suite enables companies to move from costly private or public X.25 networks to low-cost, high-performance frame relay-based networks. This facilitates migration because companies don't have to invest time and capital in upgrading existing end user devices, or disrupt mission-critical applications. "Like private lines, X.25-based networks were prominent in large branch networks during the 1980s," said Hypercom Network Systems' President Paul Wallner. "Today, users need greater speeds and more bandwidth. They're looking to migrate to newer WAN technologies that deliver better cost-performance, such as frame relay A high-speed packet switching protocol used in wide area networks (WANs). Providing a granular service of up to DS3 speed (45 Mbps), it has become popular for LAN to LAN connections across remote distances, and services are offered by most major carriers. and ISDN ISDN in full Integrated Services Digital Network Digital telecommunications network that operates over standard copper telephone wires or other media. ." Wallner pointed out that large networks may have tens of thousands of devices running X.25, so migration to client/server environments and new WAN infrastructures must be carefully planned and managed. "By allowing users to run X.25-based applications as they always have without disruption, IEN allows WAN technological upgrades to be made smoothly and carefully," Wallner explained. X.25 migration to frame relay is not supported by all other leading router vendors. How It Works The new X.25 suite continues IEN's strategy of enabling multiple technologies to be integrated together and managed efficiently. X.25 is supported via the following: Making X.25 At Home On the Frame Relay Backbone: The new IEN feature routes X.25 over frame relay by performing X.25 switch emulation, recreating the feel of the pre-existing X.25 backbone. Common X.25 Features: Technical features commonly associated with X.25 networks, such as X.25 hunt group and call negotiation are supported. Legacy Protocol Conversion: The X.25 protocol suite includes legacy protocol conversion for SNA (Systems Network Architecture) IBM's mainframe network standards introduced in 1974. Originally a centralized architecture with a host computer controlling many terminals, enhancements, such as APPN and APPC (LU 6. , as well as common asynchronous Refers to events that are not synchronized, or coordinated, in time. The following are considered asynchronous operations. The interval between transmitting A and B is not the same as between B and C. The ability to initiate a transmission at either end. and bisynchronous protocols. SNA/SDLC, X.25 QLLC QLLC Qualified Logical Link Control QLLC Quality Link Layer Control to LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control 2, X.25 BSC (Binary Synchronous Communications) See bisync. PAD (packet access device), and X.3 Async PAD are all supported. The legacy protocols are converted to X.25, and can then be transmitted across the frame relay network. Advanced IEN Technology Handles Diverse Branch Needs "Branch networks are extremely heterogeneous environments," Wallner pointed out. "Communication requirements can vary from branch to branch, so the basic infrastructure has to be extremely versatile to allow easy growth and management." IEN combines support for multiple legacy, LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. and WAN technologies, as well as voice and video. IEN also supports the combination of packet, circuit switch and cell relay technologies. Besides allowing protocols to be consolidated seamlessly, IEN integrates the capabilities of multiple separate communications devices into a single, easily managed platform. Among the functions performed by the IEN family of products are frame relay and X.25 switching, frame relay access device (communications) Frame Relay Access Device - (FRAD) Hardware and software that turns packets from TCP, SNA, IPX, etc into frames that can be sent over a Frame Relay wide area network. (FRAD (Frame Relay Access Device or Frame Relay Assembler Disassembler) A communications device that formats outgoing data into the format required by a frame relay network. It strips the data back out at the other end. ) capabilities, LAN routing, hub/MAU functionality, voice and video networking, dial-up access and integrated ISDN support. To accommodate user growth strategies, a migration path to ATM and cell relay upgrades are also available. Pricing and Availability The X.25 protocol suite is available now at no additional cost to Hypercom users. Hypercom Network Systems Hypercom Network Systems, a division of Hypercom Inc., provides advanced data communications technology to Fortune 1000 industries. Hypercom Network Systems' primary mission is to allow integration of legacy and client/server networks using a combination of packet switching, circuit switching and cell relay technologies. Founded in 1978, Hypercom Inc. is a multinational company headquartered in Phoenix. Its products are sold in more than 30 countries and produce revenues in excess of $230 million annually. CONTACT: Hammond Farrell Inc. Liza Kurtz, 212/995-5680 ext. 210 John Williamson, 212/995-5680 ext. 206 HamndFarel@aol.com |
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