Lucent Delivers New Network Solution to Alleviate Internet Traffic Jams.MURRAY HILL Murray Hill may refer to one of the following places:
IPWorX(TM) Speeds Downloads, Frees Network Bandwidth and Supports New Applications Lucent Technologies (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : LU) today announced a network solution that enables Internet Service Providers Internet service provider (ISP) Company that provides Internet connections and services to individuals and organizations. For a monthly fee, ISPs provide computer users with a connection to their site (see data transmission), as well as a log-in name and password. (ISPs), Web content providers and large enterprises to speed up Web downloads while reducing bandwidth costs by up to 40 percent through better management of network traffic. Called IPWorX(TM), the new solution detects and anticipates changes in Web traffic volume and proactively helps optimize the network to effectively manage it through a unique software platform. The solution also includes a Web content switch See Web switch. that directs content from Web sites to end users and caching appliances that store the content on service provider and enterprise networks for delivery to local users. IPWorX also supports next-generation Internet service offerings such as video-on-demand, insertion of localized advertising or other Web content and multiplayer online gaming See gaming. . IPWorX is the only Web performance solution that combines replication, caching and intelligent switching of Web content to anticipate traffic requirements, minimize bandwidth usage and securely deliver the freshest, most accurate content. There is a lot of redundant traffic on the Internet and corporate intranets and extranets because 20 percent of Web pages account for 80 percent of the requests for Web content. IPWorX uses software to determine frequently requested content, and then proactively retrieves and stores updated versions of it. When the same content is requested again it can be delivered locally, reducing bandwidth and Internet access See how to access the Internet. costs, while ensuring end users quickly get the content they want. Just six months after development began, 10 customers, including service providers, content providers and enterprises, have either begun or agreed to trial IPWorX. IPWorX will be available worldwide through direct and indirect channels by the end of the summer to address the caching and Web switching Using a Web switch to route Web traffic to the server that can process it most efficiently. See Web switch. market that is projected to grow from $400 million in 1998 to $2.8 billion in 2002(a). "Using IPWorX, we are able to speed up our Internet service dramatically, substantially reduce the load on our servers and cost-effectively replicate content without deploying additional redundant servers," said Lee Weinstein, president, Cube Technologies, an ISP (1) See in-system programmable. (2) (Internet Service Provider) An organization that provides access to the Internet. Connection to the user is provided via dial-up, ISDN, cable, DSL and T1/T3 lines. serving the New York metropolitan area New York–Northern New Jersey–Long Island is the most populous metropolitan area in the United States and the third most populous in the world, after Tokyo and Mexico City. . "This saves us money and administrative overhead while giving us more control over the Web-based services we can offer and support at guaranteed levels to our customers." Existing Web traffic management solutions are typically reactive in design, blindly directing traffic based on its IP address or just retrieving and storing content locally. They do not have the intelligence to integrate these pieces together to recognize traffic patterns and their impact on network capacity. With Internet usage doubling every 100 days, network administrators have been forced to add Web servers or buy more bandwidth to handle the increasing traffic, something that can add cost and complexity to networks. IPWorX gives network administrators a better understanding of what Web content is popular and where the demand is coming from so they can proactively replicate the content closer to the users requesting it. Content can also be automatically replicated to multiple points in the network so even if a "flash flood" of traffic occurs, due to breaking news story for example, the network can handle it. "Most solutions intended to improve Web performance have been reactive, focusing solely on caching Web information only when it is requested by an end user. These solutions are typically either just software or only operate with specific hardware," said Mark DeSimone, global marketing vice president, Lucent Technologies. "IPWorX operates with existing data networking hardware Networking hardware typically refers to equipment facilitating the use of a computer network. Typically, this includes routers, switches, access points, network interface cards and other related hardware. and handles both caching and load balancing The fine tuning of a computer system, network or disk subsystem in order to more evenly distribute the data and/or processing across available resources. For example, in clustering, load balancing might distribute the incoming transactions evenly to all servers, or it might redirect them in data networks through intelligent and proactive content management. It's a complete hardware and software solution that can maximize our customers' existing networks and expand as their networks grow." Another key differentiator is IPWorX's support of value-added and multimedia Web services (1) Loosely, any online service delivered over the Web. Such usage appears in articles from non-technical sources, but not in IT-oriented publications, because definition #2 below describes the correct use of the term. . Using Bell Labs' patented Reliable Multicast Transport Protocol (RMTP RMTP Reliable Multicast Transfer Protocol RMTP Rhein-Main Transfer Project RMTP Request Mail Transfer Protocol RMTP Reliable Multicast Transport Protocol ), IPWorX can deliver streaming packet audio or video that end users can "play" as it is downloaded. In addition, customers can configure IPWorX so that certain WebDirectors, WebCaches or even bandwidth levels can be assigned for specific customers or content. This creates new revenue opportunities in service level agreements for business-class Web hosting Making a Web site available on the Internet. Many ISPs host a few personal Web pages for an individual at no additional cost above the monthly service fee, but the address is subordinate to the ISP; for example, www.friendlyisp.com/pat_smith. , e-commerce and other applications. A suite of Web infrastructure products for service provider and enterprise networks, IPWorX consists of three components: -- WebController - the unique, Web-based system management software developed by Bell Labs that manages all the network components of the IPWorX solution from a single point of control, regardless if the components are in a local area network or spread in a wide area network around the world. WebController configures the WebDirectors and WebCaches as well as collects and consolidates information from them, including: monitoring Web requests to determine popular content as well as compiling advertising, billing and traffic information. -- WebCache - a next-generation caching and replication appliance based on patented technology from Bell Labs. WebCaches work together as a distributed system See distributed computing. distributed system - A collection of (probably heterogeneous) automata whose distribution is transparent to the user so that the system appears as one local machine. to proactively retrieve, store and serve Web content locally to eliminate redundant Web traffic, providing faster downloads, fresher content and better use of network bandwidth. -- WebDirector - an intelligent Web content switch that distributes Web content to WebCaches based on IP addresses, Uniform Resource Locators (URL URL in full Uniform Resource Locator Address of a resource on the Internet. The resource can be any type of file stored on a server, such as a Web page, a text file, a graphics file, or an application program. ), which are the addresses of Web sites, and "cookies," information on an end user's computer that identifies it with the server hosting a specific Web site. Lucent is buying, branding and reselling ArrowPoint Communications' Content Smart Web switches as the WebDirector switches through a non-exclusive OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and agreement. For further information on IPWorX, interested parties can call 1-888-4LUCENT, send e-mail to ipworx@lucent.com or visit http://www.lucentipworx.com. Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., designs, builds and delivers a wide range of public and private networks, communications systems and software, data networking systems, business telephone systems, and microelectronic components. Bell Labs is the research and development arm of the company. More information about Lucent Technologies can be found on the company's Web site at http://www.lucent.com. (a) Source: Collaborative Research |
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