OIF Closes 2005 with Flurry of Technical Agreements; Forum Releases Important Work on Security and Tunable Lasers.

FREMONT, Calif. -- The Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) announced today that its membership has ratified three technical implementation agreements (IAs), doubling the total number of IAs approved in 2005. Two of the IAs update security issues relating to UNI and NNI and management interfaces to Network Elements, while the third updates a multi-source agreement (MSA) for Integratable Tunable Laser Assembly (ITLA). Also in 2005, the OIF conducted a multi-vendor interoperability demonstration at DesignCon and a multi-vendor, multi-carrier demonstration at SUPERCOMM. Results from each of these interoperability demonstrations lead to high quality implementation agreements for industry deployment.

"OIF had a banner year in 2005," said OIF's president, Joe Berthold of Ciena. "In addition to completing several key implementation agreements, the Forum also started several new projects to help accelerate the realization of Next Generation Networks (NGN) including a 25G CEI (Common Electrical I/O), neighbor discovery and a TDM Fabric to Framer Interface (TFI)."

"As an industry driver, the OIF continues to address key areas of interoperability needed to move forward the deployment of networks with enhanced services," said Ron Kline, research director for Ovum-RHK. "The work that comes from the Forum's technical committee along with the ability to demonstrate multi-vendor interoperability are critical to industry success."

Completed Implementation Agreements

The OIF approved several important updates to the Security Extension for UNI and NNI IA and the Security for Management Interfaces to Network Elements IA passed in 2003. These IAs help safeguard transport networks against security threats and attacks. Both IAs leverage recently improved IETF security mechanisms, including IPsec and IKE. In addition, the IAs ensure the security protocols could be used with IPv6 as well as IPv4. The OIF's IAs have tailored these base mechanisms in a consistent way that best suits the needs of the optical control plane and management interfaces.

The updated Security Extension for UNI and NNI IA allows secure routing functionality in the E-NNI. The IA also incorporated security for discovery protocols based on Link Management Protocol (LMP) work completed in the IETF. The Security for Management Interfaces to Network Elements IA added support for Web Services Security for Management with XML, which incorporate important extensions to XML, since Web Services as a management tool has become much more common.

The Multi-Source Agreement for Integratable Tunable Laser Assembly details a communication protocol, electrical interface, power supply, optical specifications, and a mechanical interface for use in telecommunications equipment operating in the C or L band. The MSA focuses on standardization of a CW laser subassembly for integration into transponders. This relates to both the 3.5"x4.5" transponder as well as the small form factor 3"x2.2" transponder.

Implementation Agreements specify uniform, interoperable methods that optical equipment vendors and telecommunications carriers deploy that are aligned with global industry standards. These and all other OIF IAs are available for public viewing at www.oiforum.com/public/impagreements.html.

About the OIF

Launched in April of 1998, the OIF is a non-profit organization with a unique and diverse member base, including many of the world's leading carriers, component manufacturers and system vendors. As the only industry group uniting representatives from data and optical networks, the OIF helps advance the standards and methods of optical networks. The purpose of the OIF is to accelerate the deployment of interoperable, cost-effective and robust optical networks and their associated technologies. The OIF actively supports and extends the work of national and international standards bodies with the goal of promoting worldwide compatibility of optical internetworking products. Working relationships or formal liaisons have been established with the MFA Forum, IEEE 802.3, IETF, ITU-T Study Group 13, ITU-T Study Group 15, MEF, NPF, OPTXS, Rapid I/O, TMF MTNM group, TMOC, UXPi and the XFP MSA Group. More information on the OIF can be found at www.oiforum.com.