Redback: new features on SmartEdge 800 router platform.

Redback Networks Inc. (Nasdaq:RBAK), a provider of next-generation broadband networking equipment, recently announced it has added significant features to its SmartEdge 800 Router platform. The new features such as Layer 2 MPLS (Draft-Martini) VPNs and Quality of Service enhancements strengthen the suite of services that can be offered on the Smart Edge Router. Additionally, features such as Bulkstats and Traffic Mirroring allow service providers to better manage their network. Together these new features further strengthen Redback's vision of "Building User Intelligent Networks"--a user-aware, intelligent service delivery network.

Carriers worldwide who choose to deploy the SmartEdge 800 Router now have the ability to offer a complete suite of VPN services on one platform including GRE VPNs, BGP/MPLS Layer 3 VPNs and MPLS based Layer 2 VPNs that allow a more synergistic integration with existing data networks. Redback's recent testing by the Tolly Group shows support for up to 2000 MPLS VPNs (RFC 2547bis) with 750,000 aggregate VPN routes.

"While ATM and Frame Relay still offer good profit margins for service providers, their revenue growth remains stagnant," said Ray Mota, chief strategy officer from Synergy Research. "Today's service providers are looking for IP/MPLS to be the high margin, high revenue growth sector. In the current environment of capex restraints, Redback has been strategic with the 2.3 SmartEdge Router release that will enable service provider to migrate their backbones to IP/MPLS Layer 2 or 3 at a gradual and non-disruptive pace."

Redback recently participated in the Isocore Internetworking Lab multi-vendor interoperability testing with the SmartEdge 800 Router. Interoperability testing features such as MPLS-based Layer 2 and 3 VPNs will be demonstrated on October 30 in the third MPLS Public Interoperability following the MPLS 2002 International Conference.

The SmartEdge Router also includes three new line cards; the channelized STM-1 to E1, the channelized E1 and the DS3 ATM card enhancing the interface diversity of the platform. The addition of the copper E1 card and the three port channelized STM1/E1 card is targeted at high-growth international markets in EMEA and APAC.

Redback has also announced features to enhance its QoS implementation such as per class policing and MPLS QoS. SmartEdge 800 Router's QoS implementation helps service providers better manage their network infrastructure and offer differentiated services. Other features such as Traffic Mirroring help service providers identify and replicate selected packets for offline analysis without disrupting the operational network.

"Understanding network usage is becoming important for service providers and that requires the ability to monitor traffic on the network," said Georges Antoun, senior vice president of marketing at Redback. "With the new security features on the Router, inbound and outbound traffic can be mirrored and analyzed locally or across a VPN tunnel to a centralized remote collection point. This addresses the need for service providers to provide network usage data to law enforcement agencies."