As the demand for bandwidth-intensive applications continues to grow, so does the need for greater throughput and processing speed. As such network equipment makers are going gangbusters developing next generation routers, gateways and other devices which can deliver new levels of performance.


One of the leading providers of networking and communications equipment, ADTRAN, today introduced a new series of multi-service access routers which are said to outperform other models in their class by delivering up to two T1s of wire-speed performance, even with advanced services like Firewall, Access Control Lists (ACLs) and IPSec Virtual Private Networking (VPN).

Designed for the SMB and enterprise markets, the NetVanta 3400 Series deliver high-performance throughput for bandwidth-intensive applications including VoIP and digital video.

The new series includes the NetVanta 3448 and 3430. Each offers a single-slot to house any of the NetVanta Network Interface Modules (NIMs) for WAN access and Dial Backup Interface Modules (DIMs) for disaster recovery applications; two 10/100Base-T Ethernet Local Area Network (LAN) interfaces that allow for broadband backup or DMZ; CompactFlash for configuration backup and storage of multiple firmware revisions; and support for up to 500 simultaneous VPN tunnels. Each rack-mountable unit is RoHS compliant, making it suitable for both domestic and international applications.

The NetVanta 3448 has the added feature of a fully managed, non-blocking, eight-port 802.3af-compliant Power over Ethernet (PoE) Switch delivering 15.4 watts of power per port. This provides the ability to power any PoE device, including SIP phones, wireless access points or security cameras. Thanks to its compact size and flexibility (IP router, dial backup, LAN connectivity and managed Ethernet/Power over Ethernet switch) the platform is also ideal for retail applications.

Recent testing conducted by the Tolly Group showed that the NetVanta 3400 Series platforms “provide significantly better performance when compared to the Cisco 1841 and 2811.”

“Tests of the NetVanta 3430 passing data across two simulated T1s shows that the ADTRAN (News - Alert) router was the only device tested that achieved wire-speed, zero-loss throughput, even when subjected to taxing 64-byte packets,” said Kevin Tolly, president/CEO/founder of the Tolly Group, in a press release. “The Cisco products that we tested struggled with 64-byte packets, while the NetVanta 3430’s performance shows that the product’s design has the processing power to handle high packet rates, even when security services are active and vying for processor cycles.”

Like the other routers in the NetVanta family, the 3448 and 3430 are based on the ADTRAN Operating System (AOS), which offers features including a user-friendly Command Line Interface (CLI) and Web-based Graphical User Interface (GUI), NAT-compatible SIP ALG for VoIP applications, Quality of Service (QoS) for delay-sensitive applications, and Virtual Private Networking (VPN).

Both of the new routers are currently available. Enhanced VPN capabilities can be activated through a software upgrade.

For more information about ADTRAN, visit www.adtran.com.

What’s the number one VoIP conference in terms of attendance? What’s the leading VoIP expo for exhibitors in terms of lead generation? And which VoIP industry event will feature special attractions for service providers, resellers, and the enterprise and SMB market as well as an overview on the Future of IP Telephony? Answer: INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference & Expo, WEST, which runs October 10-13, 2006. See you in San Diego!

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Patrick Barnard is Associate Editor for TMCnet and a columnist covering the telecom industry. To see more of his articles, please visit Patrick Barnard’s columnist page.