New Products

Communications News, Feb, 1999

SONET service

EXACTING INTERNET USERS seeking high-bandwidth, redundant connections may be interested by Orconet's high-speed OC-3 Packet over SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) connectivity. Orconet, a statewide ISP in California, offers the OC-3 Packet Over SONET (POS) capacity of 155 Mbps, which supports high-volume traffic such as multimedia applications, supercomputer communications, high-speed enterprise traffic, or large organizational Web sites.

Fiber optic-based SONET provides a reliable transmission path for growing Internet backbone traffic. POS averages up to 30% greater performance utilization of the bandwidth compared to ATM (asymmetrical transfer mode).

For smaller companies that require high-speed, high-capacity access, but seek to avoid the cost of installing fiber connection, Orconet's POS DC-3, known as "Packet Over DS-3," delivers 45 Mbps and does not require a SONET connection.--Orconet

Circle 312 for more information

DBMS security

PREVENT SECURITY EXPOSURE in your database management systems. DbSecure presents a security analysis solution for Sybase and Microsoft SQL Servers. SQL Auditor analyzes and reports on all SQL Server security risks or any other "paths of least resistance" across the following areas: Authentication, Authorization, and System Integrity.

SQL Auditor condenses hours of information gathering, analysis, and presentation work on database risk assessment into minutes. DbSecure's product issues security reports with informative analysis, graphs, tables, and recommendations. SQL Auditor's non-intrusive technology does not impact the production environment, requires no installation on the server, and offers complete Y2K Compliance Analysis.

This utility provides the ability to stay on top of important security measures for database management systems such as user account restrictions, password strength analysis, permissions control, password aging, stale logins, and attacks on login accounts.--DbSecure

Circle 318 for more information

Cable that bends to your needs

LIGHTWEIGHT, FLEXIBLE, COST-EFFECTIVE fiber optic cable from Berk-Tek is ideal for confined conduit runs where space is at a premium. UNI-Lite RD loose tube outside plant riser-rated cable is a smaller and more flexible version of Berk-Tek's popular Standard UNI-Lite OPR cable.

Since the cable employs dielectric battens around the buffer tube core, rather than using rods for strength, it has no preferential bend radius, so it is also suitable for installations with intermediate bends and junction boxes.

The new cable employs a dry water-blocking system between the buffer tube and the cable jacket, eliminating the need to clean the tube during installation.--Berk-Tel.

Circle 314 for more information

Videoconferencing over ATM

MERGE MPEG-2 VIDEO with data and voice traffic on an ATM network. The FVC.COM Video Access Node (VAN) enables real-time, interactive delivery of broadcast quality video over local or wide area networks. The VaN implements the ITU H.310 standard to deliver MPEG-2 compressed digital video over an ATM network.

The quality of service (QoS) and multicast capabilities offered by ATM make it a natural choice for high-quality networked video. The VaN conforms to UNI 3.0 and 3.1 and takes full advantage of ATM's QoS capabilities.

Audio/video synchronization is a key factor in the transmission of high-quality broadcast television signals with MPEG-2. The FVC.COM VaN utilizes the MPEG-2 transport stream component of the MPEG-2 system layer to synchronize audio and video and claims to achieve broadcast quality videoconferencing services over ATM.

Applications for the Video Access Node include distance learning, high-end business videoconferencing, and remote consultation for tele-medicine.--FVC.COM

Circle 313 for more information

Stress test for Ethernet

IDENTIFY BOTTLENECKS AND VERIFY WAN CAPACITY. Fluke introduces a test suite for the Fluke OneTouch Network Assistant that enables technicians to stress test a network, perform end-to-end throughput testing, and confirm the capacity of WAN links. The OneTouch Internetwork Throughput Test Option simulates a specified amount of traffic in order to determine how a network responds.

The Fluke OneTouch Network Assistant is a handheld tool for trouble shooting and installing 10 and 100 Mbps Ethernet networks. An icon-based interface and touch-sensitive screen allow quick verification of network connections and diagnosis of network glitches. A series of cable and packet-level tests proves network connectivity from desktop stations to local routers and servers.

OneTouch Network Assistant with Internetwork Throughput Test Option is available in 10 Mbps and combination 10/100 Mbps Ethernet configurations. The throughput test accommodates variable test duration times, data patterns, and speeds in order to determine the sensitivity of network devices such as modems, frame relay access devices, hubs, switches, and routers.--Fluke Corp.

Circle 316 for more information

Web-based meeting system