Avici Systems last week unveiled a series of line cards for its routers designed to let carriers converge multiple services over their IP/MPLS networks.

The programmable Multi-Service Connect (MSC) modules are based on Intel's IXP2400 network processors and feature an "any service any port" capability that lets carriers configure the line cards to support ATM, frame relay, packet-over-SONET/PPP or Multi-protocol Label Switching through software. This should help carriers maintain existing ATM and frame relay access networks as they migrate their cores from ATM to IP/MPLS to eliminate the cost and complexity of multiple parallel backbone networks, Avici says.

The software programmability of MSCs allows them to support a range of interfaces and service types. Traditional line-card technology requires a line card for each service or interface.

A handful of other young router/switch companies have introduced the "any service any port" concept, particularly at the edge. Laurel Networks says its ST200 edge router provides this capability for flexible configuration, depending on service type. And Vivace Networks touts the "any service on any interface on any channel at any time" software programmability of its Viva edge IP switches.

"MSC allows carriers to eliminate the need for another box at the edge of the network to do the translation to an MPLS core," says Joe McGarvey, a senior analyst at Current Analysis.

McGarvey says MSC is the final part of a three-part Avici strategy to add features to its routers so they can eliminate aggregation routers at points of presence, provide fault-tolerant routing, and now consolidate legacy services over an MPLS core.

"Carriers do need that reliability before tunneling legacy stuff across MPLS,"McGarvey says, referring to the role that fault-tolerant routing plays in the MSC application.

MSC runs on Avici's Terabit Switch Router (TSR), Stackable Switch Router and Quarter-rack Switch Router platforms. The latter two have footprints better-suited for edge or small POP applications, while the TSR is a core router.

"This solves an important strategic issue for Avici, which is: There's a lot more demand at the edge of networks than at the core," says Michael Kennedy, managing partner of consultancy Network Strategy Partners. "This gives them a product offering that will let them compete against Juniper."