Juniper extends Ethernet cards to E320 edge router

Juniper Networks this week announced a series of enhancements to its E320 Broadband Services Router designed to improve the router's IPTV and "multiplay" service capabilities.

Juniper is adding 10Gbps Ethernet and 8-port "high-density" Gigabit Ethernet interface cards to the router that feature multicasting optimization capabilities designed to ease the router’s deployment in IPTV and other multiplay service networks. The E320 is deployed in more than 28 networks spanning four continents, including some of the world's largest IPTV and multiplay networks, Juniper says.

The new interfaces extend the capabilities of Juniper's Ethernet Services Cards to the broadband edge. These cards, which were rolled out at Globalcomm earlier this year, were initially deployed on Juniper's M- and T-series routers.

Multicast optimization distributes multicast processing to the E320 line cards, reducing the load on the switch fabric and line modules and enables service providers to increase system scalability and improve performance, Juniper says. The cards support both line rate and oversubscription capabilities, the company says.

Juniper also said it has teamed with HP to simplify management of advanced IPTV and multiplay service networks. The two companies have created a product that combines Juniper's E-, M- and T-series routers and security capabilities with HP's OpenView management software that the company says provides fault, configuration, accounting, performance, and security management of IPTV networks.

The product enables the network to dynamically adjust to accommodate changing service types, network capacity and customer demands, Juniper says.

Juniper and HP are also collaborating on two IPTV customer demonstration and testing centers -- one at HP facilities in Richardson, Texas, and the other at Juniper offices in Westford, Mass. Juniper and HP will provide consulting and integration services for their combined IPTV products.