How the converged WAN impacts enterprises

Lately, we've been discussing the work of the Multiservice Switching Forum to define a converged WAN architecture that supports many protocols and applications. The forum has now announced plans to conduct its first multivendor test and demonstration event November 4 - 15 in North America, Europe and Asia. The MSF's Release 1 Architecture uses the Megaco/H.248, Bearer Independent Call Control and Session Initiation Protocol as the main control and signaling protocols. 

But what impact does the MSF's work have on your enterprise?

Enterprises don't need to be involved in the nitty-gritty of the architecture that will eventually be the delivery platform for their WAN services. In fact, a well-designed architecture allows enterprises to conduct their desired business functions without getting bogged down in the details. For example, telephony users have long used advanced features such as caller ID without having to worry about how they work. Likewise, we don't know - and shouldn't care - what the magic is that enables your cell phone to work within five seconds of your turning it on a few thousand miles away from your home service region after a cross-country plane ride.

Ultimately, this is where the MSF work should lead us. Deploying new network architectures is expensive and hinders efficient network operation. Frame relay deployment required the installation of a new switching architecture. In some cases, adding ATM services to frame relay required yet another architecture. In hindsight, it was fortuitous that so many frame services were already deployed over an ATM infrastructure.

The MSF is working to ensure that the installation of a network infrastructure that supports multiple protocols and multiple applications happens by design rather than happy accident.

Ultimately, this is to the great benefit of the enterprise. Service providers can only provide services for which there is a reasonable business case. The architecture proposed by the MSF lays the groundwork for new service rollouts without network overhauls. The ultimate result? Faster deployment of new services at a lower cost.

Packeteer adds deep reporting
Network World, 06/24/02

Steven Taylor, consultant and broadband packet evangelist, and Joanie Wexler, an independent networking technology editor and writer, team up to bring you this analysis and commentary. Taylor specializes in education and market analysis, and Wexler adds incisive reporting and research. For more detailed information on most of the topics discussed in this newsletter, connect to www.webtorials.com, the first Web site dedicated exclusively to market studies and technology tutorials in the Broadband Packet areas of Frame Relay, ATM, and IP.

Feedback and additional topic ideas are welcome. Please contact taylor@webtorials.com or joanie@jwexler.com.

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