Cabletron delivers service-level management support for Spectrum

Cabletron Systems, one of the early innovators in network management technology, has come back with a vengeance in its Spectrum 5.0 announcements, introducing service-level management support for network applications, systems and transports. Furthermore, don't mistake Spectrum 5.0 for a "me too" offering, assuming that it provides little differentiated functionality from what vendors such as Concord Communications, NextPoint Networks and InfoVista offer.

Spectrum 5.0 distinguishes itself with enhanced partner applications such as ICS Continuity, the first application in the industry to combine IT service management with true business process management. The latter is achieved by leveraging Spectrum's Data Warehouse services, announced by the vendor earlier this year.

In addition, Cabletron has rolled out a set of layered management applications, including Spectrum ATM Services Manager, Spectrum VLAN Services Manager and Spectrum Remote Access Services Manager (which is particularly significant given that Cabletron had previously not offered any form of remote access management modules within Spectrum).

These announcements show that Cabletron is indeed serious about enhancing Spectrum as part of its overall corporate makeover. Its support of service-level management coupled with business process management through its Data Warehouse services distiguishes Spectrum from its major competitors. A key question, however, concerns the extent to which custom programming is required in order to fully implement business processes to service-level mapping. Users should research the answer to that question before deciding on product implementation.