3Com has announced that the U.S. Navy has certified its ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) core and edge switches for participation in IT-21 (Information Technology for the 21st Century), the Navy`s sweeping initiative to upgrade networked communications and data delivery in its fleets and shore-based facilities using advanced, commercially-available technologies. 3Com, which provides scalable, high-performance enterprise networks, received certification for all eight products it submitted, surpassing the number of products certified by any other vendor. 3Com`s high-function switches and network interface cards (NICs) also delivered far more consistent performance than competing hardware. "Achieving IT-21 certification reflects 3Com`s commitment and ability to provide the Navy and other branches of our armed forces with proven networking solutions," says Steve Roth, 3Com Director of Federal Operations. "Over the course of the IT-21 testing, 3Com demonstrated that its high-function switches can satisfy the Navy`s most stringent bandwidth, scalability and reliability needs, and we are looking forward to serving in this important initiative." IT-21 is a response to the Navy`s need to modernise voice, video and data infrastructures onboard its 300-ship Pacific and Atlantic fleets and strategic world wide land installations with state-of-the-art systems, explains 3Com SA`s regional director, Buddie Ceronie. "Having previously used a variety of networking architectures, the military institution battled performance problems emanating from multiple protocols that complicated user training, network management and interoperability," he says. "These networks also lacked sufficient bandwidth and quality of service to rapidly and consistently deliver the latest multimedia applications critical to the Navy`s mission, such as ship-to-ship video conferencing and operation simulations." To remedy this, the Navy developed IT-21 and implemented a rigorous testing program to qualify networking vendors. The Navy stipulated that vendors support local area networks (LANs) with 622 megabit per second (Mbps) OC-12 ATM backbone connectivity and 155 Mbps OC-3 ATM or a minimum of 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet connectivity to edge devices, servers and desktops. With standardisation of protocols a top priority, the Navy also required that all equipment must be operable in mixed vendor environments. The Broadest Range of Solutions for High-Speed ShipBoard Communications During IT-21 testing, each 3Com device passed every phase of the Navy`s uncompromising test plan. Ceronie points out that in one battery of tests to determine how reliability switches transfer data between high-capacity DEC servers and Pentium Pro-based workstations, a critical process for shipboard operations, 3Com switches and NICs delivered the most consistent performance of all computing products. "Even test-induced failures in primary backbone links or LAN Emulation (LANE) services did not impede the performance of 3Com`s switches," he says. "The 3Com devices excelled at providing end-to-endOC-3 and OC-12 throughput, enabling the Navy to converge voice, video and data in a single networking infrastructure." 3Com`s high-function CoreBuilder 3500 switch also provided flawless wire-speed Layer 3 switching, which the Navy can use to enhance communications among ships` subnetworks and simplify network reconfigurations. "The Breadth of 3Com products gives us the flexibility to meet the Navy`s needs more precisely and cost-effectively than any other vendor," says 3Com`s Roth. "In addition to exceptional ATM performance, 3Com`s interoperable solutions provide unsurpassed scalability, which is critical during combat situations when increased bandwidth is needed to handle surges in network traffic. 3Com is also the only vendor to certify core-to-NIC solutions with the capability to provide full ATM redundancy, ensuring continuous availability in environments where a communication failure can be potentially disastrous." In addition to the CoreBuilder 3500 platform, the Navy certified the following 3Com products and modules: CoreBuilder 7000HD ATM switch equipped with a 5.0 gigabit per second switching engine, a Dual Port OC-12 Module, an Eight-Port PC-3 Module and a 16-Port Fast Ethernet Module CoreBuilder 5000 high-function switch configured with an ATM Switch Module, a Four-Port Fast Ethernet Fiber Module and a Four-Port Fast Ethernet UTP Module CoreBuilder 2500 high-function switch with an ATM Module SuperStack 11 Switch 1000 12-port switch with an ATM Module SuperStack 11 Switch 3000 10/100 switch with an ATM Module SuperStack 11 Switch 3000 FX switch with an ATM Module ATMLink NIC - one of only tow network adapters that provided the performance and dependability to earn IT-21 certification. "The CoreBuilder family of switches can provide enterprise-wide ATM or Gigabit Ethernet connectivity for the largest ship and land-based installation," notes Roth. "They deliver high port-density and features such as remote monitoring (RMON) to safeguard network operations. The SuperStack 11 switches offer scalable performance in compact chassis that are ideal for the tight quarters onboard Navy vessels." "These systems can deliver the Navy`s applications - from unclassified email to mission-critical combat data - under the most trying conditions. Using 3Com`s IT-21-ceritfied products, we believe the Navy now has the tools it needs to meet its communications needs, improve operational processes and bolster its military preparedness well in to the next century."
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