Fears that an IP (Internet Protocol) network will not be able to deliver the class and quality of service necessary to drive 24 x 7 (24 hours a day, seven days a week) e-business needs are being allayed as new technologies come on stream.
One recent development is the Quality-of-Service (QoS) Class of Service (CoS) capabilities of new router technologies, according to Derek Wilcocks, joint-MD of IS (The Internet Solution), Dimension Data`s e-business infrastructure provider subsidiary.
"Companies which adopt IP-based networking will not only be implementing a far cheaper infrastructure than what is currently available, but will also now enjoy equivalent high-level management capabilities.
"This is crucial for any company which wants to implement a viable e-commerce environment. Without QoS guarantees, no company can expect to survive the e-business revolution," he says.
One of the new technologies which is making a difference to IP-based corporate intranets and extranets is MPLS - Multiprotocol Label Switching.
MPLS is a high-performance method for forwarding packets (frames) through a network.
This enables routers at the edge of a network to apply simple labels to packets (frames). Packets are assigned short, fixed length labels. Switching entities perform table lookups based on these simple labels to determine where data should be forwarded and the precedence it should take over other packets on the network.
"Network traffic is classified and labeled at the edge of the network before traffic is aggregated according to policies defined by subscribers in association with IS, and transported across the network. Traffic at the edge and core of the network is then differentiated into different classes," he explains.
"Now companies can decide whether a data message addressed to their sales department should take precedence over packets destined to HR. At month-end, companies can stipulate that traffic to and from the finance department must receive priority over traffic from marketing.
"The development of MPLS technology which is already being utilised successfully in IP-based networks around the world, is a clear indication that IP has come of age. By utilising their standard, leased-line Internet connection, SA companies will have access to high-quality, high-performance intranet and extranet connectivity.
"This has enormous implications for business in SA by enabling users to exploit their Internet connectivity to the full," Wilcocks concludes.
Share
