Esher, Surrey-based Advanced Computer Communications Ltd has unveiled release 7.0 of its bridge-router software for its remote bridging and routing products. Chief among the innovations that the company is claiming is the incorporation of standards-based Frame Relay Congestion Management, which the company claims is a first for a router manufacturer. The announcement follows Gandalf Technology Inc’s introduction of similar software in its wide area network products last week. Like Gandalf, Advanced Computers’ software is based on the ANSI Backward Explicit Congestion Notification standard, which reduces the transmission rate during congested periods. According to an Advanced Computers spokesman, the two companies’ products are compatible, enabling router and switch to talk together and throttle back when necessary, rather than drop packets – formerly the likely result of Frame Relay traffic congestion. The added resilience this brings, he feels, will overcome European reservations about Frame Relay and make the technology more credible. Release 7.0 also features Express Queuing, which dynamically allocates whatever bandwidth is available when the output buffer becomes full; Dial on Demand, which activates an Integrated Services Digital Network physical connection to remote locations on an as-needed basis; and Data Compression. In addition, Simple Network Management Protocol management is extended to support Management Information Base I and II, the Frame Relay Management Information Base and the DS1 Management Information Base. Release 7.0 is available now for Advanced Computers bridge-router products including the Nile, ACS 4200 and ACCes/4500 Enterprise Hub, using field-installable software.
