Rochester, New Hampshire-based Cabletron Systems Inc has released its SecureFast Virtual Networking software, which is designed to add switched virtual internetworking capabilities to its switches. Accompanying the announcement was news of VLAN Manager and VNET Manager, claimed as the first connection-oriented virtual network management applications. Cabletron claims that its virtual networking offering is differentiated from the competition by its ability to embed layer 3 routing services directly into its switches. This, says the company, enables the switches to route the first packet, and switch successive packets. Cabletron reckons that this provides performance gains over competing offerings, which must route every packet when communicating between two virtual local nets. Similarly, the company believes that mirroring the connection-oriented concepts of next-generation networks such as Asynchronous Transfer Mode, the virtual networking system ensures a smooth migration path from packet-based local networks to cell-based technologies. Virtual networking capabilities are available on Cabletron switching systems including the MMAC, MMAC-Plus, and the new SmartSwitch family as a firmware upgrade, with pricing dependent on the system. The company’s new SecureFast VLAN Manager is designed to provide a graphical interface for assigning users to a virtual local Network by network protocol. Initially, it is available as an application for the Cabletron Spectrum network management system, but Cabletron is also planning versions for Simple Network Management Protocol-based systems including HP OpenView, Sun Microsystems Inc’s SunNet Manager, and IBM Corp NetView for AIX – although it is not giving out a timetable for development. The Spectrum version will ship within 90 days for $6,000. Further up the scale, the SecureFast VNET Manager is aimed at more advanced applications requiring policy management, call accounting and call management. The system comprises the VLAN client software, the SecureFast Management Suite, and the SecureFast Virtual Network Server – initially this is available in rack-mountable form, but Cabletron is also working on a Virtual Network Server module for its MMAC-Plus; again no timetable was given. Applications within VNET Manager include a Policy Manager enabling policies such as usage limits and security to be applied to workgroups; an Accounting Manager, which provides call recording for billing and management; a Connection Manager which handles connection establishment, call maintenance, network monitoring, and path control; and Virtual Routing Services, which provide directors and topology services. The VNET Manager costs $15,000, with the SFVNS Virtual Network Server at $45,000. Both are shipping.
