Alcatel-Lucent takes IP/MPLS management to new level with addition of Control Plane Assurance Manager

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced an extension to its unified IP/MPLS management portfolio with the launch of the Alcatel-Lucent 5650 Control Plane Assurance Manager (CPAM). The new solution is unique in its ability to provide fault prevention, monitoring and simplified troubleshooting for the IP control plane, allowing operators to proactively identify routing-related problems before they impact the network.

By seamlessly integrating the new Alcatel-Lucent 5650 CPAM and industry leading 5620 Service Aware Manager (SAM), Alcatel-Lucent offers one simple tool for network operators to intuitively manage the interdependence of service and IP/MPLS layers. As a result, operators are able to increase revenues and control costs and resources as they build, operate and scale their IP/MPLS networks.

“When expanding our IP based business, scaling network operations becomes a significant issue,” said Hakan Aydin, IP department manager, Turk Telekom. “Retraining our entire workforce to become CLI driven IP experts is not realistic therefore we need management tools to simplify troubleshooting services over an IP/MPLS routed core. We looked at IP control plane tools but Alcatel-Lucent’s expanded IP/MPLS management solution is far superior. One simple tool would offer integrated service and control plane management allowing our entire networking staff to monitor, validate and trouble shoot across all layers of the network resulting in unmatched operational efficiency.”

The Alcatel-Lucent 5650 CPAM addresses two of the most significant challenges facing operators today: service failures, which impact revenue and restrict the operator’s ability to meet tight Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and resource scaling as IP/MPLS operations expand.

Service failures are frequently due to control plane (IP routing) mis-configuration and the lack of tools that provide both visibility of the routing control plane operation and verification of its operational state. In contrast, the Alcatel-Lucent 5650 CPAM, coupled with the 5620 SAM, validates control plane configuration and issues malfunction alerts, which reduces troubleshooting time for service and MPLS infrastructure provisioning fall-outs and customer-reported problems.Scaling of scarce IP routing experts is also resolved by the 5650 CPAM solution. As the same tool is used by both routing and network staff, the number of service provider technical resources capable of independently troubleshooting each layer and understanding the cause and effect between layers is significantly expanded.

“Without effective management tools to simplify IP/MPLS operations, service providers face the large cost of re-training their workforce to develop expert IP knowledge or finding scarce IP routing specialists,” said Mark Seery, Ovum-RHK Vice President of Switching and Routing. “Part of Alcatel-Lucent’s success in the IP/MPLS market is derived from a comprehensive and innovative approach to management solutions that empower network operators to deliver operational excellence.”

The Alcatel-Lucent 5650 CPAM receives real-time control plane visibility from the Alcatel-Lucent 7701 Control Plane Assurance Appliance (CPAA), which is part of the CPAM solution. The 7701 CPAA is an advanced hardware-based route listening device that non-intrusively monitors routing plane traffic and signaling in real-time. The 7701 CPAA leverages Alcatel-Lucent’s mature and proven Service Routing Operating System (SR OS) enabling the 7701 CPAA to have a high degree of interoperability in multi-vendor IP customer networks. The 7701 CPAA is deployed at strategic points within the network to enable a distributed deployment model that scales to support the largest network.

“Alcatel-Lucent continues to produce innovations in the IP/MPLS networking and management domain that enable service providers to build networks with the high availability, simplicity and operational efficiency that today’s services demand,” said Basil Alwan, president of Alcatel-Lucent’s IP activities. “The Alcatel-Lucent 5650 CPAM continues that tradition, delivering integrated control plane visibility and service management which are critical elements of advanced IP/MPLS routing deployments that support multi-service convergence on a single infrastructure.”

Over 170 service providers in more than 65 countries around the world have selected the Alcatel-Lucent IP portfolio as key elements of their IP transformation, including massive, multi-year projects at AT&T, BT and Telstra.During the first quarter of 2007, Alcatel-Lucent reinforced its #2 position in IP/MPLS edge garnering 20% of the market according to Ovum-RHK.

For more information, visit: www.alcatel-lucent.com/ipnews