Creanord EchoNEWS: November 2008
Welcome to the first issue of Creanord EchoNEWS. Creanord EchoNEWS aims to keep you informed of the latest developments at Creanord and in the
fields of automated Ethernet service delivery, SLA assurance and Operations, Administration and Maintenance (OAM).
We are thrilled about the impact that Creanord EchoVault and our complete Managed Ethernet Access Solution has had in the marketplace.
Our unique centralized topology-aware service creation and assurance automation functionality for EtherNID and MetroNID units are delighting best of class service providers
across the globe.
EchoVault 3.2 Release Highlights
Creanord EchoVault 3.2 was released in September 2008. EchoVault 3.2 introduced enhancements to its topology-aware SLA-Meter provisioning of both layer 2 and layer 3
performance measurements. The release also included further improvements to platform security by introducing the option to use industry standard SSL Client and Server
certificates within platform communication.
Topology-aware Provisioning
Creating network-wide measurements used to be manual, time consuming and error prone. With EchoVault 3.2 its all in the past since IP and MAC addressing is automatically
published as Network Labels. These Network Labels can be configured and centrally managed through EchoVault's intuitive user interface. By mapping Network Labels to a
single EchoVault Policy network administrators are able to create complex measurement topologies such as full mesh and hub-and-spoke simply by selecting Sources and
Destinations. Join the growing numbers of network administrators who have said goodbye to Excel spreadsheets forever!
Client/Server Certificate Security
Although the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is widely used for network element configuration it contains several potential vulnerabilities. With EchoVault, we cleared the issue by following the CERT/CC advisory
"Disable all nonessential SNMP software" CA-2002-03, simply using SSL secured communications.
With EchoVault 3.2 we are taking one step further by introducing optional SSL Client/Server Certificate Authentication to improve security.
When employed the certificate is validated by the SSL library within the EchoVault LocalController and MainController respectively.
When an EchoAgent communicates with a LocalController, it first verifies that LocalController's server certificate is valid. This validation process includes checking that the LocalController's server certificate has the same DNS name or IP address as the LocalController's address. The EchoAgent also checks that the LocalController's server certificate is signed by a trusted party. The verification process takes place in the reverse direction also.
Switch-Free Aggregation
MetroNID demarcation units have received a new ultra-low latency, multi-port aggregation functionality. This feature completes a suite of advanced networking and service assurance capabilities that allow MetroNID units to replace costly switches and routers in demanding carrier-grade Ethernet applications, including business services, financial trading, content delivery and 4G wireless backhaul networks.
Multi-port aggregation is performed in the MetroNID unit's unique Fast-Thru architecture, delivering unrivalled packet processing that supports Ethernet service mapping, rate limiting, filtering and traffic shaping on aggregated traffic while simultaneously monitoring up to one hundred service flows per unit. These combined capabilities allow providers to easily establish Carrier Ethernet services over existing networks and back them with assured Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
The MetroNID unit aggregates up to four client ports into a single Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) interface. More sophisticated than simple VLAN aggregation, traffic can be separated (de-aggregated) using detailed layer 2-4 classification criteria. This capability enables a wide range of applications including dedicated connections to transactional, VoIP and conferencing platforms, multi-tenant and multi-service business connectivity, and wireless backhaul to shared and multi-technology (e.g. 3G / 4G) cell sites.
Partner and Customer FTP Site
Creanord EchoVault partners and customers receive an individual account for the FTP site. The site includes updates and documentation available for EchoVault, EtherNID's
and MetroNID's as well as up to date Creanord marketing materials. If you have any questions regarding the material or the use of the FTP site, please send e-mail to
support@creanord.com.
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