SIDEBAR: Enterasys Sheds Aprisma
In mid-August Enterasys Networks announced it had sold network management software company Aprisma Management Technologies to Gores Technology Group.
Effective immediately, the terms of the deal were not disclosed. Gores Technology Group (GTG) is a Los Angeles-based acquisition and management company.
GTG got all of Aprisma's assets, customers, products and employees in the transaction. A spokesman said Aprisma is looking forward to continuing on as an independent software company, no longer directly connected to a hardware maker. Aprisma had planned to become independent of Enterasys earlier this year, but instead the company found itself cutting staff.
Aprisma Management Technologies develops and sells the Spectrum network management platform (Aprisma's formation was announced in June 1999). Until the sale, Aprisma remained part of Enterasys. In May Aprisma closed its local Asia Pacific operations, sacking 15 staff.
Like DWDM (dense wavelength division multiplexing), lambda switching uses small amounts of fibre-optic cable and differing light wavelengths (called lambdas) to transport many high-speed datastreams to their destinations. But unlike DWDM, lambda switching injects intelligence, built around a set of evolving industry standards, into optical network gear.
The key to lambda switching is the ability to automatically connect optical network endpoints. In the past, arranging optical net communications required tedious, expensive configuration of each device, fibre, lambda and even higher-level protocols such as SONET and routing.
Because lambda switching connections, or light paths, are set up on the fly, using a scheme that's integrated with upper-layer protocols, network configuration can be simplified. And because light paths streamline operation, highly redundant network designs, previously deemed impossible to manage, can be built.
Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.