Press Release

Laurel Introduces New Broadband, High Availability and VPLS Software Features

ShadeTree 3.0 System Software for ST200 Service Edge Router
Delivers Continuous Carrier Service Innovation

February 23, 2004 - Pittsburgh, PA - Laurel Networks, Inc., the first provider of high-performance service edge routers, today announced ShadeTree 3.0, the latest release of the company's service-enabling system software for its ST200™ Service Edge Router.

ShadeTree 3.0 adds the industry's highest performance L2TP Network Server (LNS) for service providers offering broadband IP services, as well as LIVE (Laurel Instant VErsioning), the industry's first run-time hitless software upgrade capability. In keeping with Laurel's continuous delivery of new carrier services, ShadeTree 3.0 also adds VPLS (Virtual Private LAN Service), a method for extending Transparent LAN Services across a common MPLS backbone.

"Only the ST200 Service Edge Router has been designed to continuously add new carrier services via our uniquely programmable hardware and software architecture," said Steve Vogelsang, VP of Marketing, Laurel Networks. "Since the introduction of the ST200, we have added MPLS Layer 2 and IP VPNs, ATM, Frame Relay, Ethernet and broadband services. In contrast, other service provider edge platforms require carriers to purchase dedicated hardware modules or entirely new platforms to support new service delivery."

Key ShadeTree 3.0 Features

Industry Leading Broadband Service Performance - L2TP Network Server (LNS) Supporting 128,000 Sessions - Laurel's software-based implementation of the LNS broadband architecture enables IP providers to accept much larger numbers of subscriber sessions on an edge router. With ShadeTree 3.0 software, the LNS feature may be enabled on any card installed in the ST200 platform - no special hardware is required.

Laurel Instant Versioning (LIVE) - This industry first leverages the modular ShadeTree software architecture to enable real-time patches of portions of live running code, without impacting system operation. With LIVE, service providers can install new diagnostics and implement unplanned updates on the running system without interruption. This is critical at the service provider edge, where thousands of customers can be connected to a single device. To perform the same functions in other devices requires service-impacting downtime.

VPLS Support - ShadeTree 3.0 further expands the Ethernet service capability of the ST200 platform by adding a point-to-multipoint (or bridged) Ethernet service (based on the IETF Lasserre-V Kompella draft) to existing point-to-point (pseudo-wire) Ethernet services. ShadeTree 3.0 takes advantage of the AnyService on AnyPort @ AnySpeed™ feature of the ST200 platform to enable VPLS on a variety of access networks including Ethernet, SONET, ATM or Frame Relay. This flexibility widens the addressable market for Ethernet-based services to ensure profitable deployment.

Availability
ShadeTree 3.0 System Software for the ST200 is available now.

About Laurel Networks
Laurel Networks is leading the creation of The New Service Delivery Architecture to enable profitable delivery of data and IP services at the edge of carrier IP/MPLS networks. Laurel's service edge routers and service management software are evolving carrier architectures from multiple data networks to a single packet-switched architecture with minimal capital investment. Combining carrier-class routing, data switching, advanced QoS and high availability, Laurel service edge routers support both routed and switched services. This unmatched service agility allows carriers to evolve their service portfolio to meet changing market requirements. Laurel Networks was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.laurelnetworks.com.