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Lambda OpticalSystems Announces Advanced Technology Initiative at iGrid 2005 Conference

Lambda’s dynamic provisioning of wavelengths used in research experiments

SAN DIEGO, CA, SEPTEMBER 26, 2005 - Lambda OpticalSystems, the leading provider of all-optical switching solutions, today announced that its LambdaNode™ 200 all-optical switch is being used at the Chicago-based international StarLight(sm) optical exchange facility for research experiments on dynamic provisioning for data intensive science applications; results are scheduled to be presented at the iGrid 2005 Conference here. The iGrid Conference opens today and runs through September 29 at the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2) at the University of California, San Diego.

StarLight is one of several advanced optical communications facilities throughout the world that is supporting iGrid 2005 application demonstrations. These demonstrations include using the dynamic provisioning of lightpaths to support high-bandwidth, high-performance research and e-science applications. The LambdaNode 200 Optical Switching System was installed at StarLight in June to investigate and demonstrate the benefits of dynamic wavelength services to data-intensive applications, such as remote visualization, ultra-high definition digital media and grid networking, that require a low-latency and deterministic optical network.

“The LambdaNode 200 device provides the flexibility needed by many applications that have been limited by the static provisioning of lightpaths,” said Joe Mambretti, Director, Northwestern University’s International Center for Advanced Internet Research (iCAIR). “Through the LambdaNode 200 GMPLS control plane, applications can interface directly with the switching systems to provide and dynamically reconfigure high performance lightpaths.”

“Lambda OpticalSystems is pleased to provide the highly reliable LambdaNode 200 Optical Switching System for use in research to help advance the StarLight network,” said Irfan Ali, president and chief executive officer, Lambda OpticalSystems. “With its GMPLS-based control plane, the LambdaNode 200 switch is ideal for use in networks of all sizes, providing high bandwidth and increased capacity for cutting-edge, service provider, government, research and other specialized network applications.”

Panel Presentation

Dr. Payam Torab, systems architect at Lambda OpticalSystems, will present a panel paper at the event on Wednesday, September 28. Torab’s paper, “All-Optical Networks for Grids: Dream or Reality,” explains the benefits of dynamic lambda switching to large-scale, data-intensive applications. Entitled “Enabling Data-Intensive iGrid Applications with Advanced Optical Technologies,” the panel focuses on leading edge technologies, emerging protocols, and related topics.

About Lambda OpticalSystems

Based in Reston, Virginia, Lambda OpticalSystems is committed to the development of next-generation all-optical solutions to transform transport networks. The company’s family of all-optical switches with integrated DWDM and GMPLS control plane lets telecommunications carriers, government agencies, and research and education networks deliver high-bandwidth services while maximizing network management efficiency and affordability. For more information, call 703-689-9500, ext.1006, or visit www.lambdaopticalsystems.com.

About StarLight

StarLight is an advanced optical infrastructure and proving ground for network services optimized for high-performance applications. Operational since summer 2001, StarLight has 1GE and 10GE switch/router facilities and true optical switching for wavelengths. StarLight is being developed by the Electronic Visualization Laboratory (EVL) at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), the International Center for Advanced Internet Research (iCAIR) at Northwestern University, and the Mathematics and Computer Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory, in partnership with Canada's CANARIE and the Netherlands' SURFnet. See http://www.startap.net/starlight for more information.

About iGrid 2005

The International Grid (iGrid) collaborative event showcases ongoing global collaborations in middleware development and applications research that require high-performance multi-gigabit networks. The iGrids are organized every two or three years by institutions, organizations, consortia and National Research & Education Networks which also participate in the Global Lambda Integrated Facility (GLIF). Overall planning responsibilities for iGrid 2005 are being handled by the Electronic Visualization Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2) at the University of California, San Diego, in cooperation with the Mathematics and Computer Science Division of Argonne National Laboratory, SURFnet, University of Amsterdam, and CANARIE. For more information, see www.igrid2005.org.

LambdaNode is a trademark of Lambda OpticalSystems. StarLight is a service mark of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

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