May 29, 2001
Spider Software, an Artesyn Technologies Company [NASDAQ-NM: ATSN], today and a supplier of STREAMS-based portable networking and telecommunications software, today announced the addition of SpiderSLM to its SpiderSS7 protocol software. SpiderSLM is an innovative, first-of-its-kind feature that allows SS7 communication devices based on the Motorola MPC860 microprocessor to quadruple the number T1/E1 interface channels -- from 4 to 16 -- available as signalling links.
In turn, an increase in accessible SS7 links means a significant decrease in the hardware necessary for a given application. SpiderSLM reduces the number of SS7 devices traditionally required by up to 75 percent.
"SpiderSLM also presents considerable financial implications," said Spider Software President, Dave Noble. "Aside from the resources saved by specifying less hardware, fewer devices consume less space and power. Implementing SS7 with this new software can cut operational requirements and provide substantial cost savings."
Current SS7 implementations rely on microcode within the MPC860 processor to manage tasks on the first and second layers of the SS7 protocol (MTP1 and MTP2). However, this code expends a large portion of the on-chip memory, limiting the number of SS7 links available. SpiderSLM removes this restriction by replacing the functionality in the processor with a software solution. Consequently, SpiderSLM obsoletes the microcode and provides 16 SS7 links per MPC860. Furthermore, SpiderSLM is completely transparent to the MTP2 user.
SpiderSLM will be included in the standard SpiderSS7 pricing. No additional fees will be associated with the purchase of this software. Likewise, customers that have previously purchased SpiderSS7 will be able to procure and install SpiderSLM free of charge.
In addition to the MCP860, Spider plans to provide SpiderSLM support for other processors in the near future.
About SpiderSS7
SpiderSS7 is based on STREAMS and, as a result, can be split between layers so that MTP3 can run on a host, with multiple instances of MTP2 typically running on a PCI mezzanine card (PMC) or CompactPCI board. This allows customers to license the stack as individual layers. SpiderSS7 can also operate in conjunction with Spider's Distributed STREAMS Function (SpiderDSF) which allows the SS7 layers to be split between the host and line cards. This is a feature that would not be available with standard STREAMS implementations.
SpiderSS7 offers portability and access to application program interfaces (APIs) at all levels. The new SS7 implementation is modular, economical, easy to configure and has a feature-rich management interface. SpiderSS7 is pre-ported to the Sun Solaris and Wind River VxWorks operating systems (OSs). However, the STREAMS interface enables programmers to easily port it to any of today's popular OS offerings.
Editorial Contacts:
Ruth Smith
SPIDER SOFTWARE
44 131 475 7000
