How different is the multi-service router from a conventional router?
Mohit Rampal: The MSR is one of the most advanced and flexible routers in the market. 3Com’s Open Services Networking (OSN) module is the key differentiator. The option allows enterprise customers to integrate the open source network services into the network fabric. The Linux-based server module on the MSR is like a blank sheet of paper on which network managers can design and deploy network services according to their specific needs. Examples of open source-based applications that can be put on the OSN module in the 3Com MSR include the Asterisk IP voice system, Expand Networks’ WAN optimization, network behavior analysis from Q1 Labs, and email information leak protection from Vericept. By creating a separate services layer, 3Com’s OSN on the MSR allows these services to work across a multi-vendor network fabric. It also allows network managers a choice of network applications that suit their needs so they are not forced into proprietary services bundled with network hardware. CIOL:
