[Updated Jan. 29, 2002] At this week's LinuxWorld in New York, Hewlett-Packard Company (HP) unveiled a range of new Linux-based products and services targeting the Internet infrastructure, telecommunications, and network equipment provider markets. These include a family of Linux-based “carrier grade” servers and a developer's kit for HP Opencall software. The new telecom-oriented server family will be powered by a special version of Linux that is being referred to as “Carrier Grade Linux.”

HP is strongly supporting Linux as the OS of choice for the telecom market, according to Mark Butler, Operations Manager for Telecom Systems Operations at HP. “Linux is the operating system of the future in the telecom sector,” emphasized Butler. “HP is leading the advance of Linux in the Telecom market.”

Carrier Grade servers / Carrier Grade Linux

HP's new carrier grade servers are based on open standards and technologies, combined with Linux, in an effort to reduce the time and risk of deploying and managing network infrastructure, and cut operational costs for maintaining, managing, and updating the infrastructure. Tomorrow's announcement builds on HP's recent launch of the industry's first Compact PCI blade server running Linux.

The carrier grade servers and associated storage devices meet NEBS compliance requirements and provide high availability features along with telco-specific services and software. In addition to using “Carrier Grade Linux” to power the new servers, HP will also make use of its recently announced secure environment for Linux which features intrusion prevention, real-time attack protection, and damage containment.

Key advantages of the new IA32/Linux-based carrier grade servers are that they are based on open standards, open source software, and cost-effective hardware, explained Butler. This means “no vendor lock-in — a first for the telecom industry.”

HP will introduce a 2U version in Q1 2002 and a 1U version in Q2 2002. Both are based on a dual processor 1.26GHz PIII, 6GB RAM, dual 10/100 NICs, and dual Ultra SCSI-160 disks. The 2U version has six PCI slots, while the 1U version is limited to 2 PCI slots. Both systems meet NEBS level 3 requirements and provide telco-specific alarm functions.

Initially, HP's “Carrier Grade Linux” will be the only operating system supported on the devices. Windows NT support will be added later in the year.

HP Opencall

HP is also demonstrating HP Opencall, which is described as “the telecommunications industry's most comprehensive line of signaling, service development and voice-interactive platforms, comprising hardware and software, for SS7-based and converged SS7-IP services.” According to HP's website, there are over 1,000 HP Opencall platforms servicing 100 million subscribers in 100 countries worldwide, and HP Opencall is deployed by major equipment and service providers including Cisco, Nokia, Ericsson, Fujitsu, NEC, Nortel Networks, and Nuera.

HP recently released the HP Opencall SS7 Software Development Kit (SDK) on Linux and announced the HP Opencall SS7 Linux Development Platform. The Intel-based platform connects to the telecom network and allows developers using the Linux SDK to create SS7-based solutions to live test them in real network environments.

 
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