Network equipment providers (NEPs) can no longer afford to develop entire solutions in-house and must focus their resources on the development of new value-added services. A key strategy to drive down and manage costs is to develop systems for new markets using common commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) components. These COTS components are transforming the telecommunications industry, and Carrier Grade Linux (CGL) is taking a dominating position in the COTS solution stack. What benefits do the NEPs receive by adopting CGL into the new COTS-based architectures? How is CGL moving telecommunications forward? Lower operating expenses, faster time to market, scalability, flexibility, leading edge functionality, etc.

The next generation of carrier grade communications equipment is placing unprecedented demands on the software layer. The latest trends in high speed interconnect technologies, next generation processors, and improved reliability, manageability, and serviceability all demand advanced operating system and middleware support.

In this open building-block design, middleware is the critical piece to manage all resources, thereby enabling expected levels of dependability. To put together the best-of-breed solution in this environment, it's vital that you not only choose software components that provide the functionality required, but also embrace and work in both the spirit and intent of the open standards. This session will review the software components at play in a COTS world, including the latest trends and key points to look out for when perusing the market.