HotPools Technology

Overview

HotPools™ technology constantly monitors individual connection demand and, controlled by user defined parameters, dynamically (the Hot part) add or removes capacity from a Pool of resources. This is similar to 'packet' network technology where because resources are shared (within user defined limits) overall efficiently is substantively increased.

HotPools is based on the powerful ZyTrax "Routing Engine", the standard Internet protocol suite (particularly the MPPP protocol) and sophisticated management, QoS and monitoring alogorithms. (See Diagram).

HotPools™ consists of a number of software components and features:

• Peer-to-Peer Networking HotPools connections create an 'Always ON' connection using the most appropriate methods. Either end of a 'link' can initiate connections, remove capacity (that they control), or add capacity. In the case of Wireless systems 'bandwidth management' functionality determines throughput usage.

• Distributed Resource Management Multiple HotPools enabled routers dynamically collaborate to utilise all the available 'links' as a single high-speed resource (Multi-Links). HotPools continuously checks for 'heart-beats' from all the local equipment and dynamically adjusts re-configures in the event of failures. This design provides 'intrinsic' high availability.

• Quality of Service Hotpools QoS features enable fine-graned control over both time sensitive traffic (e.g. VoIP) and allow traffic shaping to meet precise traffic requirements and bandwidth limits.

Using the above components it is possible to create and manage highly optimised and precisely targeted networks. The following sections supply 'under-the-hood' information on each of the above functions.