NETWORK news April/May 2002 Vol9 No2 W e recently played host to three senior executives from the KRONE Group who were impressed by, and strongly supported our investment in Australian R&D. Ron Lowy, Chief Operating Officer, Rudolf Hadorn, Chief Financial Officer and Phil Hewes, General Counsel for the international KRONE Group, visited our manufacturing facilities at Berkeley Vale on the NSW Central Coast and indicated that we will be used more often to design products for the world market. Our HIGHBAND modules, have for a number of years, been in networks in Europe, North and South America and the Asia Pacific. Our HIGHWAY RJ45 jacks are being acknowledged as the best of their breed and are having notable success in North America. In this issue, Shane McIntosh tells how we are now making substantial inroads into South America. Over the last three-year period, KRONE Australia has consistently achieved more than 80 per cent of our sales revenue from products that are designed, developed and manufactured entirely in Australia. A further 15 per cent are manufactured here, under licence. Our export sales figures have now climbed to more than 30 per cent of our annual turnover. This success has happened as the world of telecommunications has suffered possibly the worst 12 months in its history. It’s all due to the commitment of our people and to the fact that we continually make changes to our structure and product portfolio to ensure we maintain our customers’ confidence and our market leadership position. Ever since we were established 21 years ago, we have been addressing our customers’ needs for coping with bandwidth-hungry technologies. Our complementary fibre optic and optical wireless ranges are featured in Product Watch on pages10 and 11. Having won a 2001 AEEMA (Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association Award) for Product Stewardship as well as AEEMA Commendations for Energy Efficiency and Commercialising R&D, we are always looking for ways to improve our methodology. KRONE utilises a concurrent engineering process in the design and development of new products. This means that all departments involved in the development of a product from R&D through to purchasing, engineering, and manufacturing, work simultaneously on different tasks rather than following a series of individual steps, which slows down the development process. To enhance our efficiency, even further, in product stewardship and commercialising R&D, we have just merged our Product Development and Marketing teams. We’re all looking forward to the challenges the rest of 2002 will bring us. Sincerely Craig Jones CEO 2 ! NETWORKnews COMMITMENT TO R&D AND PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP . . . Customer Stories 6 KRONE’s Bronze Solution at work for Science 8 ComProtect Safeguards Defence in WA and the Territory 12 KRONE a Force in RedFlex’s International Military Coups 12 NEC IP Servers using Highband 10 14 Latinos warm to Australian Product Business Articles 3 Cables in a Mess? PBE is your answer Product News 10 Highlighting our Fibre Optic Range 11 Speeding our Products to Market KRONE News 15 Club KRONE Standards and Industry News 4 A New Front Gate for HAN SOHO Website: www.krone.com.au Email: kronehlp@krone.com.au CONTENTS networknews@krone.com.au Copyright © 2001 KRONE Australia Holdings Pty. Limited NETWORKnews ! 3 I n sites that would normally utilise a high number of RJ45 patch panels at the cross connection point, patch cords become a mess and cannot be professionally managed. These sites are prime Candidates for our PBE methodology, eliminating the patch cord “jungle” entirely. Using the Patch by Exception methodology, HIGHBAND modules are used in place of the RJ45 Patch Panels. The cross connection is made using hard wiring (C5E or C6 Jumpers) utilising the off cuts of the horizontal cable. You can override the hardwired side of the HIGHBAND module and re-connect to the required office area in a simple plug-and-play motion using a patch cord. Periodically, the customer’s installer visits to remove patch cords on permanent circuits and replace them with hard wiring. WHY PATCH BY EXCEPTION WORKS The RJ45 solution was designed to provide data and telephone services to the user, rather than to supply a permanent service to a workstation. Traditionally, the benefit of this approach has been that the end user or IT Manager could do all their own moves, adds and changes without using an installer. As technology has progressed and the cost of network devices has decreased, the provision of computer outlets has increased. It is now highly likely that if a person moves from one room to another data services will already exist within that room, and accessing the network simply requires the person to plug their computer into the port or outlet provided. Another development that further contributes to the acceptance of the Patch by Exception solution is the virtual network hub. This means that a network manager can control each individual PC on the network and make any moves, adds or changes via software - without the need to leave his or her desk. In the same manner, voice services are almost always provided at every workstation and in every room. When a person moves offices, their extension number can be easily reallocated using the software on the PABX. The significance of these developments is that cross connections can be cabled out using hard wiring rather than patch cords. Solid conductor cable, used in the horizontal run, is used for this hard wiring. The use of solid conductor cable improves throughput as it has better impedence values than patch cable. Situations will arise, of course, where services are not provided. This is the time when the HIGHBAND patch cord can be used and when patching is the exception, and not the rule. With the Patch by Exception solution, the IT manager has an effective and efficient cable management system, and peace of mind. Any changes required can be easily administered by the IT Manager in a plug and play motion, in a matter of seconds. The cost saving attributed to the smaller amount of Patch Cords required, can be substantial. As an example, instead of paying $6.00 for a patch cord, use 4 pair solid conductor cable off cuts at no cost. " CABLES IN A MESS? PBE IS YOUR ANSWER Patch by Exception (PBE) is not new. KRONE Australia developed it as a product feature of our HIGHBAND modules. Working successfully in sites in the Asia Pacific, Europe and the USA since the mid-1990s. by Peter Davis, Sales and Marketing Manager, KRONE Australia Typical hard wired solution Patch cord Disconnects the original circuit and redirects the signal 4 ! NETWORKnews I n the last ten years, a wide variety of services and systems have become available or cost effective for homes, such as: " multiple phones including keyphone systems and cordless units, faxes and answering machines; " personal computers and Internet access; " cable television and a wider range of free-to- air services; " security and fire alarm services; " video door intercom units; " the home theatre; and " home automation, particularly lighting, climate control and watering systems. With the growing trend towards small, home- based businesses and teleworking, the telephone and computer facilities of many homes are now comparable with small businesses. The residence operates like an enterprise, and the small office/home office (SOHO) is moving quickly towards installing a Home Area Network (HAN). Home occupants want service and content providers to deliver the bandwith to support the technological advances of the future. The entry to the home will now be enabled by passing through an electronic front gate, called a ‘Residential Gateway’. A new ISO/IEC 15045-1 Standard has now been established detailing the requirements for this entrance to the home electronic system. The Residential Gateway connects home network domains to network domains outside the home. It supports communication among devices within the premises - and systems, service providers, operators and users outside the premises. The safe and effective delivery of these services into the home places many demands on the facilities of the Residential Gateway. These include the integrity and security of communications, delivery of commands to devices in the home from external sources, blocking of selected commands that may create unsafe conditions, protection of the home from risks inherent in a connection to the Internet and the facilitation of financial payments. The interoperability of home devices with external services and features to enhance the safety and security of network devices and consumer transactions via the network are essential elements of the electronic gate. The Residential Gateway connects the remote user via the Internet with the people, equipment, appliances or services in the home. Usually such devices or systems are objects or nodes on the HAN. Some of the potential interfaces and supported networks of a Residential Gateway are shown in Figure 1. In all cases the electronic gateway provides the mechanism whereby Wide Area Networks (WANs) communicate with Home Area Networks (HANs). The gateway may stand alone, it may be embedded in another device, or more than one gateway unit may be used. A number of distributed gateway units may display the behaviour of a single gateway. Configurations may range from an approach where a single box provides the functionality for interfacing between two or more WANs and HANs, to a modular dedicated residential gateway, to multiple residential gateways distributed among physically separate locations within the premises. The ISO/IEC 15045-1 Standard is based on a ‘black box’approach, specifying the interfaces of the Residential Gateway and the functionality provided but leaving considerable freedom for how such functions are implemented . The Traditionally, homes have been wired for a small number of telephone outlets connected to a single telephone service, with little consideration being given for other services. A NEW FRONT GATE FOR HAN SOHO by Peter Meijer, JP BE MSc, RCDD, Technical Training Manager and Industry Liaison, KRONE Australia Broadway 5 standard is applicable to all communications and other technologies that may be incorporated in the Residential Gateway and includes both analogue and digital systems. Among other things, the standard will discuss: " options for the Architecture of the Residential Gateway and the elements of a conforming Residential Gateway; and " safety requirements of home systems connected to Wide Area Networks and the role of the Residential Gateway. To take full advantage of these interactive electronic systems, your residence (whether it is a house, apartment or a standalone home- office area) should be wired for data and telecommunications with flexible structured cabling systems similar to those of com- mercial premises. " www.krone.com.au/products/broadway/ NETWORKnews ! 5        Broadway 10 RESIDENTIAL GATEWAY. Figure 1 Broadway 4 T he CSIRO operates with decentralised management across some 22 divisions, 60 sites and 6,500 employees. Each business unit makes its own decisions about issues of staffing, resources and information technology. CSIRO’s Property Division project manages the construction of new buildings. As Cabling Upgrade Program Manager, Jeff Kell, is responsible for the preparation and maintenance of the Cabling Specifications that are utilised throughout CSIRO and the Cabling Upgrade Program. “It is our objective to provide a state-of-the art, reliable, flexible, warranted cabling infrastructure that allows implementation of the latest technology,” said Mr Kell. “The CSIRO cabling specifications nominate KRONE’s PremisNET Cat 5e Bronze solution with the express intention of having a national standard across all sites. This infrastructure allows for the implementation of the latest technologies, which puts CSIRO in a position to lead and advise Australia’s scientific and business communities. “We are constantly reviewing our Cabling Specifications to ensure the best business solution is provided to the CSIRO scientific workforce who are deployed in offices, laboratories and remote environments across Australia. “When we were nominating the current CSIRO standard, we selected KRONE because of its high quality product, the fact that it was an Australian manufacturer with substantial R&D facilities, and, importantly, its 20/20 warranty.” 6 ! NETWORKnews The CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation), Australia’s largest scientific research centre, has specified our PremisNET Bronze solution as its standard across all sites. KRONE’S BRONZE SOLUTION AT by Norm Kennedy, ACT State Manager, KRONE Australia CSIRO has been a KRONE customer since 1998 when it first implemented Category 5 cabling infrastructure for voice and data across a number of the CSIRO sites. Norm Kennedy, KRONE Australia (right) and Jeff Kell, CSIRO NETWORKnews ! 7 KRONE’s BRONZE PremisNET solution is supported by the industry’s most extensive standards-compliant warranty program that guarantees system performance for 20 years. It is a fully comprehensive 20-year product, system and applications warranty that includes all parts, labour and service. CSIRO has been a KRONE customer since 1998 when it first implemented Category 5 cabling infrastructure for voice and data across a number of the CSIRO sites. Flexibility and reliability are the keys to any good network design and cabling can be a bottleneck for the entire system, particularly in a large and sophisticated scientific research enterprise such as the CSIRO. The move to standardise on our PremisNET Bronze Enhanced Category 5 solution (Cat 5e) will provide CSIRO with sufficient headroom for the most robust network applications such as Gigabit Ethernet and applications like broadband video, 3D imaging, CAD/CAM and other multimedia applications. The KRONE PremisNET Bronze solution has already been implemented in more than 30 sites around Australia, including the Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong, Victoria; Livestock Industries in Armidale and Riverside Technology Park in North Ryde, New South Wales; Waite Laboratory in Urrbrae, South Australia; with Food Science, Cannon Hill, Queensland, currently under construction. The solution will continue to be progressively installed as new sites are built or undergo refurbishment. " About CSIRO . CSIRO is Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. It is one of the world’s largest and most diverse scientific research institutions. Its work touches just about every aspect of Australian life: everything from the molecules of life to the molecules in space - finding ways to improve our quality of life and economic performance. CSIRO’s 6,500 staff perform research and development over a broad range of areas of economic and social value including agriculture, minerals and energy, manufacturing, communications, construction, health and the environment. They are located in laboratories and field stations around Australia. The emphasis is on bringing teams together from different scientific fields to find solutions to major problems facing Australia. CSIRO’s vision is to be a world-class research organisation vital to Australia’s future. The CSIRO is an agency in the Industry, Science and Resources government portfolio. www.krone.com.au/markets/premisnet/bronze/ WORK FOR SCIENCE 8 ! NETWORKnews A fter initial trials at Robertson Barracks in the Northern Territory, Defence Information Systems Northern Territory/Kimberley, has installed ComProtect at HMAS Coonawarra, Larrakeyah Barracks, RAAF Base Tindal and RAAF Base Darwin. In a telecommunications network, apart from lightning (direct or indirect), interference can come from phenomena such as electromagnetic interference, inductive or capacitive effects, electrostatic discharge and contact with live power lines, which is usually caused through incorrect installation methods. The majority of over voltage protectors are destroyed by the impact of a lightning strike or ‘power cross’ fault and need to be replaced. ComProtect’s unique circuits restore themselves immediately to normal operation once the fault is corrected, greatly reducing the level of maintenance required. Defence Facilities Management Group (FMG) trialled the product at Stirling Naval Base in Western Australia and ComProtect’s successful performance has led to it being installed in Leeuwin, Campbell and Irwin bases. FMG is, at every opportunity, progressively rolling the solution out to the rest of the Defence bases in WA. FMG has already installed 3,000 units in Western Australia. ComProtect is easy to use - the compact overvoltage protection plug is simply attached to KRONE Australia has sold 4,500 units of our ComProtect overvoltage protection solution to the Department of Defence for bases in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. COMPROTECT SAFEGUARDS DEFENCE by Jon Vause, Sales Manager, Western Region, KRONE Australia NETWORKnews ! 9 the KRONE disconnection or switching module. It is also possible to retrofit ComProtect to existing KRONE distribution equipment. Western Australia has also recorded an extremely high number of thunder storm days. It is vital for our nation’s safety that Defence communications systems are protected from network downtime caused by lightning or other high voltage damage such as power contact. In 1996, KRONE solutions were specified as the standard for the Army Presence in the North (APIN) project, which involved the construction of barracks and housing and the relocation of more than 2,300 soldiers to Robertson Barracks, just outside Darwin in the Northern Territory, and 2,600 family members to the cities of Darwin and Palmerston. Robertson Barracks was the first NT base to install ComProtect and it is now being specified across all NT bases. " ABOUT COMPROTECT KRONE ‘s portfolio of overvoltage solutions includes systems specifically for protection of equipment in data and communication networks and in measurement and control applications. The protective circuits guard against electrical influences due to lightning or power contact, discharging them immediately to ground. ComProtect gives graded five-point protection of single pairs on HIGHBAND 10 or Series 2 disconnect or switching modules mounted on KRONE Profil or Backmount frames. Over-voltage protection devices consist of components or protective circuits that limit interference to permissible and safe levels. Three- point protection comprises components for limiting voltage such as arrestors, diodes or varistors. Five- point protection has, in addition to the voltage- limiting components, an over-current protection element in the signal path. The KRONE range of overvoltage products is suited to the latest applications with high transmission rates such as ISDN and xDSL. Besides ComProtect, it also includes various arrestor magazines for over-voltage protection. All the versions, HIGHBAND, Profil Series 2 and NT, have one thing in common - they are adaptations of the protective components of KRONE’s patented LSA-PLUS and/or LSA PROFIL distribution systems. The ‘Top End’ receives more lightning strikes than anywhere else in Australia with an average of 30,000 per year. 5,000 strikes/discharges have been recorded in one 24-hour period at Darwin Airport. Lightining strikes hit map. www.krone.com.au/products/comprotect/ IN WA AND THE TERRITORY W ith the increased use of applications such as videoconferencing, real-time financial data flow and transactions, interactive and web- based distribution of productivity applications on top of voice and fax transmissions, planning and managing a traditional network has become significantly more difficult. For the best part of two decades, KRONE’s R&D has been addressing our customers’ needs for coping with bandwidth-hungry technologies, resulting in our HIGHLIGHT fibre optic range. The newest additions to our HIGHLIGHT range are the 48 and 72-Port Patch Panels, which are suitable for installations into 19” rack systems in both premises networks (KRONE PremisNET) and carrier networks (KRONE AccessNET) solutions. In height, our 48-Port Patch Panel takes up two rack units and the 72-port, three rack units. Designed for rear or side cable entry, the Patch Panels feature strain relief points for loose tube cable and cable tie points for tight buffered cable. The hinged fibre tray may be configured for left or right-hand opening and allows easy access to the fibre management system, couplings and splice cassette. The panel is equipped with a patch cord guide that provides additional cable management. The product also comes with a removable lid and is supplied with Velcro ties for maintaining cable bending radius. Fibre optic cabling enables all forms of data to be transmitted on a single line of almost limitless capacity providing a high-bandwidth com- munications pipeline that makes for a much smoother flow of data through the network. For a total fibre patch panel solution, KRONE’s HIGHLIGHT range of adaptor plates are available in SC, SC Duplex, ST, MTRJ, LC and RJ45 configurations. KRONE can supply an extensive range of Singlemode and Multimode cable for both indoor and outdoor applications. All KRONE HIGHLIGHT fibre products have been designed to meet AS/ACIF S008 standard. The HIGHLIGHT range complies to the Class 2 laser standard. PROVIDING OPTICAL ACCESS Our Optical Access next-generation optical wireless solutions offer you a comprehensive product line for affordable IP over Optics. The advanced switching and routing techniques can also be integrated with our HIGHLIGHT fibre optic solutions. The Terescope range is a Free Space Optics solution designed for difficult installations and environments or where quick deployment is necessary. Rather than using Fibre Optic Cable as the transmission medium, Optical Wireless transmits data through the air. Our range of Terescope products provides high 10 ! NETWORKnews PRODUCT WATCH HIGHLIGHTING OUR FIBRE OPTIC RANGE by Glen Johnston, Manager Marketing and Product Development For the best part of two decades, KRONE’s R&D has been addressing our customers’ needs for coping with bandwidth-hungry technologies, resulting in our HIGHLIGHT fibre optic range. HIGHLIGHT 48-Port Patch Panel HIGHLIGHT 72-Port Patch Panel www.krone.com.au/products/48-72port [...]... invoices for the purchase of KRONE product with your Club KRONE Member ID, send them to our free fax number 1800 456 266 If you’ve misplaced your KRONE ID number, just contact me on 1800 456 166 or e-mail clbkrone @krone. com.au Your bonus points can go towards redeeming product or training - and, to make it even easier for you, we now offer redemption by fax or online via the Club KRONE website BONUS 1000... one part number is required for each installation KRONE also provided a large number of HIGHBAND 10 to Series2 Adaptors, to make the transition to HB10 as easy as possible " www .krone. com.au/products/highband/ NETWORKnews ! 13 LATINOS WARM TO AUSTRALIAN PRODUCT More and more international customers are standardising on KRONE Australia’s product ranges - solutions that are designed, developed and manufactured... Product Stewardship’ award We also won the GIO Business Star of the Year Award in 14 ! NETWORKnews also encouraging for us to know that, despite there being six different KRONE manufacturing centres around the world, there is increasing demand for KRONE Australian-designed and manufactured product on the international market KRONE Australia is exporting not only our product but also our training and merchandising... websites, develops CDROMs, corporate videos and multimedia presentations, and produces all KRONE s printed material such as brochures, advertisements, newsletters and point-of-sale material " NETWORKnews ! 11 KRONE A FORCE IN REDFLEX’S Melbourne-based Redflex Communications Systems Pty Ltd has been awarded a contract by Lockheed Martin Overseas Corporation of the United States for an air surveillance radar... easier for you, our Club KRONE website is a quick way to keep track of your points tally - and, as I mentioned before, you can redeem your KRONE products or training online Keep ahead of the rest Use the Club KRONE website to access valuable industry information Benefits for you include: " points register - to quickly check your tally of points " online redemption facility " news, promotions and events... 266 E-mail: clbkrone @krone. com.au or visit: www.clubkrone.com.au " PUT MARGIN BACK INTO YOUR BUSINESS It’s four years since we introduced the Club and it has proved a boon for our active members They’ve been able to put margin back into their businesses by using their Club KRONE points for either staff training or bonus product Don’t miss out! Take advantage of our exclusive benefits for Club KRONE. .. members - and the NETWORKnews ! 15 NEW PHONE NUMBERS FOR KRONE OLD NUMBERS REDIRECTED W e’ve upgraded our phone system and the new number for KRONE s central switchboard is now 02 4389 5000 Customers and partners are being formally notified of the change in contact details but any calls made to our previous numbers will be automatically forwarded to the new system New numbers for your key contacts at KRONE. .. toll-free number for our help desk Operating during normal business hours, from 8.30am to 4.30pm (NSW time), Deanne is there to answer all technical enquiries as well as providing support to Club KRONE members regarding points tallies and other queries If Deanne can’t help you she will find somebody who can - as quickly as possible IT’S YOUR CHOICE KRONE CATALOGUE NOW ON CD-ROM AND WEBSITE For a CD-ROM... (03) 9560 0988 KRONE WA Suite 46, Como Corporate Centre 11 Preston Street COMO WA 6152 PH: (08) 9474 6600 FAX: (08) 9474 3898 KRONE ACT 1/42 Geils Court DEAKIN ACT 2600 Ph: (02) 6281 4580 Fax: (02) 6281 4453 KRONE NSW 1/4 6-4 8 Percy Street AUBURN NSW 2144 Ph: (02) 9749 9200 Fax: (02) 9749 9955 KRONE SA/NT Suite 11, 297 Pirie Street ADELAIDE SA 5000 Ph: (08) 8236 0111 Fax: (08) 8232 6699 KRONE NEW ZEALAND... help our KRONE Latin American colleagues understand and sell HIGHBAND; and we’re sharing our literature too, providing designs for advertising and brochures to be converted into the local languages of Spanish and Portugese " www .krone. com.au/products/highband/ 1000 POINTS BONUS + CAP FOR ACTIVE CLUB MEMBERS If you’re an active Club KRONE member - or you want to activate your membership now - you will . SOHO Website: www .krone. com.au Email: kronehlp @krone. com.au CONTENTS networknews @krone. com.au Copyright © 20 01 KRONE Australia Holdings Pty. Limited NETWORKnews ! 3 I n. OFFICE 2 Hereford Street BERKELEY VALE NSW 22 61 PO Box 335 WYONG NSW 22 59 Ph: ( 02) 4389 5000 Fax: ( 02) 4388 4499 KRONE NSW 1/4 6-4 8 Percy Street AUBURN NSW 21 44 Ph: