TOKYO, June 16, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Internet Initiative Japan, Inc. (IIJ) (Nasdaq:IIJI) (TSE1:3774), one of Japan's leading Internet access and comprehensive network solutions providers, and ALAXALA Networks Corporation (ALAXALA) today announced an agreement to jointly develop technology that makes network use both simple and flexible for the user.
The network has become a vital communications infrastructure for society, and on that infrastructure a plethora of services have been created, with business occurring round the clock. In this ICT environment, the network equipment, servers, storage, and a multitude of other devices form a complex interconnected network. In addition, network equipment continues to evolve with more advanced features emerging almost daily-from network access control and spectrum control to VPN dynamic configurations-making network systems more and more complex. This situation has created an urgent need for a new environment, one that allows the user or equipment operator to easily and conveniently control the system without specialized knowledge about advanced features and functions.
Since 2003, IIJ Research Laboratory, the research arm of IIJ, has been engaged in R&D using next generation Web technology (*1) to improve the reliability of complex network systems through automation of equipment configuration, and to make network functions more flexible. In particular, IIJ Research Laboratory has been working with ALAXALA from the beginning on research into architecture and standardization of automated configuration technology using next generation Web technology, such as NETCONF(*2). Currently, NETCONF has moved from the research and standardization phase to the implementation phase, and it is in fact being used to automate network system configurations.
Since its inception in 2004, ALAXALA has been working to implement the NETCONF protocol in its own products based on the Open Autonomic Networking concept, whose objective is to automate the configuration of network equipment.
The objective of this research partnership is to effectively leverage the automation support technology of both IIJ Research Laboratory and ALAXALA to model a network on which the customer can easily and flexibly configure all network equipment, and to research automation technology.
The following is a list of the research themes that will be pursued.
* Functions that automate equipment settings based on frequency
of function configuration (beginning communications, stopping,
security definition, QoS, etc.), and the configuration
interface
* Data model for information exchanged between equipment and
administration system
* Protocols and models for configuring network devices, and
standardization of these
IIJ and ALAXALA will use the results of these efforts to broaden the range of services and functionality.
(*1) Next-generation Web technology: Technology that gives meaning
to information, as exemplified by the Semantic Web. This
technology is being used to advance data modeling and
research and standardized notation.
(*2) NETCONF: A standard for implementing a universal interface
for network equipment operation based on the regulations
described in IETF's RFC4741 to 4744. At present, NETCONF is
being used to discuss models for reducing device-specific
dependency through the modeling of network device functions.
About ALAXALA
ALAXALA Networks Corp. is founded on its corporate philosophy of providing people around the world with secure networks that can be used comfortably and contributing to establishment of an information-rich communication society. ALAXALA is promoting the concept of Guaranteed Network to support information lifelines and provides backbone routers necessary for network constructions as well as services ranging from development/design, manufacturing, sales, to maintenance of switches. For more information, visit www.alaxala.com.
About IIJ
Founded in 1992, Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ) (Nasdaq:IIJI) (TSE1:3774) is one of Japan's leading Internet-access and comprehensive network solutions providers. IIJ and its group of companies provide total network solutions that mainly cater to high-end corporate customers. The company's services include high-quality systems integration and security services, Internet access, hosting/housing, and content design. Moreover, the company has built one of the largest Internet backbone networks in Japan, and between Japan and the United States. IIJ was listed on NASDAQ in 1999 and on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2006. For more information about IIJ, visit the IIJ Web site at http://www.iij.ad.jp/en/.
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The statements within this release contain forward-looking statements about our future plans that involve risk and uncertainty. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results. Readers are referred to the documents furnished by Internet Initiative Japan Inc. with the SEC, specifically the most recent reports on Forms 20-F and 6-K, which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.