NEBS Level 3 Compliant versus Certified 27May08

1. NEBS Level 3 Compliant versus Certified 27May08

2. What Is NEBS? NEBS = Network Equipment Building System Originally developed by Bell Telephone Laboratories in the 1970s and expanded by Bellcore. Designed to help assure that equipment purchased is easy to install, operates reliably, and efficiently occupies building space. Released as a public document in 1985 by Bellcore. NEBS is a widely understood set of criteria to ensure specific levels of operability within specific telecommunication applications

3. What Is The Basic NEBS Criteria? NEBS criteria are designed to accomplish the following: • Ensure equipment compatibility with the telephone industry’s electrical environment • Simplify equipment planning and installation • Protect telecommunication equipment from service outages caused by incompatible equipment • Prevent interference to licensed radio transmitters and other close proximity telecommunication equipment • Minimize the risk of fires to telecommunication equipment • Ensure equipment operation under a range of temperature, humidity, vibration, and airborne contamination present in telecommunication locations • Ensure equipment and service survivability in the event of earthquake • Protect from personnel injury NEBS is a major test of quality extremely valuable for any organization supplying or purchasing network equipment

4. What Does It Take to Satisfy NEBS? Time • Initial product design has to include NEBS requirements • Multiple testing points during development to ensure adherence • Addition time in schedule to addressing problems and questions Cost • Units needed for NEBS test cycles • GR-63-CORE “Network Equipment-Building Systems (NEBS) Requirement: Physical Protection” • GR-1089-CORE “Electromagnetic Compatibility and Electrical Safety – Generic Criteria for Network Telecommunications Equipment” • GR-78-CORE “Generic Requirements for the Physical Design and Manufacture of Telecommunications Products and Equipment” • Second-level lightning, ac power fault, and fire resistance • Verizon checklist Experience • Knowledgeable personnel (both in development & test) • NEBS consultants In order to Satisfy the NEBS criteria, products have to be designed and carefully planned for, it cannot be added in later.

5. Compliant Versus Certified, Does it Matter? Compliant Product “Could” Mean: • The manufacturer of the product has performed specified NEBS level test criteria internally • Test information and reports may not be available for review • May have not designed the product initially to satisfy NEBS • May have “non-confirm” results for certain criteria • Did not want to incur the cost for an independent, third-party to perform the testing Certified Product Means: • The product was designed specifically to satisfy all of the 100s of requirements for NEBS Level 3 • Invested the time, effort, and funds to prove the product meets NEBS Level 3 • Uses a Telcordia approved 3rd Party to validate NEBS Level 3 Certification The Tested by Telcordia logo identifies products that have undergone a thorough testing and analysis program conducted by Telcordia Technologies. A NEBS certified product that has passed a suite of tests performed by a Telcordia approved independent, third-party = Creditability

6. Why is the 5730 Certified & 2730 Not? Business Decision • Both products use a set of common components which satisfy NEBS Level 3 • Chassis • Power Supplies • Drive Assemblies (Sleds & Drives) • Product positioning • 2000 Series used for entry level offering • 5000 Series targeted for Telco, Military, and mid-range • Pricing differentiation • Promotes “Data-In-Place” migration throughout the entire R/Evolution Architecture 2000 Series are positioned as “Compliant” and 5000 Series is “Certified” NEBS Level 3