January 26, 2006 -- Networking equipment vendors face a continuing dilemma. They must support many physical interfaces and protocols, while still improving overall productivity. New protocols and technologies, such as IPSec, RPR, and Metro Ethernet, demand new products, while legacy technologies, such as SONET or ATM, require regular product refreshes to support new features and platforms. Vendors also constantly face demands for minor variations to support particular applications, interface with legacy equipment, or handle system-level design changes or upgrades.