Synopsys Announces DesignWare DDR4 Memory Interface IP

News release:

Synopsys Announces DesignWare DDR4 Memory Interface IP

Memory Controller and PHY Support Multiple DDR Standards While Reducing Latency and Standby Power

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Sept. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Highlights:

• Synopsys expands its industry-leading DesignWare® DDR Memory Interface IP family to include support for DDR4 SDRAMs
• Backward compatibility with DDR3 and LPDDR2/3 mobile SDRAMs gives SoC designers flexibility as they transition from one SDRAM standard to the next
• New DDR4 IP offers more features with up to 50 percent lower latency than the previous generation
• DDR4 memory controller and PHY are connected by a standard DFI 3.1 interface to streamline connections to custom PHYs and controllers

Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS), a world leader in software and IP used in the design, verification and manufacture of electronic components and systems, today announced the expansion of its DesignWare DDR interface IP portfolio to include support for next-generation SDRAMs based on the emerging DDR4 standard. By supporting DDR4 as well as DDR3 and LPDDR2/3 in a single core, the DesignWare DDR solution enables designers to interface with either high-performance or low-power SDRAMs in the same system-on-chip (SoC), which is a key requirement of many SoCs such as applications processors for smartphones and tablets.
"Synopsys' support for DDR4 memory is an important contribution to building a robust DDR4 ecosystem," said Robert Feurle, vice president of DRAM marketing for Micron Technology, Inc. "DDR4 brings substantial power and performance benefits to the industry, and Micron is aggressively driving its introduction. By implementing their DesignWare DDR Interface IP with backward compatibility in mind, Synopsys is enabling chip developers to bridge the transition from today's DDR3-based SoCs to the upcoming DDR4 designs."
Synopsys' DesignWare DDR4 IP solution consists of the DDR4 multiPHY and Enhanced Universal DDR Memory Controller (uMCTL2) that connect through a commonly used DFI 3.1 interface. The new DDR4 IP supports all key DDR4 features planned for the upcoming JEDEC standard and, compared to the previous version, includes a 13 percent increase in raw bandwidth, up to a 50 percent reduction in overall latency and new low-power features that provide intelligent system monitoring and control to power down elements of the IP as determined by the system's traffic patterns. Real-time scheduling features in Synopsys' unique CAM-based DDR controller can optimize the scheduling of data read/write traffic from multiple hosts, maximizing performance and minimizing latency.
"While the initial target markets for DDR4 are networking, server, and compute platforms, engineers designing for digital TVs, set-top-boxes, multi-function printing, smartphone and tablet applications will also adopt DDR4 DRAM as prices drop and performance improves," said Desi Rhoden, executive vice president, Montage Technology, and JEDEC memory chairman. "Synopsys has leveraged their participation at JEDEC to develop DDR4-compatible products before the actual standard has been released, which is a key benefit of JEDEC membership."
"Synopsys' complete DDR interface IP portfolio includes support for LPDDR, LPDDR2, LPDDR3, DDR, DDR2, and DDR3," said John Koeter, vice president of marketing for IP and systems at Synopsys. "With this announcement, we are broadening our portfolio to include support for DDR4 while maintaining backward compatibility with existing JEDEC standard SDRAMs. As new DDR standards evolve, designers look for reliable solutions. Synopsys' track record of over 320 DDR IP design wins demonstrates that we offer a low-risk path to silicon success."
Availability
Availability for the DesignWare DDR4 multiPHY and Enhanced Universal DDR Memory Controller (uMCTL2) with support for DDR4 is planned for Q4 2012.
About DesignWare IP
Synopsys is a leading provider of high-quality, silicon-proven IP solutions for system-on-chip (SoC) designs. The broad DesignWare IP portfolio includes complete interface IP solutions consisting of controllers, PHY and verification IP for widely used protocols, analog IP, embedded memories, logic libraries, processor cores and subsystems. To support software development and hardware/software integration of the IP, Synopsys offers drivers, transaction-level models, and prototypes for many of its IP products. Synopsys' HAPS® FPGA-Based Prototyping Solution enables validation of the IP and the SoC in the system context. Synopsys' Virtualizer™ virtual prototyping tool set allows developers to start the development of software for the IP or the entire SoC significantly earlier compared to traditional methods. With a robust IP development methodology, extensive investment in quality, IP prototyping, software development and comprehensive technical support, Synopsys enables designers to accelerate time-to-market and reduce integration risk. For more information on DesignWare IP, visit http://www.synopsys.com/designware.
About Synopsys
Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is a world leader in electronic design automation (EDA), supplying the global electronics market with the software, intellectual property (IP) and services used in semiconductor design, verification and manufacturing. Synopsys' comprehensive, integrated portfolio of implementation, verification, IP, manufacturing and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) solutions helps address the key challenges designers and manufacturers face today, such as power and yield management, system-to-silicon verification and time-to-results. These technology-leading solutions help give Synopsys customers a competitive edge in bringing the best products to market quickly while reducing costs and schedule risk. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has approximately 70 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements regarding the expected availability of Synopsys' DesignWare DDR4 multiPHY and Enhanced Universal DDR Memory Controller (uMCTL2) with support for DDR4. These statements are based on current expectations and beliefs. Actual results could differ materially from those described by these statements due to risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, unforeseen production or delivery delays, failure to perform as expected, product errors or defects and other risks detailed in Synopsys' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including those described in the "Risk Factors" section of Synopsys' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2012.

Synopsys' RSoft OptSim Accelerates Design of Next-Generation Optical Communication Systems

Press release:

Synopsys' RSoft OptSim Accelerates Design of Next-Generation Optical Communication Systems

OptSim version 5.3 is now generally available

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Sept. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Highlights:

• Expands support for modulation formats used in next-generation optical networks
• Accelerates design development with an expanded model library
• Speeds evaluation of optical signal propagation in data communication systems
• Increases user productivity with application examples

Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS), a world leader in software and IP used in the design, verification and manufacture of electronic components and systems, today announced the availability of the latest release of its RSoft™ Optical Communication Design Suite, which includes OptSim™ and its multimode companion tool ModeSYS™. OptSim version 5.3 delivers innovative modeling capabilities and new application examples that enable engineers to accelerate the design of high-performance optical communication systems.
"Optimized design of existing data links and the advancement of complex future designs can only be achieved with a thorough understanding of the underlying physics and technology involved, as well as the ability to predict performance and recognize design limitations," said Chris Kocot, principal scientist, Finisar Corporation. "At Finisar, simulation software is a crucial facilitator in this process. OptSim is a key component in our suite of software simulation tools used for advanced product development, including 28 Gb/s optical interconnects and next-generation optical links operating at 56 Gb/s per channel, as well as for high-speed link simulations that involve advanced modulation techniques."
Support for Cutting-Edge Modulation FormatsOptSim now includes models for accurately simulating coherent polarization-multiplexed binary phase-shift keying (PM-BPSK) as well as coherent multi-level polarization-multiplexed modulation formats such as PM-16QAM and PM-64QAM. These enhancements can help speed development of advanced applications such as single-carrier 100G Ethernet. The software also supports enhanced orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) models that can handle negative frequencies and calculate error vector magnitudes. This provides engineers with increased flexibility and power when developing OFDM-based systems, such as high-speed long-haul transmission systems with high inter-symbolic interference (ISI).
Application-Specific Models Accelerate Design DevelopmentOptSim now offers the following additions to its model library, which users can incorporate into their designs to jumpstart analysis of a wide range of systems, including photonic integrated circuits, long-reach and ultra-long-reach metro networks, and optical transport networks:

• Y-fed balanced-bridge dual-arm Mach-Zehnder modulator model
• Electrical filter synthesis based on data in Touchstone files
• Model of clipping in the electrical domain
• Phenomenological model for more easily implementing dispersion compensation

"OptSim has been a useful tool, giving us the ability to assess the performance of new systems before components are available for lab testing," said Steven Searcy, optical systems engineer, ADVA Optical Networking. "The ability to obtain preliminary design rules via simulation is critical to staying ahead in the development and introduction of new technologies."
Enhanced Multimode Fiber Modeling Speeds Evaluation of Optical Signal PropagationModeSYS includes an updated and enhanced multimode fiber model that provides faster calculation of mode-coupling equations. This can significantly accelerate evaluation of optical signal propagation in data communication systems.
Application Examples Increase User ProductivityNew application notes in OptSim demonstrate state-of-the-art examples that can reduce training time for new users and increase efficiency for experienced users. Application [examples] include polarization-multiplexed modulation formats, parametric fiber amplifiers, microwave photonics and multimode systems:

• PM-QPSK modulation using an external local oscillator
• Dual carrier PM-QPSK modulation
• In-band crosstalk in partial DPSK systems
• Phase-sensitive fiber parametric amplifiers
• Microwave photonic links based on balanced detection
• DMD test and measurement per IEC specification 60793-1-49
• EMB test and measurement per IEC specification 60793-1-41
• 25-Gbps directly modulated VCSEL-based multimode links

"OptSim 5.3 adds modeling enhancements that strengthen its standing as an ideal tool for optical communication design and simulation," said George Bayz, vice president and general manager of the Optical Solutions Group at Synopsys. "These new features are augmented by our continued focus on improving user productivity, with an expanded model library and detailed application notes. Our goal is to help engineers develop, test and deliver new systems more efficiently than ever."
Availability & ResourcesOptSim version 5.3 is available now and can be obtained by emailing rsoft_sales@synopsys.com. Learn more about Synopsys' RSoft products at http://www.synopsys.com/Tools/OpticalDesign.
About Synopsys' RSoft ProductsSynopsys' RSoft products are leading solutions in photonic design software and serve several industries including optical communications, optoelectronics and semiconductor manufacturing. RSoft products provide a full range of design, optimization and planning tools for optical communications, as well as solutions for optoelectronics components and subsystems.
About SynopsysSynopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is a world leader in electronic design automation (EDA), supplying the global electronics market with the software, intellectual property (IP) and services used in semiconductor design, verification and manufacturing. Synopsys' comprehensive, integrated portfolio of implementation, verification, IP, manufacturing and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) solutions helps address the key challenges designers and manufacturers face today, such as power and yield management, system-to-silicon verification and time-to-results. These technology-leading solutions help give Synopsys customers a competitive edge in bringing the best products to market quickly while reducing costs and schedule risk. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has approximately 70 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com.

ARM and Synopsys Expand Collaboration to Optimize Power and Performance, and Accelerate Design and Verification for ARM Technology-based SoCs

Press release from Synopsys:

ARM and Synopsys Expand Collaboration to Optimize Power and Performance, and Accelerate Design and Verification for ARM Technology-based SoCs

CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --


Highlights:

• Industry leaders extend collaboration to benefit mutual customers across the broad ARM  partner ecosystem
• Synopsys licenses broad range of energy-efficient, high-performance ARM IP in multi-year agreement
• Collaboration to deliver power and performance optimized methodologies for ARM® Cortex™ processors using Synopsys' Galaxy™ Implementation Platform and ARM Artisan® physical IP and POP™ technology
• Synopsys' next-generation Discovery™ Verification IP (VIP) integrates new tests, checks and verification features to speed verification of AMBA® 4 ACE™-based System-on-Chips (SoCs)

ARM (LON: ARM; Nasdaq: ARMH) and Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS) have signed a multi-year agreement that expands Synopsys' access to a broad range of ARM intellectual property (IP). The two companies will broaden their collaboration to enable SoC designers to optimize the power and performance of ARM technology-based SoCs with Synopsys Galaxy Implementation Platform and Discovery VIP, while reducing cost and decreasing time to market. Building on previous EDA tools and ARM Cortex-A15 processor license agreements, this new agreement provides Synopsys with access to a range of Cortex processors, including technology needed to implement ARM big.LITTLE™ processing, ARM Artisan physical IP, POP technology optimized for Cortex processor implementation, as well as CoreLink™ interconnect and AMBA 4 ACE system IP.

By expanding their collaboration to include the latest ARM technology, Synopsys will be able to create and deliver optimized tools and methodologies for the implementation and verification of ARM processing subsystems, and ARM will be able to enhance its IP. The ongoing partnership aims to meet demand from designers for SoCs that feature both extreme energy efficiency and high performance. For example, ARM big.LITTLE processing combines Cortex-A15 MPCore™ and Cortex-A7 MPCore processors with ARM CoreLink CCI-400 cache coherent interconnect to allow software to be migrated seamlessly to the optimum processor for each task. This paradigm enables up to 70 percent processor energy savings on common workloads.

"In today's increasingly competitive market environment, optimized solutions from two industry leaders can make a big difference for our partners designing ARM technology-based SoCs by accelerating the design process and driving gains in power and performance," said Simon Segars, executive vice president and general manager, Processor and Physical IP Divisions at ARM. "By providing Synopsys with wider access to industry-leading ARM IP, we are enabling mutual customers to benefit from streamlined design and verification, ultimately, decreasing time to market."

Combining ARM and Synopsys expertise, the optimized implementation flows will use Synopsys Galaxy tools and methodologies as well as ARM Artisan physical IP and POP solutions to better enable designers to produce Cortex-A9, Cortex-A15 and Cortex-A7 processor-based designs faster and with improved performance and power results. This solution is complemented by Synopsys' Virtualizer™ Design Kit (VDK) for ARM big.LITTLE processing, as well as by Synopsys' Discovery Verification IP and Protocol Analyzer for the AMBA 4 ACE specification.

In addition to using the ARM processor-optimized methodologies with Synopsys' Galaxy tools, designers can also use Synopsys' Lynx Design System for additional productivity and predictability through a tapeout-validated, SoC-level implementation flow. Synopsys provides optimized processor implementation training and design assistance to help customers achieve their target performance and power in their chosen semiconductor process technology. Synopsys will also optimize the Discovery Verification Platform for ARM IP. Discovery VIP and Protocol Analyzer integrate additional tests, system monitor checks and other features to accelerate verification of AMBA 4 ACE interconnect-based designs.
"Synopsys tools are used in a significant portion of leading-edge implementations of ARM processor-based SoCs, and our customers are pushing for extreme performance and power efficiency," said Deirdre Hanford, senior vice president, global technical services at Synopsys. "This expanded collaboration enables Synopsys and ARM to deliver the optimized solutions that SoC designers need to meet the power and performance requirements for their ARM-powered designs."

About ARM

ARM designs the technology that is at the heart of advanced digital products, from wireless, networking and consumer entertainment solutions to imaging, automotive, security and storage devices. ARM's comprehensive product offering includes RISC microprocessors, graphics processors, video engines, enabling software, cell libraries, embedded memories, high-speed connectivity products, peripherals and development tools. Combined with comprehensive design services, training, support and maintenance, and the company's broad Partner community, they provide a total system solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading electronics companies. Find out more about ARM by following these links:

• ARM website: http://www.arm.com/
• ARM Connected Community: http://www.arm.com/community/
• ARM Blogs: http://blogs.arm.com/
• ARMFlix on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ARMflix
• ARM on Twitter:
  • http://twitter.com/ARMMobile
  • http://twitter.com/ARMCommunity
  • http://twitter.com/ARMEmbedded
  • http://twitter.com/ARMSoC
  • http://twitter.com/KeilTools
  • http://twitter.com/ARMMultimedia

About Synopsys

Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is a world leader in electronic design automation (EDA), supplying the global electronics market with the software, intellectual property (IP) and services used in semiconductor design, verification and manufacturing. Synopsys' comprehensive, integrated portfolio of implementation, verification, IP, manufacturing and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) solutions helps address the key challenges designers and manufacturers face today, such as power and yield management, system-to-silicon verification and time-to-results. These technology-leading solutions help give Synopsys customers a competitive edge in bringing the best products to market quickly while reducing costs and schedule risk. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has approximately 70 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com/.

ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited. Synopsys is a registered trademark of Synopsys, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this release are the intellectual property of their respective owners.

PRESS RELEASE

Alstom and Cisco to Develop Secure Digital Substation Automation Solution

CIGRE 2012, Paris, France – August 28, 2012 – Alstom Grid and Cisco today announced the signing of a commercial and technology agreement to develop the next generation of digital substation solutions for electrical grids. This collaboration utilizes Alstom's smart grid expertise in digital substation solutions with Cisco's leadership in connected grid solutions and Internet Protocol (IP) communication technologies; together providing a solution that further supports the industry's grid modernization efforts. 

The solution, which integrates Cisco's ruggedized substation-grade Connected Grid™ routers and switches with communications and cyber-security functions along with Alstom's cutting edge DS Agile™ control system for substation automation, will create a new level of IP-based communication performance for integrated cyber security, distributed monitoring and controls.  This will provide key energy and information transfer hubs within modern grid architectures.

The benefits for electric utilities and substation operators include:

1. Enhanced security in smart grid-enabled digital substations: The Alstom-Cisco solution can enable utility operators to provide comprehensive protection to address security policies, manage user access to critical resources, and the ability to detect and mitigate possible cyber attacks across the entire grid infrastructure. The digital substation architecture incorporates comprehensive security controls based on NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) recommendations.

2. Enhanced operational efficiency through optimized automation architecture: This layered architectural approach can provide optimal deployment for substation automation and the design phase of technology implementation. It also allows easy design and integration of communication infrastructure with the critical protection and control, asset monitoring and grid management equipment. The intelligence within the validated digital substation schemes can allow close monitoring of the load capacity of plant equipment and permits operation of grid equipment closer to their limits. Additionally, the substation network supports existing and new communication standards such as IEC 61850, as well as the prioritization of control data traffic over non-operations data traffic.

3. Reduced operations and maintenance costs: The digital substation solution, based on Cisco's multi-service network and Alstom's next generation IEDs, will provide utilities the flexibility to deploy multiple applications over a common network infrastructure. The solution uses a layered architecture approach, enabling it to support both wired and wireless communications over the same converged network. The solution allows asset managers to implement preventive maintenance programs resulting in longer asset life and lower maintenance costs.   The solution also provides intelligent systems for substation operators to monitor and control all substation assets for optimizing operations costs.

Patrick Plas, Senior Vice-President Grid Power and Automation, Alstom Grid said, "this collaboration between Alstom and Cisco brings our digital substation offering to yet another level of performance and reliability for our customers. We very much look forward to implementing its next steps and move towards the commercial roll-out of the solutions."

"Cisco has always recognized the need to develop sustainable agreements in the effort to achieve a smarter grid. Cisco's collaboration with Alstom makes available two sets of complementary technologies that will help our customers to secure their operations, achieve cost savings and extract greater value from existing technology infrastructure. We look forward to our continued collaboration with Alstom in developing the most effective substation solutions for the industry," declared Lionel Chocron, Vice-President and General Manager, Connected Energy Networks, Cisco.

About Alstom

Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 92,000 people in around 100 countries. It had sales of €20 billion and booked close to €22 billion in orders in 2011/12.

Alstom Grid has over 100 years of expertise in electrical grids. Whether for utilities or electro-intensive industries or facilitating the trading of energy, Alstom Grid brings power to its customers' projects. Alstom Grid ranks among the top 3 in electrical transmission sector with an annual sales turnover of more than €4 billion. It has 20,000 employees and over 90 manufacturing and engineering sites worldwide. At the heart of the development of Smart Grid, Alstom Grid offers products, services and integrated energy management solutions across the full energy value chain—from power generation, through transmission and distribution grids and to the large end user.

Websites www.alstom.com, www.alstom.com/grid

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking, is helping the energy industry modernize the electrical grid from generation to distribution to consumption - with highly secure, reliable and scalable communications solutions. The Cisco Connected Grid solutions include: Transmission and Substation, Field Area Network, Grid Security, Data Center and Grid Operations. To learn more, please visit www.cisco.com/go/utilities.

 # # #

Cisco and VMware Expand Their Strategic Partnership to Deliver Next Generation Cloud Infrastructures

VMware News Releases

Cisco and VMware Expand Their Strategic Partnership to Deliver Next Generation Cloud Infrastructures

Integrated solutions to offer unprecedented scale, security and automation across physical and virtual cloud infrastructures

SAN FRANCISCO – VMworld® – August 27, 2012 – Today Cisco and VMware announced they plan to expand their strategic partnership to include integrated products and solutions aimed at delivering the software defined datacenter. This partnership expansion will be highlighted by an investment in dedicated engineering teams collaborating on deeper integrations across the VMware cloud infrastructure and management stacks and Cisco’s Data Center Networking and Fabric Computing platforms. The companies’ investment in joint dedicated engineering teams will represent a new level of collaboration which will enable the software defined datacenter through unprecedented coupling of virtual and physical infrastructure.
 
Highlights:

• Cisco and VMware will make significant joint engineering investments to develop technology integration initiatives, which will launch a new set of solutions designed to provide customers unprecedented levels of agile compute and network services, workload and workspace mobility,  end-to-end visibility, and ease of troubleshooting across their physical and virtual infrastructures.
• To support customer demand and choice, VMware will integrate the Cisco Nexus 1000V SeriesSwitches with the new VMware vCloud® Suite 5.1, also announced today, and other VMware products.
• Cisco and VMware will develop Cisco Unified Computing System(UCS)-based cloud solutions, which will bundle Cisco virtual networking, virtual services and management such as the Nexus 1000V virtual switch, CSR
• 1000V cloud router, ASA 1000V cloud firewall, virtual WAAS for WAN optimization, and Intelligent Automation for Cloud with VMware vSphere® 5.1, VMware vCloud Suite 5.1 and complementary management offerings.
• Furthering the commitment to mutual customers, Cisco will resell VMware vCloud Suite 5.1, which will feature enhanced interoperability with Cisco Nexus 1000V.
• As part of the companies’ joint vision for the transformation of the workspace in the post-PC era, VMware and Cisco are expanding their joint solutions with Cisco VXI and VMware View to introduce new integrated solutions for SMB and ROBO customers featuring Cisco e-Series UCS servers and VMware View®. 
• Cisco and VMware will also provide Cisco Validated Designs and reference architectures to simplify and accelerate customer implementation of these joint solutions.
• Cisco and VMware joint solutions will be made available for VCE, as well as ecosystem partners,  to help drive customer adoption of its industry-leading converged infrastructure platforms. Cisco and VMware remain strongly committed, along with EMC, to the VCE partnership.

This expanded partnership will leverage Cisco’s history of innovative leadership in networking and systems with VMware’s industry leadership in software-based virtualization and cloud infrastructure.  To date, the partnership has delivered groundbreaking products and solutions including:

• Nexus 1000V – In 2009, VMware and Cisco delivered a distributed virtual switch from Cisco enabling network administrators to simplify network management between their physical and virtual environments. Since its inception, more than 6,000 customers have licensed this joint solution. \
• Cisco UCS – In 2009, Cisco introduced the Unified Computing System (UCS), a new x86 platform that radically simplified the management of compute, storage access, networking and virtualization and is tightly integrated with the VMware vSphere platform, enabling customers to reduce their CAPEX and OPEX as they expand their virtual and cloud infrastructures.
• Converged Infrastructure – Cisco and EMC, together with VMware and with investments from Intel, established the VCE coalition in 2009, spearheading the movement toward converged infrastructure. Customers globally have recognized the value of Vblock™ Infrastructure Platforms in accelerating the migration of enterprise workloads to private and public clouds.   
• Cisco VXI and VMware View – In 2012, Cisco and VMware cooperated to deliver a unified collaboration solution leveraging VMware cloud infrastructure, VMware View and Cisco UCS, Cisco Wide Area Application Services and Unified Communications platforms to enable customers to migrate to a more open, mobile and immersive workspace environment in the post-PC era.

Supporting Quotes:

Rob Lloyd, Executive Vice President, Cisco
“Cisco and VMware have delivered incredible value to customers seeking to accelerate the deployment of private and public clouds. The next-generation datacenter will enable customers to capture the value of VMware cloud infrastructure and management stacks along with the next wave of Cisco innovations in hardware, ASICs, systems and network programmability to deliver unprecedented scalability, security, diagnostics and policy management. As the leader in networking, Cisco looks forward to continuing to lead the industry in partnership with VMware.”

Pat Gelsinger, Incoming Chief Executive Officer, VMware
“The software-defined datacenter will deliver the next leap in software-based datacenter automation across server, storage and networking, but it requires equal hardware and systems-based innovation. We are very excited to further our partnership with Cisco, the industry-leading innovator in networking, as we believe it will bring significant value to our joint customers through the integration of the VMware cloud infrastructure platform with Cisco’s intelligent network fabric.”

Related Links

• Learn more about the Cisco Nexus 1000V Series Switches
• Learn more about Cisco Unified Computing System
• Learn more about the VMware vCloud Suite

Follow Us Onlin

• Cisco and VMware Strategic Alliance page
• Twitter: @Cisco Systems, @VMware

About Cisco
Cisco, (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go tohttp://newsroom.cisco.com.

About VMware
VMware (NYSE: VMW) is the leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure solutions that enable businesses to thrive in the Cloud Era. Customers rely on VMware to help them transform the way they build, deliver and consume Information Technology resources in a manner that is evolutionary and based on their specific needs. With 2011 revenues of $3.77 billion, VMware has more than 400,000 customers and 55,000 partners.  The company is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the world and can be found online at www.vmware.com.

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Synopsys Announces Results of Robert S. Hilbert Memorial Optical Design Competition

News release:

Synopsys Announces Results of Robert S. Hilbert Memorial Optical Design Competition

Annual Competition Recognizes Student Achievements in Optical Design

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Synopsys, Inc., a world leader in software and IP for semiconductor design, verification and manufacturing, announced today that University of Rochester students Anthony Visconti and Brett Sternfield and University of Alabama in Huntsville student Josh Walters are the winners of the 2012 Robert S. Hilbert Memorial Optical Design Competition. The competition was established in 2000 by Optical Research Associates (ORA^®), now the Optical Solutions Group at Synopsys, and was named in honor of ORA's former president and chief executive officer Robert S. Hilbert. The annual competition is open to students in North America working toward a bachelor's, master's, or Ph.D. degree who utilize Synopsys' CODE V^® or LightTools^® software to perform optical design and engineering research. Awards are granted to students who have submitted papers that demonstrate optical design excellence.
Anthony Visconti of the University of Rochester was recognized for his work on infrared optical imaging using CODE V in his paper titled, "Optical Passive Athermalization Using Schott Chalcogenide Glasses." Applications of Visconti's project include thermal imaging for night vision systems, as well as remote sensing for aerial photography and satellite data collection. Brett Sternfield, also of the University of Rochester, was recognized for his work on a machine vision imaging system using CODE V in his paper titled, "190 Degree FFOV Fisheye for Autonomous Robots." Sternfield presents a method to improve a robot's ability to navigate a new environment and capture images, which can be useful for a wide range of tasks, including search and rescue missions, intelligence gathering and even fast food delivery.
Josh Walters of the University of Alabama in Huntsville was recognized for his project using CODE V titled, "Non-Sequential Modeling of Multi-Aperture Lenslet Array Spectropolarimetic Imager." The goal of Walters' design is to reduce crosstalk in an imaging system that uses an array of lenslets, so that the resulting image of each channel is clearly distinguished. This work will aid those researching the benefits of non-traditional imaging systems, similar to the compound eye found in insects.
"We believe it is important to encourage the next generation of optical engineers by recognizing and showcasing their talents in our annual student design competition," said George Bayz, vice president and general manager of the Optical Solutions Group at Synopsys. "The entries we received reflect strong design concepts that were well executed and presented and show promise for optical systems across a broad range of applications."
The three projects will be on display at SPIE Optics + Photonics (August 12-16, 2012, San Diego, Calif.) in Synopsys' booth 417.
About the Robert S. Hilbert Memorial Optical Design Competition
The annual Robert S. Hilbert Memorial Optical Design Competition recognizes excellence in optical design projects completed by students. The competition honors the memory of Robert Hilbert (1941-2008), former president and chief executive officer of Optical Research Associates, who was deeply committed throughout his career to fostering technical innovation in optics and supporting optics education. The competition is open to students enrolled in a post-secondary degree program in North America, working toward a bachelor's, master's or Ph.D. degree. To participate, students can enter an optical design class assignment or thesis work that uses CODE V or LightTools software. Awards totaling $4,000 are granted each year. For more information, visitwww.opticalres.com/student.
About Synopsys' Optical Solutions Group
Synopsys' Optical Solutions Group, formerly Optical Research Associates, is one of the world's leading developers of optical design and analysis tools, with CODE V imaging design software, LightTools illumination design software and RSoft products for photonic and optical network design. The group also provides optical systems design services, with more than 4,800 completed projects in imaging, illumination and optical systems engineering.
About Synopsys
Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is a world leader in electronic design automation (EDA), supplying the global electronics market with the software, intellectual property (IP) and services used in semiconductor design, verification and manufacturing. Synopsys' comprehensive, integrated portfolio of implementation, verification, IP, manufacturing and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) solutions helps address the key challenges designers and manufacturers face today, such as power and yield management, system-to-silicon verification and time-to-results. These technology-leading solutions help give Synopsys customers a competitive edge in bringing the best products to market quickly while reducing costs and schedule risk. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has approximately 70 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com.

Synopsys Launches Industry's First Technical Community Site Dedicated to Users of Verification IP

Press release:

Synopsys Launches Industry's First Technical Community Site Dedicated to Users of Verification IP

VIP-Central.org Serves as an Online Resource Connecting Protocol and Verification IP Experts to SoC Verification Engineers

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS), a world leader in software and IP used in the design, verification and manufacture of electronic components and systems, today announced the launch of VIP-Central.org, the first industry-wide, technical community site focused on system-on-chip (SoC) verification engineers and users of verification IP (VIP). The site provides a centralized online resource of relevant forums and blogs focused on verification of industry-standard protocols. VIP-Central.org is the go-to source for the latest technical information and discussions on the use of verification IP and advanced verification methodologies to verify protocol-based IP as well as IP integration, SoC sub-systems and full SoCs. VIP-Central.org aggregates information from industry experts across the verification community, providing best practices and ideas for better verification performance, protocol debug, methodology, verification planning, coverage management and ease-of-use.
"As each new SoC adds the next generations of different IP blocks, IP subsystems and frequent releases of new protocols, SoC companies are required to quickly ramp their verification teams to embrace these changes," said Rich Wawrzyniak, senior market analyst for ASIC and SoC at Semico Research. "The launch of VIP-Central.org as a technical resource for protocol-based verification will improve ramp times, act as a repository of knowledge and expertise for designers, and also enable the verification IP experts in the industry to share their best practices with the verification community."
With the increasing number of complex protocols used in SoCs, verification engineers face a tough challenge to quickly acquire the protocol expertise needed to verify a SoC as well as all of its on-chip fabrics and off-chip interfaces. The challenge is made tougher by the frequent release of new and more sophisticated generations of protocols to improve performance, power and quality of service. Verification engineers must complete many tasks requiring both protocol and methodology expertise including developing environments, integrating VIP, using and modifying test sequences, debugging complex protocol results and analyzing coverage data. VIP-Central.org is designed to help engineers quickly understand the intricacies and foibles of each protocol and how to effectively utilize industry-available verification IP to verify these protocols while employing methodologies such as UVM, OVM and VMM.
"VIP-Central.org represents an important milestone for the VIP user community," said Janick Bergeron, verification fellow at Synopsys. "As protocols become more intricate and SoC verification complexity continues to grow, VIP-Central.org offers a community-driven portal to share the learning from our successful customer VIP engagements, and enable exchange of ideas with other VIP experts, users and the entire SoC verification community."
About VIP-Central.org
VIP-Central.org is an industry-wide community site for system-on-chip (SoC) verification engineers and users of verification IP. It provides a centralized online resource of relevant forums and blogs focusing on verification of today's industry-standard protocols. Visit VIP-Central.org online at http://www.vip-central.org/.
About Synopsys
Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) is a world leader in electronic design automation (EDA), supplying the global electronics market with the software, intellectual property (IP) and services used in semiconductor design, verification and manufacturing. Synopsys' comprehensive, integrated portfolio of implementation, verification, IP, manufacturing and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) solutions helps address the key challenges designers and manufacturers face today, such as power and yield management, system-to-silicon verification and time-to-results. These technology-leading solutions help give Synopsys customers a competitive edge in bringing the best products to market quickly while reducing costs and schedule risk. Synopsys is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has approximately 70 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys online at http://www.synopsys.com/.

Press release:

BMC Software Acquires VaraLogix to Fuel Fast Application Deployment

BMC extends its leadership in DevOps via Enhanced Application Release Automation

HOUSTON, August 8, 2012 – BMC Software (NASDAQ: BMC) today announced it has acquired VaraLogix, a proven application release automation provider. With this acquisition, BMC is expanding its DevOps portfolio to make it easier for IT to more quickly and efficiently deliver cutting-edge applications with fewer outages, lower risk and higher return on investment.

The volume of software applications and updates continues to grow exponentially, promising new capabilities that can put a company ahead of its competition. However, deploying applications continues to present major challenges to companies of all sizes. The implications are enormous, because failed deployments can wreak havoc in terms of cost and efficiency. 

Traditionally, application deployments have been plagued with complex technical issues that result in deployment errors and failures. Often times, advanced application specialists are required throughout the deployment process, taking them away from their priority duty of building new, differentiated applications. The combination of BMC and VaraLogix technologies provides an abstraction layer that allows IT teams to deploy applications regardless of programming experience.

“We intend to implement VaraLogix Q to create a flexible and fast environment, allowing us to release changes to our production environments on a timely, efficient basis,” said James Obukhovsky, IT director, Infrastructure and Operations for Wet Seal, Inc. “We will seek to use this technology to impact our customer experience and sales in a positive manner.”

VaraLogix is the only solution specifically built to automate business-critical, multi-tier application deployment and configuration management. It will be integrated into the new BMC Release Lifecycle Management offering that will deliver:

·         Improvements in process management for continuous integration and delivery

·         Intelligent packaging for multi-technology, multi-tier applications

·         Open deployment management leveraging existing automation agents

·         Basic environment management for correct application configurations

“BMC has always had an innovative, intelligent approach to DevOps. By making visible what was previously invisible in the complex application release process, our technology gives customers an unprecedented ability to define, implement, monitor, assess and continually improve the application release process in an agile way,” said BMC’s John J. Balena, general manager, DevOps Solutions. “With today’s announcement, we are advancing our application automation suite and addressing an acute industry need for application release automation that works at the speed of today’s business.”

For more information about BMC and VaraLogix, please visit:

·         BMC Application Performance Management

·         Follow BMC on Twitter

Business Runs on IT. IT Runs on BMC Software.

Business runs better when IT runs at its best. That's why more than 20,000 IT organizations – from the Global 100 to the smallest businesses – in over 120 countries rely on BMC Software (NASDAQ: BMC) to manage their business services and applications across distributed, mainframe, virtual and cloud environments. With the leading Business Service Management platform, Cloud Management, and the industry’s broadest choice of IT management solutions, BMC helps customers cut costs, reduce risk and achieve business objectives. For the four fiscal quarters ended June 30, 2012, BMC revenue was approximately $2.2 billion.

CA Technologies Named a Value Leader in Workload Automation by EMA Research

Press Releases

CA Technologies Named a Value Leader in Workload Automation by EMA Research

Company Cited for Platform, Application and Cloud Support, and Agile IT-as-a-Service Vision

ISLANDIA, N.Y., August 6, 2012 - CA Technologies (NASDAQ: CA) today announced it has been named a "Value Leader” in Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) Radar™ for Workload Automation (WLA): Q2 2012.* CA Technologies Workload Automation was cited specifically by the leading IT and data management research and consulting firm for its ability to centrally manage a large variety of enterprise workflows and its integration with all major applications, databases and development frameworks.

The report also praised CA Technologies clear understanding of the agile IT-as-a-Service model with its integration of workload automation with process automation and service management.

“Serving over 2,500 global customers, CA Workload Automation is one of the premier products in this space,” said Torsten Volk, senior analyst at EMA Research. “CA Technologies provides a robust, versatile, scalable and high performance solution which convincingly ties workloads with corresponding business requirements. It provides health and performance information to the data center and affected line of business stakeholders, which are considered the final frontier of workload automation.”

The report also highlighted CA Technologies support from the cloud to heterogeneous environments in that, “CA Workload Automation is able to dynamically place workloads across physical, virtual, and cloud - public or private - environments based on cost and SLA considerations.”

 “Our customers need a comprehensive WLA solution that allows them to process mission-critical workloads seamlessly, reliably and cost-effectively across mainframe, distributed and cloud environments,” said Dayton Semerjian, general manager, Mainframe, CA Technologies. “We are continuing to invest in this area to help them achieve their goals by leveraging dynamic workload provisioning, workload service management, self-service and process automation to make them more agile and efficient in managing critical workloads.”

The Radar for Workload Automation report was based on a comprehensive survey with over 600 data points. All survey questions were founded on customer feedback and vendor responses, and thoroughly verified by a series of product demonstrations and end customer interviews.

*Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) “Radar™ for Workload Automation (WLA): Q2 2012,” by Torsten Volk, June 2012.

About CA Technologies

CA Technologies (NASDAQ: CA) provides IT management solutions that help customers manage and secure complex IT environments to support agile business services. Organizations leverage CA Technologies software and SaaS solutions to accelerate innovation, transform infrastructure and secure data and identities, from the data center to the cloud. Learn more about CA Technologies at www.ca.com.

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Avnet, Inc. Announces Agreement to Acquire Ascendant Technology

March 26, 2012 - Avnet, Inc. Announces Agreement to Acquire Ascendant Technology

Significantly Expands Professional Services Capabilities and Resources

PHOENIX -- Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT) announced today that it has agreed to acquire Ascendant Technology LLC, a leading international IT consulting firm with operating units in North America, Europe, Brazil and India. 

Ascendant Technology specializes in developing end-to-end IBM solutions that help organizations optimize their information technology investment and achieve business results. As a trusted advisor in the definition and design of strategic software applications, Ascendant has helped businesses large and small develop and deploy e-Commerce, enterprise portal and collaboration, web content management, infrastructure automation and cloud computing solutions. The company generated revenue of approximately US$90 million in the 2011 calendar year.

"Avnet's acquisition of Ascendant Technology is expected to accelerate our global solutions distribution model," said Phil Gallagher, global president, Avnet Technology Solutions. "It supports our strategic focus on enhancing our services and software capabilities to drive growth for our suppliers and value-added resellers. Because of Ascendant's international footprint, Avnet's ability to identify new services and solution business opportunities for our partners will greatly expand."

Founded in 2003, Ascendant Technology has more than 500 business and technical professionals that help partners and clients design and deliver IT solutions that achieve business results in less time, with reduced risk and expense. By utilizing Ascendant's proprietary IDEA™ (Insight Driven Engineering Approach) Solutions Framework, organizations can bridge the gap between business objectives and technical execution to deliver improved performance and exceptional web experiences.

Jeff Bawol, president, Avnet Technology Solutions, Americas, adds, "Ascendant Technology's expertise in services delivery, complemented by their software offerings, aligns with Avnet's strategy to provide our business partners with the support they need to succeed in high growth vertical markets. Avnet partners primarily focused on providing infrastructure solutions will now be able to leverage their distributor relationship to expand the overall business value they can offer to their customers. Our unique SolutionsPath® value proposition, which prepares and enables our business partners to deliver complete hardware, software and service solutions to their customers using a vertical market focus, will be further supported by Ascendant's expertise in software application integration and services support."

This acquisition, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close in the next 45 days and will be integrated into the operations of Avnet Technology Solutions.

Quest Software Delivers End-to-End Business Management Platform to SMB Managed Service Providers

Quest Software Delivers End-to-End Business Management Platform to SMB Managed Service Providers

PacketTrap MSP 6.2 Features Integration with Standalone Professional Service Automation System; VoIP Monitoring Added

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., March 22, 2012 – Quest Software  (Nasdaq: QSFT) today announced the availability of PacketTrap^® MSP 6.2, the latest version of its remote monitoring and management (RMM) platform designed for SMB managed service providers (MSPs). Delivering comprehensive integration of RMM functionality with professional service automation (PSA) technology, PacketTrap MSP 6.2 is an industry leading end-to-end business management platform. MSPs can now access a single console to manage – and simplify – business processes including job scheduling, technician management, CRM, service requests and billing and invoicing.

For small- to mid-sized MSPs and IT solutions providers, PacketTrap MSP delivers affordable enterprise-class remote server, application and network management for MSPs to use across customer environments. The integration between PacketTrap MSP 6.2 and PacketTrap PSA, the company’sprofessional service automation solution, enables users to:

·         Better track tickets, improving customer service and reducing status calls;

·         More accurately account for technicians billable hours to increase revenue; and,

·         Decrease the billing cycle by more quickly and accurately invoicing for completed work.

“Among the many enhancements to PacketTrap MSP, integration with our standalone PSA solution was a strategic development investment as it meets MSPs demand for technology that can be used to more easily complete many common business tasks,” said Matt Bolton, vice president of product management, Network Management Division, Quest Software. “Often we find that our target customers are not in the business of running businesses. By utilizing an intuitive platform that is far less cumbersome then other solutions on the market, yet offers the same functionality, MSPs can focus on providing new services to their own customers and marketing to new prospects.”

Quest Software launched PacketTrap PSA earlier this month following the company’s acquisition of BlueFolder, Inc., a leading provider of field and professional service management solutions. Quest Software enhanced BlueFolder’s existing PSA technology, providing MSPs with a solution to dramatically increase time savings and profitability by simplifying many business management processes.

In addition to integrating with PacketTrap PSA, PacketTrap MSP 6.2 features other enhancements such as monitoring support for Cisco wireless controllers, which are increasingly used to manage all wireless access points, and new monitoring templates for pre-defined monitoring and alerting of common applications.

Unique among RMM solutions, PacketTrap MSP 6.2 now enables MSPs to monitor customers’ Avaya VoIP infrastructure, which includes Avaya Aura Communications Manager, Avaya DP Office, PBX systems, IP Phones, Gateways, switches, routers and end-to-end network, physical and virtual IT infrastructure. Using PacketTrap MSP 6.2, MSPs can monitor customers’ VoIP systems and network infrastructure using the same trusted, user-friendly platform in order to make customers’ VoIP implementations more successful.

Pricing and Availability

Both PacketTrap MSP and PacketTrap PSA are now available as standalone solutions. MSPs and IT solution providers that purchase both PacketTrap MSP and PacketTrap PSA will have full integration between the solutions. PacketTrap MSP also integrates with other PSA solutions through technology partnerships.

For more information and a free fully featured trial of PacketTrap MSP 6.2, visit http://www.packettrap.com/packettrap-psa-free-trial/.

News Release from BMC Software - Hospital Increases Efficiencies

BMC Software Enables Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital to Increase Operational Efficiencies by 50 percent

The BMC Control-M Workload Automation solution enables Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital to manage big data critical to patient security and hospital processes from a single point of control

TAIPEI, Taiwan, March 13, 2012 – Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital (VGHKS), the first and only public medical center in South Taiwan, is consolidating the management of its scheduled processing on all applications and platforms across the entire hospital with the BMC Control-M Workload Automation solution. This solution from BMC Software (NASDAQ: BMC, the recognized leader in Business Service Management (BSM), has resulted in a 50 percent improvement in operational and manpower efficiencies.

 

BMC is successfully expanding its footprint in the medical service sector in Taiwan, and its relationship with VGHKS exemplifieshow medical centers and hospitals are deriving benefits from BMC solutions. These solutions help ensure efficient and safe execution of thousands of complex scheduled jobs every day as well as management of huge amounts of data connected by complex relationships in the ecosystem of medical services environments.

 

"After a rigorous evaluation process, we selected BMC Control-M as our new enterprise-level scheduling solution," said Shou Cheng Xiong, leader of Information Department at VGHKS. “By integrating and automating business processes and managing them from a single point of control, the platform provides a dynamic workload management solution that works across different systems and applications for the entire hospital now.”

 

Established in 1990, VGHKS has won public praise and recognition over the past two decades. However, its continuous growth, and the fact that it is the only public hospital in Southern Taiwan has also given rise to new challenges to the hospital’s IT system. Its IT team has had to manage an immensity of data and complexity of workflow processes that need access to statistics about the hospital, patients, daily revenues from all departments, changes in surgery priorities and duty shifts for more than 580 doctors and over 1,700 nurses and staff, and even specific details on particular diseases.

 

Facing increasing pressure to deliver faster and error-free IT performance, the VGHKS IT team’s most crucial problem was that its existing management system was unable to integrate with the mainframe host. This was because 80 to 90 percent of the hospital’s data is stored on the mainframe, while the applications run on the hospital’s open systems*. It could not seamlessly operate with those open systems on which all the applications were running. To solve the challenge, VGHKS sought a new automated solution from BMC, which minimized risk, eliminated delays between jobs, and integrated with the hospital’s existing IT infrastructure.

 

The BMC Control-M Workload Automation solution is now enabling the mainframe host of VGHKS to communicate with each of its open systems perfectly, integrating the management of critical scheduling processes from a single point of control, as well as eliminating errors in a simplified and automated manner. This in turn results in significant time saving by shortening the scheduled workload processing time by up to 50 percent.

 

Moreover, the BMC Control-M Workload Automation solution allows users to integrate their service level agreement (SLA) benchmarks to scheduled workloads in a single window from both business and technological perspectives. With the solution’s centralized GUI, the easy-to-use and intuitive interface does not require knowledge on mainframe or Time Sharing Option (TSO) mastery. As a result, manpower efficiency has improved by 50 percent and training time and costs related to IT staff have been reduced.

 

“In the medical industry, a huge amount of patient data and diagnostic statistics are transmitted every single day. This information is needed by processes that must be carried out at any time, making a robust and easy-to-manage IT infrastructure extraordinarily important,” said John Cheng, regional director of Mainframe Service Management, BMC Greater China. “BMC Control-M secures and executes data across mainframe and distributed environments, automates job scheduling and ensures security and stability while lowering cost. For VGHKS the benefits are clear: greater efficiency and productivity, reduced risk and a better quality experience for staff and patients alike.”

 

The implementation of the BMC Control-M Workload Automation solution only took six months to go live across the entire enterprise of VGHKS and it is performing flawlessly in a hybrid environment now. By unifying system operations and management across different systems and applications, the solution has helped VGHKS see the potential of further optimizing its IT system in the future, allowing IT to dynamically manage workloads to match ever-changing business priorities. This ensures that business needs are met – regardless of how complex or unpredictable they may be.

 

Read the full case study here.