NEBS Level 3Compliant versus Certified

27May08

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.

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NEBS is a widely understood set of criteria to ensure specific levels of operability within specific telecommunication applications

What Is The Basic NEBS Criteria?

NEBS criteria are designed to accomplish the following:Ensure equipment compatibility with the telephone industry’s electrical environmentSimplify equipment planning and installationProtect telecommunication equipment from service outages caused by incompatible equipmentPrevent interference to licensed radio transmitters and other close proximity telecommunication equipmentMinimize the risk of fires to telecommunication equipmentEnsure equipment operation under a range of temperature, humidity, vibration, and airborne contamination present in telecommunication locationsEnsure equipment and service survivability in the event of earthquakeProtect from personnel injury

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NEBS is a major test of quality extremely valuable for any organization supplying or purchasing network equipment

What Does It Take to Satisfy NEBS?TimeInitial product design has to include NEBS requirementsMultiple testing points during development to ensure adherenceAddition time in schedule to addressing problems and questions

CostUnits 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

ExperienceKnowledgeable personnel (both in development & test)NEBS consultants

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In order to Satisfy the NEBS criteria, products have to be designed and carefully planned for, it cannot be added in later.

Compliant Versus Certified, Does it Matter?

Compliant Product “Could” Mean:The manufacturer of the product has performed specified NEBS level test criteria internallyTest information and reports may not be available for reviewMay have not designed the product initially to satisfy NEBSMay have “non-confirm” results for certain criteriaDid 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 3Invested 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

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A NEBS certified product that has passed a suite of tests performed by a Telcordia approved independent, third-party = Creditability

The Tested by Telcordia logo identifies products that have undergone a thorough testing and analysis program conducted by Telcordia Technologies.

Why is the 5730 Certified & 2730 Not?

Business DecisionBoth 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

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2000 Series are positioned as “Compliant” and 5000 Series is “Certified” NEBS Level 3