Nokia And Juniper Networks Collaborate on SDN + NFV

Nokia and Juniper Networks announced an expanded partnership to deliver virtualized network platforms for mobile operators.  The deal covers Nokia's Liquid Core solution, including network function virtualization (NFV) and telco cloud management and orchestration, and Juniper's MetaFabric data center architecture, including Contrail -- Juniper's network virtualization and cloud network automation solution based on software-defined networking (SDN).

The companies said their bundled solution will provide operators with an open ecosystem telco cloud solution, based on Open

Stack, offering automated application deployment, software defined application connectivity and network management. The solution would also comply with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute Network Functions Virtualization (ETSI NFV) end-to-end reference architecture.

Key elements include:

• Nokia will provide its Liquid Core application suites with the existing multi-platform software, which reutilizes all the investments previously done in localized/customized software functionalities. Liquid Core is implemented as virtualized network functions (e.g., virtualized Mobile Management Entity (MME), virtualized IMS, virtualized Home Subscriber Server (HSS)). Liquid Core also includes Nokia's cloud-ready NetAct network management solution and Cloud Application Manager, which brings the required orchestration functions to build end-to-end services like voice over LTE (VoLTE) or evolved packet core (EPC) in the cloud.
  
• The Juniper Networks MetaFabric architecture and Contrail SDN/NFV controller will enable operators to create a High-IQ mobile edge that is secure, automated and scalable to support the rapid creation of new services based on actionable intelligence. MetaFabric together with Contrail will enable an open and cost effective cloud infrastructure solution that readily integrates with Juniper's portfolio of high-performance networking platforms.
  
• In addition to the technology components, Nokia is also providing its end-to-end services to help operators implement their own telco clouds and migrate existing telco services to cloud-based networks. This broad portfolio of services, some of which will tap into Juniper's expertise, will enable operators to reduce time to value and address the complete lifecycle from assessment, design, implementation and operational support. 

"Nokia is a pioneer in telco cloud mobile networking solutions, establishing an unmatched track record in telco cloud innovation," said Rajeev Suri, president and CEO of Nokia. "By collaborating with Juniper, we are taking the next step together, enabling operators to take full advantage of the cloud with a clear path towards the robustness and scale of interconnected datacenters."

"Rapid adoption of LTE and the 4G mobile core opens up a wealth of opportunities for new service creation for our customers," said Shaygan Kheradpir, CEO of Juniper Networks. "We believe operators need a High-IQ mobile edge that connects their infrastructure to the telco cloud and leverages network and service virtualization throughout. Nokia and Juniper are focused on providing open networking solutions that matter most to mobile operators to enable carriers to become Cloud Builders in order to speed service delivery and optimize their cloud networks."

http://www.nsn.com

http://www.juniper.net

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Brocade and Ciena Team on Orchestration

Brocade and Ciena are demonstrating a cloud orchestration solution that provides dynamic resource provisioning between data centers.

The jointly-developed solution, which is being shown at this week's EMC World conference in Las Vegas, leverages the Brocade Application Resource Broker (ARB) to automate resources between data centers and Ciena's V-WAN application for dynamic network transport. It also enables customers to dynamically change network topology and computing resources in a matter of seconds, in any location.

Ciena and Brocade will also show how seamless integration of virtual machine (VM) creation with network services helps ensure adherence to service level agreements (SLAs). In addition, the solution allows separate polices of each application to be maintained allowing fine-grained tuning of thresholds and actions, and the ability to expand or contract resources to align with changing conditions, under policy and with security.

"The demands placed on the network today are escalating at an astounding rate that requires organizations of all types to have a more agile and automated infrastructure. Brocade and Ciena have developed a joint, multilayer solution that leverages the Brocade Application Resource Broker to dynamically automate resources between data centers in seconds, increasing flexibility and controlling capital costs," stated Ken Cheng, CTO and VP Corporate Development and Emerging Business, Brocade.

http://www.brocade.com

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Symantec Unveils New Advanced Threat Protection

Symantec announced a new approach to advanced threat protection (ATP) that correlate alerts and intelligence across a range of security technologies to deliver more comprehensive attack prevention.  The company said this holistic approach transforms the complex fight against advanced threats into a manageable function that delivers stronger protection and more value to businesses. The company’s new ATP efforts will be informed by what Symantec has learned about advanced threats though its existing endpoint solutions that protect a base of 200 million endpoints, and from its current email and web security solutions that review over 8.4 billion email messages and 1.7 billion web requests a day.

“There is a significant need in the market for greater advanced threat protection, and many vendors do not have the holistic coverage or full-functionality needed to adequately detect and respond to targeted attacks,” said Jon Oltsik, senior principal analyst, Enterprise Security Group (ESG). “Symantec is well positioned to deliver an end-to-end advanced threat solution by building on the technologies it offers today, integrating across its portfolio, and delivering it as a service enhanced by an evolving partner ecosystem. By leveraging its global intelligence and building-in completely new incident response capabilities, Symantec can really address a multitude of enterprise cybersecurity requirements.”

The next piece in Symantec’s ATP approach is Symantec Managed Security Services - Advanced Threat Protection (MSS-ATP), a managed service that significantly reduces the time it takes to detect, prioritize and respond to security incidents by producing integration between its endpoint security and third-party network security vendors’ products. The service launches next month.

Symantec also highlighted an Advanced Threat Protection Alliance that currently includes Check Point Software Technologies, Palo Alto Networks and Sourcefire (now part of Cisco). Through this ecosystem, the detection and correlation of malicious network and endpoint activity helps substantially reduce false alerts by pinpointing the important incidents, empowering customers to respond faster to the most critical incidents.

http://www.symantec.com

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Supermicro's Atom-powered MicroBladess with Pluribus SDN Switching

Pluribus Networks, a start-up developing an open architecture that converges compute, network, storage, and virtualization into a highly programmable, merchant silicon-based platform, is deploying its Netvisor network operating system on Supermicro’s MicroBlade microserver platform switching blades.  The 6U 112 node Intel Atom-based MicroBlade features integrated 10/40 GbE Intel FM5224 Ethernet switches for ultra high-density server deployments.

The integrated switches featuring SDN capability will now run Pluribus Netvisor, offering functionality such as sophisticated Layer 2+ and high-availability across multiple switch modules within the MicroBlade chassis via the Netvisor’s fabric-cluster.  Multiple MicroBlade chassis may interconnect via the fabric-cluster offering a single point of management and powerful analytics, while distributing the switching intelligence ‘in-rack’ as opposed to at a single point at the top-of-rack.


“Our strategic relationship with Supermicro brings together breakthrough server technology and Netvisor inNetwork services for data center deployments looking for maximum density, performance, and availability” said Kumar Srikantan, president and CEO of Pluribus Networks.  “It redefines the way enterprises and cloud operators deploy infrastructure and services in today’s highly competitive environment, while at the same time introduces the first turn-key and supportable solution to this segment of the market.”

http://www.pluribusnetworks.com/go/supermicro
http://www.supermicro.com/products/MicroBlade/Pluribus

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Mavenir Launches Mobile Voice and Messaging Client

Mavenir Systems released a mobile voice and messaging client software for handsets and tablets that is designed to allow mobile operators to differentiate their Voice over LTE (VoLTE), Voice over WiFi (VoWiFi) and Rich Communication Services (RCS).

The client is based on the GSMA and OMA standards and is interoperable with RCS and IMS-based VoIP networks. Android and iOS versions are available. It implements an intuitive graphical user interface blending RCS, CPM, legacy messaging and voice or video telephony services into a coherent communication user experience. The client also seamlessly integrates with Mavenir’s Converged Video and Voicemail solution using Open Mobile Terminal Platform (OMTP) based Visual Voicemail (VVM) functionality.

Mavenir confirmed that is already has 2 tier one customers for its client.

“We are expanding our portfolio to provide mobile operators with comprehensive end-to-end IMS-based voice and messaging solutions for the rapid deployment of VoWiFi and RCS services,” said Pardeep Kohli, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mavenir Systems. “Mavenir’s extensible and configurable client solution gives operators the option of rolling out and offering new features and services without lengthy and costly development cycles.”

http://www.mavenir.com

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tw telecom Announces Bay Area Network Expansion

tw telecom is undertaking a major expansion of its fiber network in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Bay Area expansion, including San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland, is part of a national multi-market effort by the company to expand its metro fiber footprint across the country.

tw telecom now delivers direct fiber-based service to more than 30 commercial data centers in the region. Its Its Northern California network extends from south of San Jose to San Francisco, throughout the East Bay into Oakland and Walnut Creek, and north into Sacramento.

"The explosion of growth in the Bay Area tech economy, the renaissance occurring in commercial office parks in the South Bay, as well as increased customer demand for our network services is fueling this expansion," said Dave Ellebrecht, vice president and general manager, tw telecom. "The power, resiliency and security of the tw telecom network resonates with our existing Bay Area customer base. This expansion will enable us to broadly deploy services to meet the growing need for high-bandwidth networking solutions."

http://www.ITSolutionists.com

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