Overture Adds Carrier Ethernet VNF and Service Intelligence

Overture Networks introduced its Ensemble Carrier Ethernet (ECE) Virtual Network Function (VNF) -- the first such hardware-agnostic Carrier Ethernet VNF, delivering the same Carrier Ethernet 2.0 functionality of a physical Ethernet Access Device without being tied to proprietary, purpose built hardware.

Overture said its ECE VNF software can run on any Intel-based server. For hardened environments, the Overture 65vSE can host the ECE and multiple other VNFs. This hardware-agnostic approach provides service providers with the ability to instantly deploy new, on-demand applications in a CO, data center, or customer premise, simplifying operations and driving new service innovation. As a software-based solution, the ECE VNF can easily scale services as needed, with line-rate performance up to 10GigE. It also enables an optimized NFV model where the virtual network functions can be placed wherever the service provider chooses; the service edge, a central location, or both.

“Our customers clearly want to transition their networks into agile, automated, open environments that will drive dramatic costs reductions and accelerate their service delivery,” said Mike Aquino, president and CEO, Overture “the introduction of the industry’s first true Carrier Ethernet Virtual Network Function is a milestone achievement in the advancement of NFV from the lab to field trials.  It demonstrates our commitment to an evolving open ecosystem which ultimately helps our customers maximize both capital and operational efficiencies, while accelerating the pace of new revenue-generating.”

ECE joins the company’s already released Ensemble Service Orchestrator (ESO) and Ensemble Network Controller (ENC), as part of Overture's growing Ensemble Open Services Architecture portfolio.

Overture is also introducing its Ensemble Service Intelligence (ESI), which leverages big data technologies and applies advanced analytics in an open system to provide actionable intelligence for service orchestration. ESI stores and correlates data from virtual and physical network components, as well as from existing performance management, EMS and other management systems. ESI enhances automated orchestration across a multi-vendor NFV environment with features such as service lifecycle management, policy-based auto-scaling and multi-level service verification and diagnostics. It comes with an initial suite of service intelligence applications that provide full service lifecycle history, as well as the capability to monitor network VNF performance to ensure customer SLAs are met.

Overture said its new ESI provides a simplified way to achieve OSS integration by bridging NFV with legacy systems, while its open architecture allows further application development.

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