ONF Connect keynote: Google's Amin Vahdat

Networking innovation will be even more important in the next 10 years than what we’ve seen to date, said Amin Vahdat, Google Fellow, in a keynote at the ONF Connect event in Santa Clara, California.

The key reason for this is the ever-increasing pace of data growth, which Vahdat says is clearly outpacing the growth of compute resources. This becomes a problem when you are delivering information-rich web pages with data streaming from multiple sources. Developers need to couple resources from many places. Vahdat is charged with building a better network, one which can be updated more frequently.

Google, which probably runs the biggest networks in the world, was an early mover in SDN and all of its infrastructure is now software-defined.

Google's public network now has over 100 PoPs worldwide (blue dots on the map) where it exchanges traffic with other networks.  The company is rapidly deploying servers (yellow dots) with partner ISPs to improve content delivery. The company claims its share of the global Internet continues to grow. Its private network is actually bigger and growing even faster.


 As for day-to-day operations, Vahdat said Google's infrastructure is under constant attack. A key principle is to catalog every failure, and to use this knowledge to develop new features in the network.  This means a rapid pace of iteration in the network.

https://www.opennetworking.org/onf-connect/

Read More

ONAP Casablanca release and OPNFV Gambia release go live

LF Networking (LFN) announced new platform releases from ONAP (Casablanca) and OPNFV (Gambia), bringing additional support for cross-stack deployments across new and existing use cases such as 5G and Cross-Carrier VPN (CCVPN), as well as enhancements to cloud-native VPN.

"New and enhanced deployments of our platforms are popping up every day across the globe, and with tighter cross-community integration and an expanded compliance and verification program, we are well-positioned to facilitate innovative industry progress," said Arpit Joshipura, general manager, networking, the Linux Foundation. "The latest releases of ONAP and OPNFV usher in a new era for LFN as the community continues to foster an expanding commercial ecosystem."

Some highlights:

ONAP Casablanca introduces two new blueprints: 5G and CCVPN.

• The 5G blueprint provides capabilities around PNF integration, edge automation, real-time analytics, network slicing, data modeling, homing, scaling, and network optimization. 
• The CCVPN blueprint demonstrates how to provide enterprise services across operators with the use of MEF APIs. One use case is for building a high-bandwidth, flat and super-speed Optical Transport Network between two carriers and across multiple domains.
• The design time environment includes two new dashboards to simplify design activities.
• The runtime environment includes new lifecycle management functions in both the Service Orchestrator (SO) and its three controllers, expanded hardware platform awareness (HPA) to improve performance, geo-redundancy, support for ETSI NFV-SOL003 for VNFM compatibility, MultiCloud enhancements, and edge cloud onboarding.
• Adds initial integration with the PNDA project, several new collectors, policy engine updates, and enhancements to the Holmes alarm correlation engine, boost ONAP’s service assurance capabilities.
• The next release will be called "Dublin". The next design forum will be conducted jointly with the OPNFV Gambia Plugfest in Paris, France from January 8-11, 2019.

OPNFV Gambia progresses the state of NFV around continuous delivery, cloud native network functions (CNFs), testing, carrier-grade NFVI features and upstream project integration. Gambia marks the 7th public release for OPNFV.

• Adds seven more projects supporting containers (a 77% increase)
• Adds new scenarios integrating cloud native features such as Virtlet, Kata containers, VPP and OVS-DPDK. 
• Two OPNFV installers are now supporting a containerized OpenStack control plane.
• Adds support for integrating Spinnaker via the OPNFV Clover project, providing a new mechanism for upgrading VNFs in a production.
• OPNFV will now continuously publish scenario and feature project artifacts that contain the latest upstream code.
• The next release will be called "Hunter".

https://www.onap.org/blog/2018/12/04/onap-casablanca-the-story-behind-the-code
https://www.opnfv.org/blog/2018/11/13/opnfv-gambia-doing-what-we-do-best-while-advancing-cloud-native

Read More

OIF Launches FlexE 2.1 Project

OIF has launched the FlexE 2.1 project, which covers FlexE over 50Gbe PHY applications. It also adds an extension to the recently released FlexE 2.0 Interoperability Agreement (IA).

FlexE 2.1 will specify a 50G FlexE frame and multiplexing format and will address Flex Ethernet (FlexE) applications with lower bandwidth needs and provide an implementation foundation for applications including the access layer of the future 5G mobile network. This new 50GbE support will extend the existing support for 100, 200 and 400GE in the just published FlexE 2.0 IA.

OIF expects possible large volume applications for channelization (5Gb/s granularity for minimum 10G clients) and bonding of 50GE PHYs in the future access layer/metro edge (based on IPRAN/PTN) of the 5G mobile backhaul network, FlexE implementation logic will be critical.

“There is continued demand by data center and network operators for a solution for flexible deployment and provisioning of Ethernet bandwidth,” said Dave Ofelt, Juniper Networks and OIF Physical and Link Layer (PLL) Working Group – Protocol Vice Chair. “Building on OIF’s great work for FlexE and FlexE 2.0, this new FlexE 2.1 project will ultimately result in a single IA that adds n×50Gb/s support to FlexE 2.0, along with other possible feature enhancements.”

In addition, OIF announced the following election results for its Board of Directors:

• Nathan Tracy, TE Connectivity, was re-elected to the Board and appointed as President
• Tad Hofmeister, Google, was appointed as Vice President
• Martin Bouda, Fujitsu, was re-elected to the Board and appointed as Secretary/Treasurer
• Mike Li, Intel, was newly elected to the Board
• Cathy Liu, Broadcom Inc., was re-elected to the Board
• Gary Nicholl, Cisco, was newly elected to the Board
• Ian Betty, Ciena, continues to serve on the Board

Officers:

• Klaus-Holger Otto, Nokia, was re-elected as Technical Committee Chair
• Ed Frlan, Semtech, was re-elected as Technical Committee Vice Chair
• Tom Issenhuth, Huawei Technologies, was newly elected Market Awareness & Education Committee Co-Chair, Physical and Link Layer (PLL)
• Lyndon Ong, Ciena, was re-elected as Market Awareness & Education Committee Co-Chair, Networking
• Dave Brown, Nokia, was appointed as Communications Director, having termed out as a Board member and Board President
• Technical Committee – Working Groups:
• Jia He, Huawei Technologies, was newly elected as Network & Operations Working Group Chair
• Jeff Maki, Juniper Networks, was re-elected as Physical Layer User Group Working Group Chair

Read More

New branches to extend MainOne cable to Cote D’Ivoire and Senegal

Two additional branches are planned to extend MainOne’s subsea cable system to Dakar (Senegal) and Abidjan (Cote D’Ivoire). With this development, MainOne will have landing points in five markets – Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire and Portugal, in addition to Cameroon.

MainOne, which is a 7,000km cable system that spans from Portugal to Nigeria, entered service in 2010. Technology updates will boost potential capacity to 10 TBps of capacity. The upgrades are expected to become operational in November 2019.

TE SubCom is lead contractor on the project. MainOne has also selected SubCom’s WSS ROADM for the new branches. SubCom will light the new branches with Ciena’s transmission equipment.

Read More

MEF18 PoC - AT&T on Intent-Based Networks & Services

MEF18 Proof of Concept, 29 - 31 Oct - Transformation in Action: Harmonizing Delivery of Intent-Based Networks & Services. 

PoC Participants: AT&T, Amdocs, Fujitsu Network Communications, and Iometrix.

Speaker: Raluca Sirbu, Director, Network Infrastructure & Services, AT&T

This PoC focuses on building a transformational ecoystem that will:
- Automate services with zero-touch delivery and activation across multiple domains.
- Enrich the customer experience.
- Empower customers by defining policies for their assets and using natural language to set intent.
- Develop an assistant to manage customer personas and related interactions.
- Create a responsive network that is able to self-adjust and heal to meet customer and application driven requirements.
- Provide a homogenous experience across heterogenous networks, blending technologies by creating software-centric network services across multiple domains.

The open framework for transformation includes intent, smart devices, an intent engine, orchestration, and an SDN-enabled network.

The PoC incorporates MEF work on LSO Cantata, LSO Interlude, LSO Legato, LSO Presto, and LSO Adagio interfaces, the draft SD-WAN services standard, and numerous MEF specifications.  The PoC also incorporates ONAP, AT&T's DANOS (disaggregated operating system, which will become open source shortly), and Fujitsu's Warrior open source automation framework for development and deployment of microservices.

Save the date for MEF19, 18-22 November 2019, JW Marriott, LA LIVE, Los Angeles.

https://youtu.be/c0uQKB1yaPc

Read More

MEF18 PoC - Orchestrated Multilayer Optical Transport

MEF18 Proof of Concept, 29 - 31 Oct - MEF 3.0 Implementation for Orchestrated Multilayer Optical Transport. PoC Participants: CenturyLink, Telefonica, TELUS, Infinera/Coriant, and NEC/Netcracker.

Speaker: Jack Pugaczewski, Distinguished Network Architect, CenturyLink and MEF Distinguished Fellow.

This MEF 3.0 Implementation POC demonstration shows multiple MEF 3.0 LSO APIs and TAPI Connectivity, Topology, and Notification APIs working collaboratively to illustrate automated service orchestration, fulfillment, and assurance for MEF 3.0 Subscriber Layer 1 Connectivity Services in an Ethernet/OTN overlay/underlay multi-technology, multi-layer, multi-domain network.  This is in support of bandwidth-on-demand and dynamic restoration use cases.

The PoC demonstrates the power of applying generic network abstraction concepts such as constraint, forwarding, and termination to control, manage, and orchestrate multi-technology, multi-layer, multi-vendor domains in a consistent manner.  This is done using a common API framework – including the MEF LSO Presto Network Resource Provisioning (NRP) API that is built on top of the ONF Transport API framework – to provision and control L2/L1/L0 transport network resources in support of corresponding MEF 3.0 services. The PoC also incorporates LSO Interlude, LSO Allegro, and LSO Adagio APIs.

The PoC leverages and builds on the recently concluded joint MEF-OIF-ONF 2018 worldwide Transport API interop demo, thus bringing the optical transport implementation expertise into MEF, keeping with the MEF 3.0 objectives.

Finally, the PoC fulfills the key object to demonstrate the viability of MEF 3.0 transformational global services framework for defining, delivering, and certifying assured services orchestrated across a global ecosystem of automated multi-technology, multi-layer networks.

Save the date for MEF19, 18-22 November 2019, JW Marriott, LA LIVE, Los Angeles.

https://youtu.be/PX-Cuv6QfNU

Read More

MEF18 PoC - Machine Learning-Based Elastic Network Services

MEF18 Proof of Concept, 29 - 31 Oct - Machine Learning-Based Elastic Network Services. PoC Participants: Colt Technology Services & Accedian.

Speaker: Tom Foottit, Senior Product Manager, Accedian.

This PoC demonstrates the ability to leverage network performance data and machine learning to provide customer visibility to service performance and also demonstrates how to use current and historical service performance to dynamically adjust service parameters in a closed loop.

The PoC demonstrates this by using (1) Accedian and other network equipment to collect PM data, (2) the Accedian DATAHUB platform to ingest and run machine learning (ML) algorithms on the PM data, (3) the Colt Novitas system to provide performance visibility, and (4) the Colt orchestration layer to complete closed loop automation in the network using the output of ML from DATAHUB to adjust services based on current and historical network conditions. These systems are tied together using open APIs in alignment with the MEF LSO framework.

This showcase is a demonstration of the additional power that analytics and machine learning can bring to MEF LSO and the MEF 3.0 automated network.

Save the date for MEF19, 18-22 November 2019, JW Marriott, LA LIVE, Los Angeles.

https://youtu.be/Aji_c62Ej7g

Read More

Verizon shows Inseego 5G hotspot device

Beginning next year, Verizon will offer an Inseego 5G mobile hotspot device powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform and Snapdragon X50 5G modem and antenna modules with integrated RF transceiver, RF front-end and antenna elements. The device also offers powerful next gen Wi-Fi performance using the Qualcomm Wi-Fi 6-ready mobile solution.

The companies demonstrated the device running on Verizon’s 5G NR mobile network deployed at the Qualcomm Snapdragon Technology Summit in Maui. 

“Inseego is separating hype from reality by bringing advanced 5G NR mobile technology to life through a live VR-enabled healthcare application in Maui, powered by patented 5G MiFi® technology,” said Inseego Chairman and CEO, Dan Mondor. “Exceptional speed and low latency connectivity that mission-critical use cases require are being demonstrated in a real-world scenario, running on a live Verizon 5G network.

Read More

Orange Business delivers connectivity for Arctic Shipping

Orange Business Services is proving maritime connectivity for The Arctic Shipping Company, which specializes in cargo transportation, including along the Northern Sea Route, which runs from the Barents Sea, near Russia's border with Norway, to the Bering Strait between Siberia and Alaska.

Orange Business said its Maritime Connect combines multiple networks, including satellite, to ensure connectivity for the cargo ships on the high seas. The new contract follows the successful completion of a pilot with the shipping firm, and the service is now deployed on six of its vessels.

“The Northern Sea Route allows companies to save time and money by providing a shorter connection between Asia and Europe. However, the route is also known as risky and not an easy one. Seamless network connectivity is critical to safety and saves not only time and financial resources, but also the crew’s welfare. We are pleased to cooperate with Arctic Shipping Company and are proud that the Orange Maritime VSAT solution is effective in meeting the needs of the maritime industry,” said Richard van Wageningen, Senior Vice President IMEAR, Orange Business Services.

Read More

Marvell posts revenue of $851 million, expects growth from Cavium

Marvell Technology Group posted revenue for the third quarter of its fiscal 2019 of $851 million. GAAP net loss from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2019 was $54 million, or $(0.08) per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2019 was $222 million, or $0.33 per diluted share. Cash flow from operations for the third quarter was $299 million.

The company noted that quarterly revenue exceeded the midpoint of the guidance it provided on September 6, 2018.

"In the first full quarter operating as a combined Marvell and Cavium team, we completed key integration milestones ahead of schedule, delivered revenue above the midpoint of our guidance, and generated strong free cash flow at 30 percent of revenue. We also expect renewed revenue growth from the Cavium business in the fourth quarter," said Matt Murphy, Marvell's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Looking ahead, we expect the deployment of 5G will accelerate our growth over the next several years as engagements with a growing list of Tier 1 customers continue to build momentum in this major infrastructure transition."

Marvell completes acquisition of Cavium

Friday, July 06, 2018  Cavium, Marvell  

Marvell Technology Group completed its previously announced acquisition of Cavium in a deal valued at approximately $6 billion.

Cavium, which is based in San Jose, California, offers a portfolio of multi-core processing, networking communications, storage connectivity and security silicon solutions.

Marvell,  which is based in nearby Santa Clara, California but has its corporate headquarters in Bermuda, was founded in 1995 and has over 5,000 employees and over 9,000 patents.

Read More

Parks Associates: 83% of Smart TVs are connected

New research published by Parks Associates reveals that 83% of smart TV owners connect their device to the internet, up from 70% in 2014. Ownership of streaming media players has almost doubled from about 21% of U.S. broadband households in 2014 to almost 40% in 2018, while smart TV ownership has increased from 34% to 53% during the same time period.

"Users' appetite for content and their pattern of consumption have only increased as video has become more portable and tailored," said Joel Fineman, Director, Publisher Development, Premion. "Driven by Netflix's user experience, viewers are demanding more of incumbent media leaders."

"The internet is disrupting the pay television and original video production businesses in every corner of the globe, right before our very eyes," said Jon Cody, CEO/Founder, TV4 Entertainment.

http://www.parksassociates.com

Read More