Thursday, October 10, 2019

AMS-IX deploys Pluribus to federate geographically distributed switches

The Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX) has deployed Pluribus Networks’ Netvisor ONE operating system and Adaptive Cloud Fabric, along with Dell EMC Open Networking hardware, as part of a multi-site network modernization project.

The installation creates an SDN-controlled network fabric that federates together a large number of geographically distributed switches to appear as one logical switch, radically simplifying network operations.

Pluribus said its controllerless architecture leverages the processing power inside the switches that are already deployed, distributing intelligence to every switch in the network. This distributed approach to automation lowers costs by eliminating the expense of multiple controllers while improving performance. AMS-IX network operators often move around from site to site, and now, from any switch, the AMS-IX team can see the entire fabric, troubleshoot the entire fabric or update policy across the fabric. This new level of automation allows AMS-IX to better serve customers while making their own operations even more efficient and cost-effective.

AMS-IX also benefits from Pluribus Insight Analytics, which leverages embedded Netvisor monitoring telemetry and packet flow data sources to enable pervasive visibility across the network, eliminating the need for expensive probes or complex monitoring overlay networks. With end-to-end visibility into all connections that traverse the entire data center fabric, AMS-IX can analyze and compare actual versus desired performance and implement corrective actions, such as changes to policy or rerouting traffic to implement on-demand changes to the infrastructure.

“Innovation and high-performance services are the foundation of Amsterdam Internet Exchange; it’s what they built their reputation on, and why they’ve led the interconnect market for 25 years,” said Kumar Srikantan, Chief Executive Officer of Pluribus Networks. “This focus on innovation and new approaches led the team to understand the compelling advantages that can be realized once the software is disaggregated from the hardware.  Their shift to open networking, with Pluribus software driving automation across the entire fabric, is now delivering the agility and flexibility they need to meet customer requirements well into the future.”

Versa Networks tops 1,000 customers, 200K software licenses



Versa Networks announced the following milestones: 200,000 software licenses sold in the aggregate; 1,000 total enterprise customers; and 100 total Service Provider partners; in addition to winning several industry awards and generating significant market momentum with strategic partnerships ranging from Riverbed to Azure to AWS.

“We continue to see an acceleration in our business as well as pushing out many new software innovations,” said Kelly Ahuja, CEO, Versa Networks. “Enterprise customers are demanding a simple yet flexible solution; Versa’s sales velocity is indicative of how the market is embracing the breadth and depth of the Versa software-centric offering, which is easy to deploy for a more secure and resilient WAN edge.”

Versa cited IDC’s recent SD-WAN Infrastructure Forecast which found that the SD-WAN segment of the enterprise networking market will grow at a 30.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2018 to 2023 to reach $5.25 billion.

ZTE and China Telecom employ 5G slicing for intelligent manufacturing

ZTE, in collaboration with the Zhejiang Branch of China Telecom, assisted Bluetron in commissioning China's first 5G SA (Standalone) site, which put 5G slicing, edge computing and smart manufacturing into trial to help Bluetron build a new 5G smart factory.

The deployment leveraged an integrated solution of 5G slicing, edge computing, and intelligent manufacturing.

ZTE said this enables machine vision slicing and fast backhaul of video streams employing key technologies such as, slicing stores, wireless slicing perception, end-to-end slicing security isolation, dynamic slice migration, UPF moving to edge, and UPF offloading. These slices can reduce the latency, jitter, and packet loss rate of video data transmission, guarantee the bandwidth and quality of video transmission and improve the accuracy and real-time performance of video analysis results.

"Committed to continuous technological innovation, ZTE works with operators and industry partners to explore the cooperation mode of the edge cloud and build an edge ecosystem together to comprehensively promote the commercial use of  the MEC edge cloud and jointly promote the flourishing of 5G edge services," said Chen Xinyu, General Manager of ZTE Telecom Cloud & Core Network Product Line.

Sunrise and Huawei hit 3.67Gbps in 5G

Sunrise and Huawei achieved a top speed of 3.67Gbps downlink with multiple 5G smartphones in one 5G cell in Zürich over the carrier's commercial network using 100MHz of bandwidth.

The test leveraged Huawei' MU-MIMO technology, wihch substantially increases 5G capacity without additional requirement of spectrum and power resource.

Sunrise is now providing 5G coverage in more than 262 cities/villages throughout Switzerland, offering broadband internet, HD-TV, interactive gaming 5G services etc.

OVH marks its 20th anniversary with focus on cloud ambitions

OVH Group, the largest European hosting provider, marked its 20th anniversary and outlined its ambition is to offer a European alternative in the cloud market.

The company is adopting "OVHcloud" as its new branding. More than 70 percent of its revenue is focused on cloud solutions.

"OVH started 20 years ago with the beginnings of service virtualisation (PaaS, IaaS, SaaS and others). Today, we call this the cloud, and we want our brand to reflect this reality around the world," explains Michel Paulin, CEO of OVHcloud.

OVHcloud's DNA is firmly retaining its core values: openness, to usher in the emergence of an ecosystem based on respect for data. OVHcloud continues to defend its vision of a SMART cloud: simple to implement, multi-local, accessible and predictable, reversible and open and finally, transparent. Faced with the challenges posed by the Cloud Act, OVHcloud offers solutions that are trustworthy and respectful of European values. It promotes an open and truly reversible cloud, where all customers are free to choose a way of managing their data that suits their business challenges.

Colt's enhanced uCPE delivers NFV to enterprises

Colt Technology Services announced its enhanced universal customer premises equipment (uCPE) solution, which brings the benefits of Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) to enterprises. The expanded functionality provides a network operating system and hosting environment for Virtual Network Functions (VNFs), such as SD-WAN and firewalls, all running on standard off-the-shelf servers, with both provider-managed and customer-managed NFV applications being run on this platform.

Colt’s Vice President Product Portfolio, Peter Coppens said: “By enhancing our uCPE offering we are aligning Colt with the future of networking. This approach allows us to deliver virtualised services from the broadest range of suppliers under end-user control. It will also enable Colt to achieve faster product development, cost savings and operational efficiency.

Colt’s uCPE utilises ADVA’s Ensemble Connector as the virtualisation platform and offers a host of VNFs, supporting multiple network functions, such as SD WAN and firewalls.




ADVA advances its Ensemble Suite for NFV with zero-touch capabilities

Ensemble, a division of ADVA, launched a major new release of its network functions virtualization (NFV) platform with a focus on reducing deployment and operations complexity for network operators. The suite includes the Ensemble Orchestrator, Ensemble Director, Ensemble Connector.

New management and orchestration (MANO) capabilities enable service providers to roll out secure virtualized services at scale by using pre-packaged designs. Better design simplifies integration into higher level OSS, BSS or portal systems, which leads to faster deployment of services at scale with less-trained staff.

The company said the new capabilities were developed alongside Tier 1 customers in direct response to their requirements and the need to address security and complexity challenges. The new MANO features include multi-layer security, simplified management of NFV infrastructure (NFVI) and service chain creation, visibility, monitoring and troubleshooting. The latest release is based on three years of real-world experience enabling companies to deploy and manage software-based, cloud-native solutions.

Some highlighted capabilities in Ensemble

  • The ability to deploy NFV and virtualized services across multiple locations with flexibility and scale
  • The ability to provide Day 0 configuration of VNFs. 
  • The ability to resolve problems related to operating uCPE deployments at scale, such as a single IP address for management and in-service software upgrades with reversion. 
  • Multi-layered approach to security helps operators tackle vulnerabilities, and it provides software-based encryption that can be combined with VNFs. 
  • User-friendly information on service chain operations as well as virtualization tools for analysis and troubleshooting. 
  • Zero touch provisioning capabilities remove the need for user intervention and replace truck rolls and on-site technicians with automation. This empowers an operator to ship an unconfigured COTS server to a customer site and commission it automatically.
  • Embedded cloud: Solves the problems of deploying OpenStack in the distributed telco network 
  • LTE wireless support: Enables turn-up of sites that don’t yet have wireline connectivity, as well as providing an economical means of resilient access.
  • Scalable software -- from small Intel Atom servers, up to large Xeon-based blade servers. Upcoming support for ARM servers.
  • Multiplatform hardware support -- including Dell, Lanner, Advantech, Lenovo, HPE, Supermicro

Orange launches the Livebox 5 for fiber-connected homes

Orange introduced its Livebox 5 box for fiber-connected homes. Compared to earlier models, Livebox 5 no longer needis a  separate fiber box (ONT). It supports download speeds of up to 2 Gbps. Inside the home, it delivers Wi-Fi at up 600 Mbps.  For improved coverage throughout the home, a WiFi repeater is available for free on demand with the Livebox Up offers and  Open Up packs.

With each Livebox generation, Orange aims to reduce its equipment’s carbon footprint. Each year, 2.7 million Liveboxes are reused, and 100% of returned boxes are recycled. As a committed and responsible operator, Orange has decided to go one step further to control its environmental impact.
To do this, and in line with business initiatives for the Livebox 4 and UHD TV decoder, Orange has worked with its partners to improve production and reduce the carbon footprint of the new Livebox 5 by 29%:

  • a 100% recycled plastic case,
  • a lighter and more compact product,
  • fewer electronic components, which makes it easier to repair and recycle,
  • a new design allowing passive ventilation, without a fan.


“From its functionalities to the components and materials used, our new Livebox was designed to offer the very best of the network whilst reducing its environmental impact. Orange is particularly proud to launch a product today which meets our standards in terms of the quality offered to our customers, as well as environmental accountability”, explains Fabienne Dulac, Orange France Executive Director.

The Livebox Up Fibre offer is available from €30.99/month for 12 months then €49.99/month

Teledyne LeCroy offer protocol analysis and jamming PAM4

Teledyne LeCroy is offering a highly integrated Ethernet and Fibre Channel protocol analysis and impairment system.

The SierraNet M648 platform provides traffic capture and manipulation for testing application or link characteristics. It supports examination of Ethernet and Fibre Channel links utilizing both Pulse Amplitude Modulation 4 (PAM4) and legacy Non-Return to Zero (NRZ) technologies.
The SierraNet M648 combines the exceptional Teledyne LeCroy expertise for physical layer testing with triggering, analysis and debug functions for a wide range of current and evolving SAN and LAN specific protocols (i.e. NVMe-oF™, FCoE, iSCSI, and TCP/IP).

https://teledynelecroy.com/protocolanalyzer/fibre-channel/sierranet-m648