Interview with Google's Bikash Koley: What is Andromeda?

In this video, Bikash Koley, Principal Architect at Google, introduces Andromeda, the software-defined networking stack that now powers Google's global infrastructure. Separating the control plane from the data plane has enabled a very rapid pace of networking innovation.  For developers, Google says Andromeda lets you "get a software-defined network without having to build it."

Koley says the whole idea of Andromeda is to take network functions and virtualize them -- this includes functions like routing packets, load balancing, filters, access control lists, DDoS mitigation and potentially deep packet inspection.  In a traditional network, you would have specialized boxes for these functions.  Google's Andromeda virutalizes all of that and makes it available as simple APIs, providing progammable access to the same infrastructure that runs all of Google's services.  Koley says this essentially delivers the "somewhat magical scaling" that would be difficult to achieve any other way.

Video timeline:

00:03 -What is Andromeda?
04;56 - Since Andromeda supports virtualized network functions, will Google be offering hosted network services like hosted firewalls?
05:25 - To orchestrate the Google infrastructure, Andromeda must deliver performance and scalability. How are these attained?
06:52 - Is Andromeda an open platform for developers?

Watch 8-minute video: http://youtu.be/wpin6GKpDm8

In April 2014, Google announced that its  "Andromeda" network virtualization stack is now powering two of its Google Compute Engine zones: us-central1-b and europe-west1-a. The company will be migrating its other data centers to Andromeda in the coming months.

Google describes Andromeda as a Software Defined Networking (SDN)-based substrate that serves as  the orchestration point for provisioning, configuring, and managing virtual networks and in-network packet processing. The goal is to expose the raw performance of the underlying network while simultaneously exposing network function virtualization (NFV), including distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection, transparent service load balancing, access control lists, and firewalls.

Google reports a significant performance gain in throughput for customers in the data centers running Andromeda, with TCP throughput for 200 streams soaring from under 2 Gbps (baseline) to 5 Gbps (powered by Andromeda).

http://googlecloudplatform.blogspot.com/2014/04/enter-andromeda-zone-google-cloud-platforms-latest-networking-stack.html

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Citrix Unveils Public Cloud-based Workspace Services

Citrix unveiled a new platform for provisioning and delivering mobile workspace across a wide range of public clouds, including the market leaders, as well as private clouds and datacenter infrastructure.

The forthcoming Citrix Workspace Services platform is built on Microsoft Azure, leveraging capabilities such as Azure App Services, Azure Active Directory and Azure Virtual Network, and is engineered for global availability, massive scalability, security and reliability.  The control plane and store front for the application run in Microsoft Azure, but the applications and data could reside in another cloud or local data center.

Citrix said Workspace Services will leverage the open architecture of Citrix XenApp and Citrix XenDesktop virtual app and desktop delivery.

Citrix Workspace Services will be available as a technology preview with cloud desktops in the second half of 2014.  Pricing was not disclosed.

Citrix noted that some cloud providers may differentiate their workspace services by offering 3D desktop performance enhancements accelerated by GPUs.

"With Workspace Services, Citrix is building upon its leadership in DaaS to help our customers and partners more rapidly take advantage of cloud delivery to create complete mobile workspaces for their users. Workspace Services gives customers and partners what no other vendor can, a choice in clouds, the ability to deliver a wide range of workspace services, with the high-definition user experience that users have come to expect from Citrix," stated Mitch Parker, Vice President and General Manager, Citrix Cloud Services.

http://www.citrix.com/news/announcements/may-2014/workspace-services-announcement.html

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Cisco Supports new Citrix Workspace Suite

Cisco announced its support for the new Citrix Workspace Suite, which simplifies how organizations provide highly secure and optimized access to apps, data, communications and services on any device from networked locations.

The Cisco Mobile Workspace Solution with Citrix is an end-to-end solution that delivers application and desktop virtualization as well as highly secure mobile access control and enterprise mobility management (EMM), including enterprise file sharing. The combined solution is customizable and can be deployed in part or comprehensively to meet the broadest range of work styles and business requirements.

“Our alliance with Cisco spans many years, and as Cisco’s first mobile workspace partner, we share a common vision of helping customers embrace mobility by seamlessly uniting our technologies to deliver a solution that enables better ways of working. Today, we are delivering on that vision and offering customers a powerful solution that enhances user experience and productivity while simplifying and securing IT infrastructure in a cost-effective manner,” stated Sudhakar Ramakrishna, senior vice president and general manager, Enterprise and Service Provider Division, Citrix.

http://www.cisco.com
http://www.citrix.com

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Verizon Delivers LTE for Schindler's Remote Monitoring Center

Verizon announced an agreement with Schindler Elevator Corp. to provide 4G LTE network coverage for Schindler's Remote Monitoring Center (SRM), which monitors a variety of operational features on elevator and escalator equipment 24/7 to detect changes in performance. When equipment malfunctions are found, SRM relays the intelligence and diagnostics to a Schindler technician so they can correct the issue faster than traditional troubleshooting methods, and often before the customer even becomes aware of the problem. Schindler is one of the only manufacturers able to provide remote monitoring on any brand of elevator or escalator equipment.

http://www.verizonenterprise.com/

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tw telecom Expands Fiber Network Across Los Angeles

tw telecom is expanding its existing footprint in Los Angeles, including fiber rollouts from Santa Monica, into West LA and down into the southern communities of LA County.  tw telecom now serves  business communities across Los Angeles including Century City, El Segundo, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Westwood and other areas of West Los Angeles, with its Business Ethernet and Intelligent Network capabilities.

"The introduction of several new products, access to a wide range of real estate commercial building portfolios, new building construction, and customer demand has helped fuel new demand for our network solutions," said Dan Cross, vice president and general manager, tw telecom Los Angeles.

http://www.twtelecom.com

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Cyan Posts Q1 Sales of $19 Million

Cyan reported Q1 2014 revenue of $19.0 million compared with $26.3 million in the first quarter of 2013 and $20.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2013. GAAP net loss for the first quarter was $17.8 million, or $0.38 per share, compared with a net loss of $9.4 million, or $3.61 per share, in the same period last year, and a net loss of $13.7 million, or $0.29 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2013.

“In 2014 we are seeing industry momentum accelerate as servicer providers are announcing initiatives to transform their networks with SDN and NFV technologies,” said Mark Floyd, Cyan’s chairman and chief executive officer. “We believe Cyan is well positioned in the market and has a unique, first mover advantage in helping customers to orchestrate both network and virtualized resources across multi-domain, multi-vendor networks.”

http://www.cyaninc.com/company/news-room/press-releases/2014/cyan-reports-first-quarter-2014-financial-results

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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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Infonetics: Hotspot 2.0 Predicted to Take Off

WiFi as a separate overlay network currently leads the list of technologies and architectures for offloading data traffic; meanwhile, more sophisticated carrier WiFi architectures gain gradual traction as respondents look to bring WiFi into the mobile RAN via SIM-based service models or by deploying dual-mode WiFi/small cells, according to a new survey from Infonetics.

“Carrier WiFi deployments are evolving to deliver the same quality of experience as mobile and fixed-line broadband service environments, and this is driving WiFi networks to become more closely integrated. Hotspot 2.0, a key tool developed by the industry to aid this drive, shows rapid adoption by carriers participating in our latest carrier WiFi survey,” notes Richard Webb, directing analyst for mobile backhaul and small cells at Infonetics Research.

Webb adds: “Operators are betting pretty big on carrier WiFi, but they’re also keen to develop ways of monetizing services so that WiFi starts to pay for itself over the coming years. WiFi roaming and location-based services are examples of customer plans that are growing fast.”

Some additional highlights:

• Respondents have an average of around 32,000 access points currently, growing to just over 44,000 by 2015, representing 33% growth over the next year
• 40% of Infonetics’ operator respondents expect to integrate Hotspot 2.0 into more than half their access points by the end of 2015
• Among those surveyed, the top 3 monetization models for WiFi services are pre-pay, bundled with mobile broadband subscription, and tiered hotspots
• Respondents perceive Cisco and Ruckus Wireless as the top carrier WiFi manufacturers for second consecutive year.

http://www.infonetics.com

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Perigon Opens Tier IV Data Center in Amsterdam

Perigon Networks opened a new Tier IV data center in Amsterdam -- its fifth global data center.

In addition to the new Amsterdam location, Perigon Networks boasts datacenters in Manchester, England; Brisbane, Australia; and multiple locations in Omaha, Nebraska, as part of its growing global network. The company features a "PowerCasting" technology that allows enterprise-level clients to broadcast their websites simultaneously from multiple global datacenter locations for seamless localized performance and business continuity.

http://www.managed.com

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TDS Telecom to Acquire BendBroadband

TDS Telecom, the seventh largest local exchange telephone company in the U.S., agreed to acquire substantially all of the assets of BendBroadband, which provides broadband, fiber connectivity, cable television and telephone services for commercial and residential customers in Central Oregon. The purchase price is $261 million.

BendBroadband generated annual revenues of $70 million in 2013 and has approximately 280 employees. TDS Telecom serves about 1.1 million connections.

BendBroadband's strong market position and technology leadership will help us achieve significant forward momentum in our cable strategy," said David A. Wittwer, president and CEO, TDS Telecom. "We will leverage BendBroadband's considerable expertise across our growing cable business, driving residential and commercial growth by delivering competitive broadband, video and managed services over the high-capacity network. We share BendBroadband's vision of being a trusted partner to our customers and communities, and growing profitably through quality, service and innovation."

http://www.tdstelecom.com/

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NTT and Partners Demo Virtual Network Platform as a Service (VNPaaS)

NTT, Alcatel-Lucent Japan Ltd. and Fujitsu will jointly demonstrate Virtual Network Platform as a Service (VNPaaS) to ETSI's NFV ISG.

The Virtual Network Platform as a Service (VNPaaS) is one of the use cases defined by ETSI NFV ISG.  The platform framework can be used for developing, deploying and administering applications on the virtualised network.  Alcatel-Lucent supplied its CloudBand NFV solution for this project. Fujitsu is supplying middleware that is capable of offering stateful VNF.

The demonstration will be presented at the Bankoku Shinryokan Resort MICE Facility on May 14, 2014.

http://www.ntt.co.jp/news2014/1405e/140501a.html

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NTT DOCOMO Ventures Invests in CertiVox

CertiVox, a start-up based in London, raised US$8 million in Series B funding from NTT DOCOMO Ventures and current investors Octopus Investments.

CertiVox provides password-less, two-factor authentication without tokens. Its M-Pin is a software-only solution, ideally suited for smart devices and does not require the presence of any third party authentication device. M-Pin can be embedded into software, hardware and can leverage Trusted Platform Modules (TPM) to provide the most secure strong authentication available to any application on any device.

The investment by NTT DOCOMO Ventures is its first in Europe, signifying the innovation and strength of CertiVox’s technology and its breakthrough potential to solve current problems in online authentication systems. Taken together with the company’s Seed and Series A financings, CertiVox has raised $17 Million to date.

http://www.certivox.com/

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CenturyLink Chops Cloud Prices

CenturyLink announced major price cuts for its cloud services, including Cloud CPU, RAM, and block storage.  The company says a typical CenturyLink Cloud VM will cost at least 60% less with the new pricing.  Customers without contracts will see the new pricing effective immediately.

CenturyLink is also allowing its cloud customers to purchase various levels of Technical Cloud Service Engineering support.

http://www.centurylinkcloud.com/blog/full/5-reasons-you-will-love-this-centurylink-cloud-news-including-a-price-updat

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Nutanix Intro VDI Management

Nutanix, a start-up based in San Jose, California, introduced a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) management program that lets customers purchase advanced web-scale infrastructure per desktop, and de-risk their VDI investment through a VDI Assurance pricing option.

Nutanix said its program addresses the concern that purchasing traditional server and storage infrastructure for VDI is complicated and can undermine user experience when not properly sized or designed. The company believes that cloud-based DaaS (desktop as a service) offerings to will struggle to match the security and long-term total cost of ownership (TCO) of on-premise solutions.

The Nutanix Per Desktop Program enables enterprises to purchase and deploy desktop infrastructure as a predictable, public cloud-like service.

http://www.nutanix.com/2014/05/01/nutanix-unveils-industrys-most-comprehensive-vdi-solution/

In January 2014, Nutanix closed $101 million in Series D financing co-led by Riverwood Capital and SAP Ventures.

The company, which is based in San Jose, California, said it has exceeded $100 million in lifetime sales and acquired 13 customers who have purchased more than $1 million of products within two years of launching its Virtual Computing Platform. Customers include eBay, McKesson, Toyota, Orange Business Services and Hyundai Hysco.

The Nutanix Virtual Computing Platform is a converged infrastructure solution that consolidates the compute (server) tier and the storage tier into a single, integrated appliance.

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Cisco Allocates $150 Million for Early Stage Start-Ups

Cisco Investments, the corporate venture capital arm of Cisco, has allocated an additional $150 million over the next two to three years to fund early-stage companies in the following areas: big data and analytics; the Internet of Things (IoT); connected mobility; storage; silicon; the content technology ecosystem; and India innovation.

As part of this program, Cisco announced three minority investments in IoT accelerators and startups Alchemist Accelerator, Ayla Networks and EVRYTHNG.

"Our ability to identify and stay ahead of market disruptions is deeply rooted in our build, buy, partner and integrate approach to innovation," said Hilton Romanski, senior vice president, Cisco Corporate Development. "We gain valuable insight and an understanding of market trends through equity investments in young and interesting companies who are leading the way through new market disruptions. Our investments in Alchemist Accelerator, Ayla Networks and EVRYTHNG align with our focus on early-stage innovation and companies focused on the Internet of Things."

http://www.cisco.com

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