Ciena introduced a multilayer SDN controller for the WAN based on the OpenDaylight framework, along with an initial set of three new software applications for enabling virtualized, on-demand network services and functions.
Ciena said its new Agility software portfolio leverages real-time analytics to help network operators provision multi-vendor networks, ensure maximum efficiency and resiliency, and rapidly create and deploy new, differentiated virtualized services at lower cost. The OpenDaylight support lets the network operator choose from open source, self-developed and vendor components, thereby avoiding single vendor lock-in. The use of real-time analytics for provisioning high-bandwidth services and applications lets operators monetize and optimize their networks.
Some highlights of the announcement:
- Ciena’s new Agility Multilayer WAN Controller enables agile allocation of network resources at the packet, circuit and wave layers.
- Ciena’s controller supports the vendor-neutral OpenDaylight ecosystem.
- Ciena’s controller is a focal point of joint development with Ericsson and further development will leverage contributions from both companies to expand its capabilities.
- The new suite of SDN applications use advanced real-time analytics to provide greater network assurance, efficiency, monetization and application-driven agility. These applications include:
Navigate – a multilayer path computation engine that combines a global view of all network resources and service demands with advanced analytics-based algorithms to automatically determine the best possible route through the network to establish a connection.
Protect – a centralized global restoration calculator that speeds and increases resiliency and minimizes restoration bandwidth by pre-computing and distributing an optimal set of contention-free restoration paths for distributed execution in case of any failure.
Optimize – a multilayer network optimizer that defragments the network to free up stranded bandwidth by reallocating raw capacity and fine-tuning connection routing.
V-WAN – a network resource broker and scheduling application that offers immediate or scheduled bandwidth-on-demand to customers through an end-user portal or applications such as cloud and NFV orchestration systems via its open northbound API.
V-WAN is available today, while the rest of Ciena’s Agility software portfolio is entering field trials with multiple service providers.
Ciena also noted that its V-WAN network resource broker and scheduling application as well as its network management capabilities lay the foundation for multilayer SDN control. Equinix will use these capabilities to rapidly create and provision high-speed connections with greater agility and lower costs.
