Juniper Networks introduced its Intelligent Services Edge, a integrated set of new hardware and software features aimed at helping service providers align network capabilities with business goals. Specifically, Juniper’s Intelligent Services Edge combines advanced features in JUNOS software with its M- and MX-series edge routing platforms, enabling service providers to deliver a comprehensive range of services over a single operating system with maximum scale. 
The advancements facilitate intelligent convergence at the edge, which drives network monetization by speeding deployment of new services and reducing operational costs and complexity.
Enhancements to JUNOS software include:
- Broadband Services Routing: extends subscriber management technology from the E-series Broadband Services Routers to the M- and MX-series platforms
- Dynamic Application Awareness: leverages Juniper’s expertise in security and policy management to provide stateful, subscriber-aware application monitoring, enabling advanced, application-specific service levels and QoS treatments
- Intrusion Prevention: provides application layer security leveraging Juniper Networks advanced Intrusion Detection and Prevention (IDP) technology
- Session Border Control functionality: manages VoIP and multimedia sessions to ensure quality of service and security for VoIP and multimedia applications
Juniper said these integrated features will greatly simplify the network edge for service providers by reducing the number of network elements and operating systems within the network. This simplification creates an environment where services can be implemented more rapidly since integration among network devices and with back office systems is minimized. Additionally, by decreasing the need for service-specific appliances, the Intelligent Services Edge can reduce power, space and cooling requirements.
Juniper is also introducing new hardware for its M- and MX-series portfolio as part of the Intelligent Services Edge. The new hardware improves the performance, scalability and efficiency of these widely deployed platforms, and can be added non-disruptively to existing systems. These include:
- MultiServices DPC, a high performance, purpose-built processing engine for the MX-series Ethernet Services Routers that will enable customers to run the new JUNOS services (above) without impacting the routers’ forwarding performance. The MultiServices DPC will provide a dedicated services engine that ensures consistent, high performance for these advanced services. The MultiServices DPC also enables security features such as stateful firewall, NAT and IPSec directly on the MX-series router, as well as routing and switching capabilities.
In addition to powering the new JUNOS services listed above, the MultiServices DPC can also host innovative applications developed by customers and partners through Juniper’s Open IP Solution Development Program (OSDP).
- a new Flexible PIC Concentrator for the MX-series that provides packet over SONET capabilities, leveraging the same OC-48 and OC-192 Physical Interface Cards (PICs) used for M- and T-series platforms. This will enable providers to use the MX-series to connect to traditional, non-Ethernet-based networks for the first time, providing maximum investment protection and reducing sparing costs by leveraging M- and T-series PICs.
- Extending next generation packet processing hardware to its M7i and M10i systems — available on a new forwarding engine board, which can be purchased separately and added non-disruptively to existing chassis, the new hardware will enable customers to leverage existing investments to keep costs at a minimum. With the upgraded processing board, the M7i and M10i can deliver up to 68 percent more capacity, while using 57 percent less power per Gigabit, when compared with competitively sized systems.
The first capabilities in the Intelligent Services Edge portfolio are currently available. The full suite of Intelligent Services Edge hardware and software enhancements are expected to be available by Q309.
http://www.juniper.net
