Versa Networks has tested and validated the interoperability of its FlexVNF software on EMC’s Network Functions Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVi) platform to create an integrated “vCPE in a box” solution for deploying virtualized network and security functions in service provider points of presence (PoP) or data centers. The companies said this vCPE-in-a-box solution enables managed network and security services using virtualized network functions (VNF) and x86-based open hardware.
It supports a variety of Virtual Infrastructure Management choices, including VMware VIO with NSX and ESX, and Red Hat OpenStack Platform (OSP) with OpenStack Open vSwitch (OVS) and KVM. Hardware abstraction and orchestration is provided by EMC’s NFVi Manager software and high-performance storage is provided through EMC ScaleIO. VNFs are provided by Versa FlexVNF software and include a wide range of networking and advanced security functions including routing, VPN, CGNAT, next-gen firewall, URL filtering, AV/IPS and more with integrated service chaining.
Versa with EMC vCPE is highly efficient and cost effective for service providers because it provides multi-tenancy across all its services, coupled with the ability to easily add VNFs by provisioning additional virtual machines (VMs). Each Versa VNF supports up to 250 end-customer organizations – greatly reducing head-end capex for providers versus having to deploy individual aggregation devices for each end customer.
“EMC has decades of experience helping global corporations build, scale and operate mission critical infrastructure as well as helping communications service providers build high-margin offers,” said David Hudson, General Manager of Telecom Modernization at EMC Corporation. “By working with innovative VNF vendors like Versa Networks to validate their solutions on EMC’s NFVi solution architecture stack, we are bringing that expertise to bear to make NFV a reality for more service providers and network operators.”
“We continue to hear from our provider customers and prospects that they want to decouple networking and security software from hardware, and realize the benefits of network function virtualization (NFV),” said Mark Weiner, CMO of Versa Networks. “Just like server and storage virtualization has dramatically improved the cost and agility of data center resources, NFV is bringing the same value proposition to carriers and their managed service offerings. We are aligned with EMC to bring the benefits of NFV innovation to provider customers globally.”
Versa Unveils its Vision for the SD-WAN
Versa Networks, a start-up based in Santa Clara, California, introduced its software-defined WAN portfolio and outlined its vision to transform how enterprises build their WAN and branch office networks. The Versa solution leverages virtualized network functions (VNF), programmability and dynamic provisioning to re-architect the WAN and branch network for much greater agility, cost efficiency and simpler operations.
The Versa VNF solution consists of three components that together create next generation WANs and branch networks:
- Versa FlexVNF: The core building block for Versa VNF solutions, which includes a broad set of virtualized network and security functions with carrier-grade multi-tenancy, programmability, service chaining, service elasticity and cost-effective deployment choices
- Versa Director: Single point of centralized control and management for both connectivity and services
- Versa Analytics: A real-time analytics engine that provides control, visibility, prediction and a feedback loop for adaptability
By eliminating proprietary hardware and truck rolls, the company estimates it can cut the total cost of ownership by up to 80%. For service providers and large enterprises, Versa said its solution changes the game by enabling multi-tenancy with the ability to provision and manage hundreds of individual customers or business subsidiaries. Versa supports multi-service capabilties with automatic service chaining, enabling complex managed services and branch network architectures with multiple networking and security functions. The Versa VNFs run on commodity-off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware.
In its launch materials, Versa cited Orange and Colt.
http://www.versa-networks.com/products/
- Versa Networks was founded in 2012 by Kumar (CEO) and Apurva Mehta (CTO), who are credited with the development of the MX series routers at Juniper Networks.
- The company has raised $43 million in funding to date. Investors include Sequoia, Verizon Ventures and Mayfield.
