Nuage uses SDN to aid enterprise connectivity needs

Simplifying the connectivity services enterprises require for their remote offices is the goal of Nuage Networks's recently launched Virtualised Network Services (VNS). The Alcatel-Lucent spin-in has expanding the capabilities of its software-defined networking (SDN) product to address applications beyond the data centre.

"Across the WAN and out to the branch, the context is increasingly complicated, with the need to deliver legacy and cloud applications to users - and sometimes customers - that are increasingly mobile, spanning several networks," says Brad Casemore, research director, data centre networks at IDC. These networks can include MPLS, Metro Ethernet, broadband and 3G and 4G wireless.

The data centre is a great microcosm of the network - Houman Modarres

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Netronome prepares cards for SDN acceleration

Source: Netronome

Netronome has unveiled 40 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet network interface cards (NICs)  to accelerate data-plane tasks of software-defined networks.

Dubbed FlowNICs, the cards use Netronome's flagship NFP-6xxx network processor (NPU) and support open-source data centre technologies such as the OpenFlow protocol, the Open vSwitch virtual switch, and the OpenStack cloud computing platform.

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SDN starts to fulfill its network optimisation promise

Infinera, Brocade and ESnet demonstrate the use of software-defined networking to provision and optimise traffic across several networking layers.

Infinera, Brocade and network operator ESnet are claiming a first in demonstrating software-defined networking (SDN) performing network provisioning and optimisation using platforms from more than one vendor.

Mike Capuano, Infinera

The latest collaboration is one of several involving optical vendors that are working to extend SDN to the WAN. ADVA Optical Networking and IBM are working to use SDN to connect data centres, while Ciena and partners have created a test bed to develop SDN technology for the WAN.

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OIF defines carrier requirements for SDN

The Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) has achieved its first milestone in defining the carrier requirements for software-defined networking (SDN).

"The orchestration layer will coordinate the data centre and transport network activities and give ... easy access to new applications"

Hans-Martin Foisel, OIF

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Nuage Networks uses SDN to tackle data centre networking bottlenecks

Three planes of the network that host Nuage's .Virtualised Services Platform (VSP). Source: Nuage Networks

Alcatel-Lucent has set up Nuage Networks, a business venture addressing data centre networking bottlenecks. Nuage claims to have simplified network connectivity within and between data centres.

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OFC/NFOEC 2013 industry reflections - Final part

Gazettabyte spoke with Jörg-Peter Elbers, vice president, advanced technology at ADVA Optical Networking about the state of the optical industry following the recent OFC/NFOEC exhibition. 

"There were many people in the OFC workshops talking about getting rid of pluggability and the cages and getting the stuff mounted on the printed circuit board instead, as a cheaper, more scalable approach"

Jörg-Peter Elbers, ADVA Optical Networking

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Software-defined networking: A network game-changer?

Q&A with Andrew Lord, head of optical research at BT, about his impressions following the recent OFC/NFOEC show.

OFC/NFOEC reflections: Part 1

"We [operators] need to move faster"

Andrew Lord, BT

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