SANTA CLARA, CA--(Marketwired - Feb 24, 2015) -
- The Avaya Open SDN Fx architecture is the first to deliver automation and programmability from the network core to the user edge, for 'connect anything, anywhere' simplicity
- Surveys show 99 percent of IT pros expect SDN to extend beyond the data center, but are not confident in current SDN models delivering the capability
- Avaya leap frogs existing technology approaches with new products and capabilities, enabling a complete end-to-end SDN solution without the need to rip and replace existing networks
Avaya today introduced a new, open software-defined networking (SDN) architecture that will help companies create the agile networks required by today's dynamic applications. The Avaya SDN Fx architecture is the first to deliver "connect anything, anywhere" simplicity, shaving weeks in provisioning time by allowing devices and users at the network edge to be added easily to the network. The Avaya SDN Fx architecture, built on the Avaya Fabric Networking technology, features new products and capabilities for a complete solution that delivers on the promise of SDN, without the hidden complexity that comes with the towering overlays of software and hardware inherent in many other vendor approaches.
Read: Networking to Nirvana with SDN blog by Marc Randall, SVP and GM, Avaya Networking
According to a recent Avaya survey, 99 percent of IT professionals want SDN to extend beyond the data center; however, nearly the same amount (93%) say the ability to do so today is extremely or moderately limited. In addition, of the challenges that IT pros are looking to SDN to solve, 80 percent insist that SDN programming must be simple before they will adopt1.
Read: The SDN Survey Media Summary - SDN Expectations
The Avaya SDN Fx architecture includes the following new products and features for Avaya Fabric Networking Technology:
- Open Networking Adapter -- the first ever Open Networking Adapter (ONA) provides a plug-n-play network connection for any device with an Ethernet port including medical devices, manufacturing machines, and branch office switches. Targeted for non-IT personnel, this card deck-sized appliance automatically provisions a QoS-customized virtual path across the network that mitigates security risks, allowing simple, powerful management of thousands of devices.
- Fabric Orchestrator -- as the first SDN controller embedded in a unified management instance, this appliance manages and orchestrates the Ethernet fabric as well as provides SDN Control to north and south bound interfaces. SDN capabilities include OpenFlow, OpenDaylight and OpenStack.
- Fabric Extend -- a new capability in Avaya Fabric Connect enables the extensibility of Fabric networking across any IP based network without loss of functionality. Investments in existing networking technologies are preserved while interconnecting strategic deployments of Fabric Connect across data centers, campuses and branches.
Read: Andrew Rufener's blog on why the best foundation for SDN is an enterprise-wide, automated core
Avaya's SDN Fx architecture builds on three primary tenets to meet many of the expectations IT departments seek from SDN:
- An automated core that takes advantage of a single, network-wide Ethernet fabric to remove the need for manual configuration at each network hop; thus, reducing the potential for error and accelerating time to service.
- An open ecosystem that utilizes standard fabric protocols married with open interfaces and open source customization tools empowering IT to quickly respond to changing business requirements with precision and flexibility.
- An enabled edge that leverages fabric extension beyond the data center to the user edge, allowing applications, devices and users to simply connect anywhere along the network and interact seamlessly to create a more agile and productive business environment.
The Avaya SDN Fx architecture can support a wide range of use cases, such as supporting the security and mobility of devices connecting to the ever-growing Internet of Things. Environments such as those found in hospitals, manufacturing floors and casinos are blanketed with devices that require a more secure, mobile connection to the network, and may also require that the rest of the network is better protected from potential threats that could be triggered by them. Similarly, home-based contact center agents pose an expense and operational burden by requiring dedicated resources to provide more secure access to customer information and alignment with IT security policies. With the Avaya SDN Fx architecture, a small network adapter provides automated and dynamic connectivity, mobility and a level of security to the network based on the device or user identity. The adapter will be reset and disabled if removed from the environment. This removes the burden of installation from IT, as end users can simply connect the adapters and allow the automated process to fully configure the device.
Quotes:
"CIOs are unnecessarily overburdened by archaic networks and frustrated by the disparity between the promised results of new technologies and the reality that most vendors deliver. There's a better way: Avaya Fabric Connect already relieves 75i percent of the top network issues identified by IT departments, and we're building on that with SDN Fx. This is the foundation that accelerates deployment and improves performance of customer and team engagement solution and that the industry has been demanding. Avaya can deliver it today."
Marc Randall, SVP and GM, Avaya Networking
"Given the challenges of today's networks -- particularly with the rise of cloud computing and virtualization, it's imperative that SDN implementations reach beyond the data center to simplify connection points and provide the necessary integration between applications and users. With SDN Fx, Avaya is providing the simplicity IT departments hope for by automating the core network and truly unifying applications for wired and wireless users and devices at the network edge."
Rohit Mehra, vice president, Network Infrastructure, IDC
Additional Resources
Avaya SDN Fx Architecture
Fabric Connect Benchmark Customer Research Report
Tags: Avaya, networking, software defined networking, SDN, Fabric Connect, shortest path bridging, virtualization, cloud
About Avaya
Avaya is a leading provider of solutions that enable customer and team engagement across multiple channels and devices for better customer experience, increased productivity and enhanced financial performance. Its world-class contact center and unified communications technologies and services are available in a wide variety of flexible on-premises and cloud deployment options that seamlessly integrate with non-Avaya applications. The Avaya Engagement Environment enables third parties to create and customize business applications for competitive advantage. Avaya's fabric-based networking solutions help simplify and accelerate the deployment of business critical applications and services. For more information please visit www.avaya.com.
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1 February 2015 -- SDN Expectations - Survey conducted by Dynamic Markets an independent research firm and sponsored by Avaya. See link for full results.
i Fabric Connect Customer Experience Research Report