Service providers have begun using SDN within their data centers to automate networking of virtualized devices and functions, but have not yet been able to extend the same SDN automation to the metro and core networks that are foundational to their business. Meanwhile, traffic patterns in metro and core networks have become increasingly variable and unpredictable. Service providers are challenged to activate bandwidth, reconfigure network resources and adapt to application demand quickly using legacy systems and manual processes.
The Xceed Software Suite is designed to meet these challenges by delivering an open purpose-built multi-layer SDN platform and revenue-ready applications, leveraging the powerful scalability, flexibility and programmability of Infinera transport networks.
Purpose-built Platform: The Xceed Multi-layer SDN Platform delivers scalable SDN control across Infinera's end-to-end Intelligent Transport Network portfolio spanning long-haul, metro and data center interconnect applications. The Xceed platform, built on the OpenDaylight open source SDN controller, incorporates Infinera-developed advanced microservices, such as the Xceed Multi-layer Path Computation Element (PCE) and a rich network abstraction layer incorporating Infinera's proven Open Transport Switch (OTS) software. With a diverse range of open application programming interfaces (APIs), standards-based information models and open source components, the Xceed Multi-layer SDN Platform sets a new benchmark of openness to enable rapid application development and deployment.
Revenue-ready Applications: Xceed Applications unleash the scalability, flexibility and programmability of Infinera packet-optical transport networks to improve service delivery and facilitate service providers' goals of protecting and growing revenue while increasing network efficiency. Xceed Applications available in the initial release include:
- Xceed Dynamic Bandwidth provides on-demand provisioning of Optical Transport Network (OTN), including ODUFlex and Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) compliant Ethernet services. Xceed Dynamic Bandwidth enables programmable on-demand capacity activation creating an elastic environment that is designed to enable faster service provisioning, more efficient use of resources across packet, digital and optical layers, and improved network utilization.
- Xceed Instant Virtual Networks facilitates network virtualization to enable service providers to define virtual transport network topologies on a shared physical network infrastructure. With Layer 1 (OTN) Instant Virtual Network (IVN), multiple virtual transport networks can be established, each operating as a standalone transport network with integrated OTN switching, optical routing and protection capabilities tailored to the end-user's applications.
The Xceed Software Suite enables Infinera and its partners and customers to play a leading role in building fully open, dynamic multi-layer SDN-controlled networks.
"As a leading national provider of high-bandwidth wavelength services, Windstream recognizes that our enterprise and wholesale customers demand streamlined service provisioning and more flexible, on-demand connectivity," said Art Nichols, Windstream's Vice President of Network Architecture and Technology. "As a strategic vendor, Infinera partners with us to develop pragmatic solutions to meet our customers' needs. We are actively testing and plan to deploy the Xceed Multi-layer SDN Platform with Dynamic Bandwidth to further our efforts in providing an exceptional customer experience."
"G?ANT is working in close partnership with Infinera to deploy SDN, most recently validating Open Transport Switch and the Packet Switching Module to pilot multi-layer programmability between our optical and packet networks," said Mark Johnston, Chief Operations Officer at G?ANT. "By closely collaborating with the SDN development team, led by Afrodite Sevasti, we plan to leverage the power of the Xceed Software Suite to implement multi-layer control and to facilitate multi-domain interoperation to increase network efficiency and deliver on-demand services. This will also ultimately increase the capability and value of the G?ANT network."
"The introduction of the Xceed Software Suite marks an important milestone in Infinera's ability to help our customers realize the promise of an infinite pool of intelligent bandwidth," said David Welch, President and Co-Founder, Infinera. "Now with Xceed, our customers have the automation, multi-layer intelligence and programmability to rapidly deliver new, differentiated SDN applications with an open approach. Service providers can now activate and control pre- deployed terabit scale capacity quickly and easily with minimal operational expense."
