DartPoints picks ADVA Ensemble virtualization platform for NFV

ADVA Optical Networking says its new Ensemble Division, created in the wake of its acquisition of Overture Networks (see "ADVA strengthens Carrier Ethernet, NFV hand with Overture Networks acquisition"), has landed DartPoints as a customer. The Dallas-based customized data center services provider will use elements of the ADVA Ensemble portfolio to apply network functions virtualization (NFV) concepts in several use cases.

ADVA says DartPoints will use the Ensemble product suite to support multi-vendor virtual network functions (VNFs) that can be managed either by DartPoints or its customers. DartPoints also will be able to support multi-tenancy VNFs. Virtual firewalls and routers managed by DartPoints will be first to deploy.

DartPoints will use the Ensemble Connector, a virtualization platform that provides virtual switching, flow steering across diverse physical and virtual network systems, and Carrier Ethernet 2.0 functionality, in concert with the ADVA SP 150vSE, which the systems house describes as “an Intel-based server wrapped in a carrier-class chassis.” DartPoints also will use the Ensemble Orchestrator to instantiate and provision VNFs from multiple vendors.

"One of the key reasons we chose ADVA Optical Networking's pure-play virtualization platform was because it enables us to mix and match software with open hardware for high velocity and service agility," said Satya Baddipudi, CTO, DartPoints. "The ADVA Ensemble solution also gives us the freedom to locate functions where they'll be most efficient and where they best meet our customers' needs. What's more, with the Ensemble Orchestrator we're able to provision a single instance of a virtualized network function across multiple customers, which creates an especially attractive total cost of ownership model."

Prayson Pate, CTO of the ADVA Ensemble Division, predicts that virtualized CPE functionality, including virtualized switching such as deployed by DartPoints, will prove a major use case for the company's product suite. Others include the provision of NFV infrastructure as a service alongside Carrier Ethernet connectivity to enable multiple service providers to access a building via a single connection as well as the creation of "micro data centers" to address the needs of multi-tenant buildings.

In addition to Ensemble Connector and Ensemble Orchestrator, current members of the division's portfolio include:

• Ensemble Orchestrator, an ETSI MANO-compliant NFV orchestration platform
• Ensemble Analytics
• Ensemble Registrar, a central management platform for registration, authentication, access control, licensing, configuration, and
  VNF inventory
• Ensemble Dashboard, which provides the primary graphical user interface and visualization tools for interacting with Ensemble applications.

These products leverage ADVA's familiy of 150 NIDs. Pate says that products for use with ADVA's optical transport systems are on the drawing board.

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