Juniper Networks unveils Metro Fabric offering secure network infrastructure for straightforward metro delivery

March 19, 2018

Juniper Networks unveiled at OFC 2018 in San Diego its Metro Fabric, which the company says offers an adaptive, secure network infrastructure for straightforward service creation and metro delivery. The Metro Fabric builds on the company’s recent Affirmed Networks/Netronome, Juniper Contrail Provider Cloud, and Juniper Networks Programmable Photonic Layer announcements to enable service providers to build and manage distributed clouds for new 5G and IoT services.

Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR) unveiled at OFC 2018 in San Diego its Metro Fabric, which the company says offers an adaptive, secure network infrastructure for straightforward service creation and metro delivery. The Metro Fabric builds on the company's recent Affirmed Networks/Netronome, Juniper Contrail Provider Cloud, and Juniper Networks Programmable Photonic Layer (see "Juniper Networks embraces open optical line systems, Lumentum whitebox ROADM") announcements to enable service providers to build and manage distributed clouds for new 5G and IoT services.

The company says two ACX Series Routers and a new PTX Series Packet Transport Router are the foundation for the Metro Fabric. The ACX5448 Universal Metro Router is designed to enable a seamless transition from 10GbE to 100GbE. It features forty-eight 10GbEaggregation ports and four 100GbE uplink ports to support complete Metro Ethernet and IP/MPLS VPN services in a space-efficient platform. Working in conjunction with the existing ACX500, ACX1000, and ACX2000 Universal Metro Routers, the ACX5448 offers operators SLA control capabilities and automation and zero-touch provisioning for a straightforward migration, Juniper Networks asserts.

The ACX6360 Universal Metro Router enables service providers to collapse multiple layers into one platform for a simplified metro network, and links the secure packet-optical transport layer and IP/MPLS networking, says the company.Incorporating industry-compliant 256AES MACSec encryption for 10-Gbps, 40-Gbps, 100-Gbps, and 200-Gbps CFP2-DCO coherentDWDM interfaces for mobile backhaul, data center interconnect (DCI), cable Distributed Access Architectures, and other transport applications, the ACX6360 makes a two-box approach unnecessary, Juniper Networks says.

The PTX10002 Packet Transport Routerprovides the foundation for scale-out exchange that many cloud providers require as they distribute service delivery closer to subscribers. The PTX10002 also delivers the base for cloud architectures with high-capacity, cost-optimized 100GbE interfaces for growing network traffic needs.

Juniper's Metro Fabric also incorporates the Juniper Networks TCX1000 Series Programmable ROADM and proNX Optical Director.

The company asserts its Metro Fabric will introduce automation, versatility, security, and IP and open packet-optical networking into the metro for operational ease. Service providers building metro services for mobile, business, cable, fiber residential, and direct public cloud use cases can use a modern service creation platform to offer new revenue-generating services, affirms Juniper Networks.

"It's not just the sheer amount of traffic going through the metro network that's become a real challenge – it's also the type of traffic we're starting to see in the metro," said Marco Arioli, Fastweb manager of network engineering. "Creating new services and keeping up with bandwidth needs requires a new approach to metro networks as the status quo is simply unsustainable. Simplicity is the key to our success so we are excited to see Juniper – with whom we've partnered for years – proactively reshaping how the metro serves the evolving needs of our customers."

For related articles, visit the Network Design Topic Center.

For more information on high-speed transmission systems and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer's Guide.