Ciena rolls out new packet software, cloud portal capabilities
Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ: CIEN) has introduced new software capabilities for its Ethernet-switch-based packet networking portfolio designed to speed service deployment and verification of service-level-agreement (SLA) compliance. The new features apply to Ciena’s Service-Aware Operating System (SAOS) and its OneControl Unified Management System.
The updates to the OneControl platform can save as much as 75% on installation and provisioning time, Ciena asserts. They include:
- a suite of zero-touch service profiles for rapid activation
- rapid correlation of service performance events to enhance service quality reporting with historic fault and performance management trending
- real-time, proactive troubleshooting of network issues via a user interface that Ciena sasy provides faster and more detailed event resolution, fault isolation, and reporting
- NOC-based service visualization and remote, point-and-click provisioning.
The updates to the SAOS include:
- service activation testing that provides a service quality report at the time of deployment and periodic reports thereafter
- Service-specific OAM tools that support standard OAM protocols like 802.1ag and Y.1731 and benefit from custom hardware built into Ciena’s packet portfolio
- Addition of MPLS-TP capabilities
- Enhanced G.8032 Ethernet ring support.
Meanwhile, Ciena’s new cloud-based portal is designed to provide service providers’ customers with real-time visibility and service monitoring of their network. The portal provides direct access to SLA reports so customers can self-diagnose Ethernet service health and verify SLA adherence.
“Metro access and aggregation networks continue to be built out at a furious pace to accommodate the increasing amount of bandwidth required by mobile backhaul, business services, and cloud applications,” said Michael Howard, co-founder and principal analyst, carrier networks at Infonetics Research via a Ciena press release. “Whether this infrastructure is built out using IP/MPLS or Ethernet is an open question. Operators are looking for the lowest TCO, which includes the greatest ease of operation and fastest speed of deployment. Ciena’s approach to automation and rapid turn-up of services certainly focuses on what providers are looking for to help enable them to gain footprint and competitive advantage.”
“Ethernet services are mature and ubiquitous, so providers must find new, innovative ways to differentiate and improve the customer experience faster than the competition. Ciena’s new packet software capabilities equip providers with the ability to deploy networks that are built-for-speed: speed to service delivery, speed to respond to accelerating bandwidth requirements, and speed to enable true SLA transparency,” asserted Steve Alexander, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Ciena, in the same press release. “Our SAOS and OneControl software enhancements and cloud-based portal combined with our consultative partner approach, augment our strategic focus to provide customers with a network designed to significantly improve the subscriber experience.”
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