GÉANT has recently validated the solution, and will now move forward with plans for a network-wide implementation that will optimize its multi-layer network and enable the efficient delivery of very high bandwidth connectivity for data-intensive research.
Together with its partners in the NREN (National Research and Education Network), the GÉANT network connects over 50 million users in 10,000 institutions across Europe, supporting research in areas such as energy, the environment, space, and medicine. It has been a vital element of Europe's electronic infrastructure, providing the high-speed connectivity needed to share, access, and process massive amounts of data—data essential for studying particle physics, bioinformatics, advancing medicine, or simply enabling artists on different continents to perform together in near real-time.
GÉANT tested and validated two key components of Infinera's packet optical SDN solution: the software Open Transport Switch (OTS) and the Packet Switching Module (PXM). The PXM enables intelligent Ethernet and MPLS switching on Infinera's DTN-X platform, which is widely deployed in the GÉANT network. Infinera's DTN-X family offers terabit-level scalability, operational simplicity and efficiency, and the high levels of flexibility and multi-layer programmability of intelligent transport networks. Infinera's OTS software further enables multi-layer SDN programming of Infinera networks with an open, modular architecture, open APIs, and a simplified programming model for rapid SDN application development. Introduced in 2015 and initially deployed for on-demand SDN-driven optical bandwidth services, OTS has been extended to support programmability in Layer 2 packet services, via PXM, enabling provisioning and optimization of multi-layer services across an integrated packet optical transport network.
GÉANT has validated the components of Infinera's packet SDN solution and is working with ON Lab to develop the ONOS SDN controller, creating an SDN-driven network optimization approach. Once the solution is fully deployed, GÉANT will be able to improve how large amounts of data flow across the network, optimizing connectivity and capacity between IP/MPLS and optical layers, to deliver a multi-layer transport solution supporting data-intensive research computing projects. This will improve service for users and reduce the need for oversupply capacity in IP/MPLS and optical layers. GÉANT has modeled the benefits of re-architecting its network to use Infinera's packet optical SDN solution versus several alternatives. This solution avoids 50 percent of the costs associated with the network where it will be initially deployed.
“Infinera’s packet optical SDN solution offers an effective approach to optimizing the GÉANT network and efficiently managing large traffic flows,” commented Mark Johnston, Chief Network Operations Officer at GÉANT. “We look forward to realizing the anticipated operational efficiencies and benefits of this solution, and continuing our excellent collaborative work with Infinera on future SDN applications.”
“We are delighted to be working with GÉANT to deliver deployable, real-world SDN solutions that create tangible value,” said Nick Walden, Senior Vice President of EMEA at Infinera. “This is just one example that illustrates the strong partnership between our organizations, and we are excited to work with GÉANT to deliver future innovations.”
