2015.03.03
Strengthening Cloud Computing Service with SmartSDN® Controller
NTT Comware Corporation (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Shinobu Umino, hereinafter, NTT Comware) increases the options of SmartSDN Controller to accelerate the adoption of SDN(*1) in cloud environments, aiming for enhancement of the flexibility of the service to meet various business needs. SmartSDN Controller is designed to be resistant to vendor lock-in(*2), as well as to reduce costs and accelerate the speed in network architecting and operation management.
1. Background
In general, cloud computing is costly for various reasons including that specific technologies are required to manage server/network groups, and it is difficult to assign capable technicians to manage the entire cloud environment. In particular, a wide variety of modifications or settings changes are required for various network devices in order for a certain level of ICT security and virtualization of the network.Therefore, it is required to make the settings changes of the networks in a more efficient manner and orchestrate the entire cloud environment. Under these circumstances, NTT Comware believes it is necessary to design the new cloud environment with more service options to the various above-mentioned issues.
2. Outline of the New Features
SmartSDN Controller can significantly increase the efficiency of operations by realizing the orchestration of virtual servers and networks under the cloud environment by providing the following functions:(1) Control of the existing network devices and adoption of SDN under the cloud environment The New SmartSDN Controller has a CLI(*4) function to control networking devices (e.g., Ciscofs Switch Nexus series) in which NTT Comware has rich experience related to cloud management. With this function, the SDN-based network can be designed without replacing the existing cloud networking devices, which would save more than 50% of the operation cost compared to the conventional system. It is adopted for a multi-vendor approach, controlling various items such as switches, routers, firewalls, and load balancers.
(2) Efficient management of operations through linkage with cloud orchestrator The system, to link with the cloud orchestrator(*5), provides API(*6). With the linkage with the cloud manager(*7), SmartSDN Controller also controls a virtual switch (vSW)(*8) to orchestrate the virtual servers and networks. When a virtual machine (VM9) is created or added under the cloud environment, SmartSDN Controller correlates with the action and changes the network settings. Thus, the operation management scheme is made efficient and the lead time can be reduced.
These features will be available, in the above order, from April 2015.3. Future Scenario
NTT Comware strives to continue the development of solutions required to meet various needs of customers, aiming for a business scale of 10 billion JPY by 2020. It is also expected to be the service for enterprise network carriers.[Notes]
(*1) SDN: Software Defined Networking. This is an approach to intensively control computer networking with software and to change network configurations or settings, or a network itself using this approach.
(*2) Vendor lock-in: This is a situation in which a customer using a product or service cannot easily transit to a competitor's product or service through a particular manufacturer or sales agent.
(*3) Virtual machine (VM): Virtual Machine. This is software-based computer architecture virtually created on a server.
(*4) CLI: Command Line Interface. This is an interface specification to control networking devices such as routers and switches.
(*5) Cloud orchestrator: Software to control cloud managers and SDN controllers, and automate the creation and operation of a virtual infrastructure and network.
(*6) API: Application Programming Interface. This is an interface specification to use for software components to mutually connect.
(*7) Cloud manager: The software to define a resource design or settings in a cloud environment and co-relationship, and automate systems architecture and operation.
(*8) Virtual switch (vSW): Virtual Switch. This is a switch, available as a form of software in general, required for virtual machines to communicate mutually, or with external devices.
