Fujitsu Releases Virtualization Products using Software-Defined Networking for Wide-Area Networks

Tokyo, May 09, 2014

Fujitsu today announced the introduction of FUJITSU Network Virtuora NC and FUJITSU Network Virtuora SN-V, the second round of products based on FUJITSU Intelligent Networking and Computing Architecture, the company's architecture for optimizing entire ICT platforms on a network-wide basis using software-defined networking (SDN)⁽¹⁾. The company also announced enhancement of functions to its existing product, FUJITSU Network Proactnes II QM. The new products are available for order beginning May 9 only in Japan.

Wide-area network construction involves combining multiple layers, such as broadband optical-transmission, wireless access, and end-to-end packet-communications. The products being announced today are network-virtualization products associated with the packet-communications layer, and are to be steadily rolled out to other wide-area network areas.

These products enable building of virtual networks with centralized management and allow for easy creation of optimum communications environments compatible with a variety of services that originally had been difficult to implement using conventional network environments. Through this, these products will contribute to the creation of new services. They also enable visualization of communication routes for each service and provide control and management functions even for existing IP-communications equipment. In doing so, they significantly reduce capital expenses and operating expenses. Proactnes II QM software for network-quality management has been updated with new features for handling virtual networks to make continuous improvements in the quality of experience for end users of services built on virtual networks.

Background

The rapid spread of smartphones and cloud computing have brought with them a great diversity of services using wide-area networks, and the characteristics of the data flowing over these networks has likewise grown more complex and diverse. Wide-area network businesses are being called upon to support different services with different requirements by providing tailored communications environments for each service, but this is a problem that conventional static network designs are not equipped to solve.

Fujitsu is now providing products that create tailored communications environments for each service by using SDN network virtualization. These solve the problems of wide-area networks, promote the creation and growth of new services, and reduce network operating costs.

Overview of the New Products

Fujitsu last year made available network virtualization products for datacenters as a first round of products based on its FUJITSU Intelligent Networking and Computing Architecture⁽²⁾. Now, as a second round of products, Fujitsu is providing the following virtualization products for the packet-communications layer of wide-area networks.

1. Virtuora NC: wide-area virtual network operations-control and management software (new)

Virtuora NC software centrally manages network-configuration information and integrates creation of virtual networks with tailored communications environments for different services (setting communications equipment for optimized routing designs and routing information). Virtuora NC allows wide-area network operators to manage complex virtual networks efficiently and with high quality.

Virtuora NC uses Fujitsu's proprietary routing-design engine to instantly determine the best route based on multiple types of information, including number of hops and guaranteed bandwidth. It also provides a service chaining function⁽³⁾ that selects and connects to functions (such as firewalls and load balancers) available on a wide-area network. It enables visualization of communications-routing information for each service in an easy-to-read display to simplify virtual network operations that usually require a high level of specialized knowledge, which contributes to lower operating expenses.

Furthermore, in wide-area networks, Virtuora NC performs operational control and management of virtual networks for both centrally managed-type network virtualization nodes, including those supported by Virtuora SN-V, and self-distributing IP communication equipment such as routers.

2. Virtuora SN-V: network-virtualization node software (new)

Virtuora SN-V software carries out virtual-network control and user-data transport processes based on the information set up by Virtuora NC. As it runs on standard x86 servers, wide-area network operators will cut capital expenditure to reduce the need for specialized equipment that had previously been required.

Virtuora SN-V uses Fujitsu's proprietary execution-control technology in its software processing to achieve high-speed data-communications processing. It is controlled by Virtuora NC, and it can autonomously perform routing-trouble monitoring and instant switchover when faults are detected. Virtuora SN-V supports the standard OpenFlow 1.3⁽⁴⁾ protocol as its control interface.

3. Proactnes II QM: network-quality management software (upgraded)

Proactnes II QM software analyzes communications traffic, then instantly detects any deterioration of quality and accurately identifies problem areas. It has been upgraded to support an interface that instantly reports information on degraded quality to Virtuora NC, and has the network virtualization method NVGRE⁽⁵⁾ protocol and Q-in-Q⁽⁶⁾ protocol. Now it also has a high-speed data-capture function that works with Virtuora NC. This realizes wide-area virtual networks that offer an end-user experience on par with conventional networks.

Future Plans

Fujitsu looks forward to implementing network-design functions that respond to a wide variety of communications factors using network-virtualization technology, solving wide-area network problems by quickly providing tailored communications environments, and contributing to the development and usage expansion of new services. In addition, Fujitsu will expand the availability of these products to cover other layers in wide-area networks such as broadband optical transmission and wireless access.

Pricing and Availability

Pricing and Availability

Product Name	Price (excl. tax)	Shipment
FUJITSU Network Virtuora NC	From JPY 13 million	June 2014
FUJITSU Network Virtuora SN-V	From JPY 1 million	September 2014
FUJITSU Network Proactnes II QM	From JPY 3.77 million	June 2014

Sales Targets

JPY 12 billion in sales by end of fiscal 2016 (Fujitsu's fiscal year ends on March 31).