Virtualization in the Core of the Network

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Virtualization in the Core of

the network

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Table of Figures

figure 1: Changing the operational model . . . . 1

figure 2: overlay proliferation for different types and applications of networks . . . . 2

figure 3: Dimensions of scale required for scalable, intelligent packet core infrastructure . . . . 3

figure 4: alternative operational model . . . . 4

figure 5: t Series single and multi-chassis offerings, all supported by JCS1200 . . . . 5

figure 6: tX Matrix Plus front and rear views . . . . 5

figure 7: enabling core virtualization with tX Matrix, t1600, and JCS1200 . . . . 6

figure 8: optical integration improves Capex and opex performance . . . . 8

Executive Summary

This paper is essential reading for business decision makers (up to the CxO level) in both service provider and large enterprise environments. The paper describes a unique solution set for virtualizing a service provider network through an intelligent partitioning of resources in the forwarding, control and service planes.

While the networked economy heavily relies on telecom infrastructure, service providers struggle to translate this dependence into profitability. Juniper Networks®_{has developed a solution to this issue in the form of a virtualized,}

multiservice core. The solution includes the industry’s most flexible multi-chassis routing system, and it brings a new dimension of scale to the network infrastructure.

Highly scalable network virtualization, as implemented by Juniper Networks, brings a new dimension of flexibility and scalability to network infrastructure, resulting in high levels of operational excellence, streamlined asset utilization, and a reduced total cost of ownership (TCO). Building network cores using this technology—Juniper Networks TX Matrix Plus, T1600 Core Routers, and JCS1200 Control System—mitigates risk for individual services and network functions. This opens the door for new business models and improved profitability.

A Telecommunications Paradox

Today’s connected society is extremely dependent on telecom infrastructure. In a networked economy, the quality of connectivity affects business performance, and the consumer’s very quality of living is increasingly dependent on network-delivered services. Demand for network services remains high, and the same is true for rapid response time and the quality of experience. Yet, service providers are struggling to translate this dependency into profitability. Due to a variety of factors such as the unpredictable rise in bandwidth, the difficulty in monetizing high-value content when it crosses multiple networks, and the changing business models of content providers and network operators, service providers often have to move on a dime in order to translate these opportunities into revenue in a timely fashion. While service creation is important, the most critical component is operational excellence for keeping ownership costs low and risks in check. With 72 percent of every revenue dollar going to operational expenses, it doesn’t make sense to create new services without a concurrent relentless pursuit of cost reduction. This will require rethinking how networks are operated. The resulting retooled operational model must account for business as well as the technical pressures, and must allow expenditures to drop while revenues rise (Figure 1).

figure 1: Changing the operational model

The key to changing the operational mode is scale. Multiservice networks need to scale in three dimensions: the forwarding plane (“how you move the bits”), the control plane (“how you direct the bits”), and the services plane (“how you monetize the bits”). These three planes need to scale and evolve independently from each other to support emerging business models.

The key to improved operational excellence lies in scaling the forwarding and control dimensions of the network. This allows the network to be virtualized through an intelligent partitioning of resources —an architecture that has become the standard mode of operation for optimizing data center resources. Virtualizing the network in a similar fashion enables new business models and improved profitability.

CapEx

Operating Costs

Ideal Business Model

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Complexity and Cost of IP Overlay Proliferation

Even today, with many convergence tools such as IP/MPLS (which serves as the transport plane for most services), full convergence has not quite been realized. For a variety of reasons—organizational issues, regulatory challenges, security, scalability, and quality of experience guarantees—providers are forced to overlay networks for wireline, wireless, and wholesale services. Within each organizational domain, a carrier may then need to build out separate networks for services with different bandwidth and quality-of-service (QoS) requirements such as:

• VoIP: Low bandwidth, zero tolerance for jitter and delay, low growth rate

• IPTV: Huge bandwidth, very stringent jitter, delay tolerance, low TE, stable growth • VPN: Medium bandwidth, high TE, high growth rate

• Internet: Best-effort traffic, unpredictable growth rate

figure 2: overlay proliferation for different types and applications of networks

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For the aforementioned reasons, most service providers will naturally “play it safe” and set up operational divisions within each domain with “strict walls” as to the administrative access of the equipment carrying the traffic. There may also be external reasons why these clear boundaries become necessary—regulatory environments such as HIPAA and Sarbanes-Oxley are potential factors.

As a result, service providers find themselves with many disparate networks—each with variable growth rates, different partner relationships (either with vendors or adjacent service providers), and different business cases supporting their operation. Equipment will amortize at different rates, with write-offs perhaps ranging from 3 to 15 years. This leads to unpredictability and variability in planning, testing, and deployment cycles, as old networks are maintained separately for legacy applications that refuse to go away.

Issues of scale are present in both the control and forwarding planes – for instance, a large Layer 3 VPN network may support hundreds of thousands of routes, consuming large amounts of control plane resources. If the same network is supporting many VoIP circuits, table sizes in the control plane may be further exhausted. Hence, service providers are forced to continue rolling out multiple overlay networks—or risk compromising scale, stability, and/or security. As more services are introduced, this leads to both capital and operational cost escalation.

Scaling in Multiple Dimensions

As mentioned earlier, multiservice networks can be viewed as three-dimensional systems containing forwarding, control, and service dimensions:

• Forwarding (“how you move the bits”) • Control (“how you direct the bits”)

• Software/service (“how you monetize the bits”)

For a network to be a converged, scalable, packet core infrastructure, it must scale in all of these dimensions (Figure 3).

On the forwarding plane, traffic growth is the key driver for router deployments. As the global economy becomes increasingly networked and dependent upon the communications infrastructure, traffic rates continue to balloon—growing 70 to 80 percent a year by most estimates—and high-density routing remains critical.

Furthermore, the importance of the control plane cannot be overlooked. A router’s control plane must scale to accommodate ever-growing routing and forwarding tables, service tunnels, virtual networks, and other information related to network construction. The importance of control plane scale magnifies in modern converged infrastructure such as IP/MPLS.

Finally, the importance of the service plane is brought to bear when considering the requirements of an increasingly disparate and global marketplace. These changing market dynamics create pressure for greater network innovation and a much deeper integration between applications and the network.1

Forwarding: T1600 Co nt ro l: J CS 12 00 Service: PSDP

figure 3: Dimensions of scale required for scalable, intelligent packet core infrastructure

1_{for more information on all three planes and an elaboration of Juniper’s solutions on the service plane, see a Scalable and intelligent Packet}

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An Alternative Operational Model

Network virtualization brings a new dimension of flexibility and scalability to the network infrastructure. A simplified architecture (shown here) serves all of the applications and networks—VoIP, IPTV, VPN, Internet, Wireless, Wireline, and Wholesale—that previously required overlay networks and unnecessary duplication.

figure 4: alternative operational model

Virtualization thus fulfills the true promise of convergence and allows for a shared infrastructure to be used for multiple purposes and with simple, predictable operational models in place without changing your organizational model. With services decoupled from networks, new services and networks can be introduced without building overlays. Each service/network can be managed and controlled individually and service introduction is swift and with reduced risk. Essentially, each service now runs in its own virtual service network, which results in a reduced TCO, mitigation of risk, and streamlined asset utilization. The flexibility allows for new business models and opens the potential for increased profitability.

T Series Architecture and TX Matrix Plus

With the Juniper Networks virtualized core solution, an initial customer focus on forwarding capacity, control plane scaling, or rudimentary services can be quickly shifted or expanded in response to changing business conditions. The T Series routing family—T320, T640, T1600, TX Matrix, and TX Matrix Plus—provides the ingredients for high-end and core networks of the future, especially when controlled by the JCS1200. There are over 5,000 T Series routers deployed worldwide, and there has been a rapid migration to the T1600.

The following figure shows the industry-leading scaling characteristics of the T Series on the forwarding and control planes. All platforms operate the same consistent Juniper Networks Junos®_{operating system, deployed by the top}

100 service providers worldwide.

T1600

TX MATRIX PLUS

VoIP

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figure 5: t Series single and multi-chassis offerings, all supported by JCS1200

The latest offering in the T Series is the center stage switching matrix for the T1600 line cards chassis — TX Matrix Plus – creating a multi-chassis solution that allows providers with the fastest-growing traffic needs to grow node capacity beyond that of the largest single-chassis systems.

figure 6: tX Matrix Plus front and rear views

The TX Matrix Plus center stage allows carriers to build a system of up to 25 Tbps using three switch chassis and 16 line card chassis. A fully loaded, 16-chassis TX Matrix Plus system will support 1024 10-Gigabit Ethernet ports. Together, the TX Matrix Plus, T1600, and JCS1200 enable the virtualized, multiservice core, and the most flexible operating environment for changing business conditions in telecommunications.

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Core Virtualization with Juniper Networks

Juniper’s virtualized, multiservice core features the industry’s most flexible multi-chassis routing system and brings a new dimension of flexibility and scalability to the network infrastructure. It consists of a shared single-chassis or multi-chassis routing system that can be divided into hardware logical routers (called “protected system domains” or PSD) on a per-slot basis.

The enabling technology components for a virtualized, multiservice core are shown in Figure 6. The chassis, blades, power, interfaces, and links are all shared.

figure 7: enabling core virtualization with tX Matrix, t1600, and JCS1200

Transcending physical router boundaries, this solution uses a shared pool of line card slots—each slot, or set of slots, is a router in its own right. In this example, there are four PSDs created with the JCS1200 and the TX Matrix Plus system that are connecting three T1600 line card chassis. Each of the PSDs is a router supporting a private or public network, or a mobile packet core.

This opens the potential for flexible architectural choices. Each of the hardware-virtualized routers can connect either to other partitions within the same shared pool, or to other network elements such as Juniper Networks MX Series 3D Universal Edge Routers that would be configured as a dedicated, intelligent edge. There is also the added flexibility of multiple PSDs sharing a common uplink. Providers have the choice of either collapsing network functions in a TX Matrix Plus system or creating multiple virtualized cores that connect to a dedicated edge.

TX Matrix Plus JCS1200

T1600 PSD4

Shared uplinks, Integrated optics, High-density 10GbE, Service interfaces

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Benefits of This Approach

A core solution with secure router virtualization saves on both CapEx and OpEx. Expensive resources such as high-speed interfaces and WAN links can be shared among the hardware logical routers, while consumption of rack space and power is minimized. Routing and forwarding between routers can be performed internally, eliminating the expense of physical interfaces for intra-PoP connectivity.

Risk mitigation is another key advantage. A virtualized, multiservice core provides administrative separation—different groups administer different services. If necessary, individual virtual networks can run different software versions. This secure isolation creates an environment that allows the rapid introduction and management of services.

Networks designed in this way are operationally flexible, and carriers can achieve true network convergence without changing their organizational model. This enables new business models.

Evolving Business Opportunities

A virtualized core network opens new business opportunities for a service provider. The Internet—and many IP networks for that matter—is more beneficial for data applications such as email and file transfers than for applications that require low latency and low jitter, such as voice and video. That is the reason these applications typically run within the carrier’s “walled garden.” That is, they are hosted and delivered solely on the carrier’s network and customers pay for both the content and the QoS required to deliver them with the highest possible user experience.

Over-the-top content runs outside the walled garden on the best-effort network. The exponential growth of this traffic is a major source of concern for service providers since they are cut out of the revenue stream. However, carriers can insert themselves in the value stream and improve the user experience by extending the walled garden to an “open garden.” Open garden refers to the delivery of content and applications that are built and delivered by a partner. They can be hosted in the carrier’s network, in the partner’s network, or in a hosting network or content delivery network (CDN). The fundamental difference between a walled garden and an open garden is that applications or services are not built by the carrier, but are based on a partnership with the application provider— as a result, the provider commits to treat this traffic with the same level of services as its own walled garden traffic. If the best-effort network is really best effort, this adds tremendous value for everybody—the owner of the content, the consumer, and the carrier that provides the connectivity.

Network virtualization enables this model, and essentially allows content owners to create their “own” CDN inside the service provider’s network. In this way, carriers add value in the delivery of content, which provides them with a business model to generate more new revenue.

The open garden model gives the carriers the ability to add value in the delivery of applications or content, which makes them relevant and provides them with a business model that is able to generate new revenue and the funding necessary to continue network investment to keep up with traffic.

Another emerging business model is the Virtual Network Operator (VNO). In this model, service providers create secure and private IP backbones for other service provides. This is ideal for service providers of all sizes and types when access to capital may be restricted but network expansion needs to continue in order to support business growth. Providers can earn additional revenue without adding to the forwarding plane of their networks. Thus, service providers can expand their networks by “leasing” dedicated IP backbone networks from large infrastructure-based carriers.

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Other Supporting Technologies

Once a virtualized infrastructure is in place at the core of the network, additional technology augments the solution to fulfill the promise of cost-effective network convergence. One technology sought by leading carriers is 100 Gigabit Ethernet. Similarly, high-density 10-Gigabit Ethernet trunking is in high demand, as is a tighter integration with the optical network in the form of IP over DWDM (IPoDWDM) and Optical Transport Network (OTN) interfaces.

100 Gbps per Slot

The T1600 is the only routing platform that supports 100 Gbps per slot of minimum packet-sized Ethernet traffic, allowing for the provision of cost-effective network virtualization.

The market demand for high-density 10-Gigabit Ethernet continues to grow dramatically, with dense core uplinks running at line rate, and oversubscribed ports for customer-facing links and data centers. Here again, network virtualization enables service providers to collapse layers in the core, aggregation, and edge layers of networks.

Transport Intelligence with OTN

At the intersection of IP and transport networks, operators need improvements in Operation, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM). The G.709 standard provides a subset of SONET/SDH functions in optical wavelengths, and the optional usage of GMPLS allows optical layer visibility into hard-to-detect failures. Finally, the integration of the optics into the router interfaces leads to low-cost optical monitoring and provisioning.

The protection mechanisms enabled by OTN are very fast and reliable—integrating DWDM into routers enables fast recovery triggers. In many cases, a router-based fast reroute (FRR) may be more economical and as fast and reliable as SONET/SDH ring-based protection, even more so if the IP layer has visibility into what’s happening in the optical layer. Proactive restoration of IP sessions based on deteriorating optical parameters such as OSNR and Pre-FEC BER make the networks extremely resilient and fault tolerant as restoration happens prior to actual physical events. Figure 8 illustrates the CapEx and OpEx benefits of optical integration. The immediate apparent benefit is the reduction of transponder shelves.

figure 8: optical integration improves Capex and opex performance

This reduction in network elements yields benefits on both the CapEx and the OpEx side of the balances sheet. Fewer shelves mean less space, cooling, power, and management to manage—and fewer interconnects to configure and maintain. Enhanced resiliency is another result, as there are fewer devices and active components.

BEFORE

Optical Mux Multiplexer Router Transponder Mux/ROADM

After

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Printed on recycled paper

2000299-002-EN Aug 2010

Copyright 2010 Juniper Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. Juniper Networks, the Juniper Networks logo, Junos, NetScreen, and ScreenOS are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks, service marks, registered marks, or registered service marks are the property of their respective owners. Juniper Networks assumes no responsibility for any inaccuracies in this document. Juniper Networks reserves the right to change, modify, transfer, or otherwise revise this publication without notice.

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Conclusion

Network virtualization fundamentally changes how networks are operated, and Juniper Networks is the only vendor bringing all of the technology to market that unlocks the true potential of network virtualization.

The T Series family of routers—led by the T1600 and the TX Matrix Plus—provides the ultimate transport plane scale in the industry, and the ideal framework upon which multipurpose virtualized routers can be established. JCS1200, the industry’s only independent control plane scaling system, unlocks this potential.

A truly virtualized core is also supported by a large variety of interface types. Juniper’s 100 Gbps per slot offering is the highest-speed slot in the industry and Juniper also offers the highest-density 10-Gigabit Ethernet scale of any vendor. Furthermore, simplicity in integration with the transport network is attained with 10 Gbps OTN interfaces. The new dimensions of flexibility and scale offered by Juniper Networks result in high levels of operational excellence, streamlined asset utilization, and reduced TCO. Juniper’s virtualized core provides the industry’s only real solution for mitigated risk in hardware-virtualized routers. This technology supports new business models that are built on truly converged networks, which leads to improved profitability.

Virtualization is the de facto operational model for data centers, because the cost and operational advantages it provides are indisputable. The TX Matrix Plus and JCS1200 bring these same advantages of virtualization to core networks in the industry’s most flexible multi-chassis routing system. This breakthrough lowers TCO by enabling Juniper’s customers to build scalable, reliable networks that can deliver innovative services with maximum

profitability and investment protection. As a result, a virtualized, multiservice core is the service provider operational model of the future.

References

Applications for an Independent Control Plane:

www .juniper .net/us/en/local/pdf/app-notes/3500134-en .pdf Control Plane Scaling and Router Virtualization:

www .juniper .net/us/en/local/pdf/whitepapers/2000261-en .pdf Efficient Scaling for Multiservice Networks:

www .juniper .net/us/en/local/pdf/whitepapers/2000207-en .pdf A Scalable and Intelligent Packet Core Infrastructure:

www .juniper .net/us/en/local/pdf/whitepapers/2000294-en .pdf

Virtualization in the Core of the Network