Cisco has introduced advanced software solutions and developer tools for cloud-scale networking that will enable service providers and web companies to enhance the performance of cloud applications and reduce the cost of managing and operating the networks that support them.
Innovations to the Cisco IOS XR network operating system will deliver these benefits by enabling traditional and web service providers to converge their data centres and wide area network (WAN) architectures, by making networks more programmable, and by enabling tighter integration with popular IT configuration and management tools.
Developed in collaboration with some of the world's leading web companies, and based on their operational best practices, Cisco IOS XR innovations will make faster and simple cloud-scale networking available to all service providers, said the firm.
Cisco is also announcing the availability of three additions to the industry-leading Cisco Network Convergence System (NCS) Series routing portfolio.
According to the Cisco Global Cloud Index (2014-2019), released last month, total global data centre traffic is projected to triple by the end of 2019 (from 3.4 to 10.4 Zettabytes), and 83 percent of total data centre traffic will come from the cloud by 2019 (up from 61 percent in 2014). The proliferation of more business devices and machine-to-machine (M2M) connections, as well as more scalable services and applications with additional storage needs, will create new network and compute requirements, specifically a convergence of the data centre and WAN.
Cisco is introducing new capabilities to the Cisco IOS XR software, enabling service providers to run their networks at half the total cost of ownership (over five years) compared to the present mode of operation, and these solutions will essentially double network efficiency and performance.
Additionally, customers can leverage their investments in IOS XR and seamlessly transition to cloud-scale with their current or new hardware platforms.
"Service providers are looking to leverage the operational best practices established in massively scalable computing environments and marry them with their own networking reach to compete and innovate faster," said Kelly Ahuja, senior vice president of Cisco's service provider segment."
Laurent Lachal, senior analyst, infrastructure solutions - software group, Ovum, added: "The network is cloud computing's final frontier, at technology, people and process levels. It needs to be built for scale and ruthlessly automated, to deliver the right service on demand, and to rely on tools and technologies that enable network specialists to effectively interact with the rest of the IT team as well as business users. Cisco's software-centric approach enables businesses to capture the digitization opportunity and conquer this final frontier."
Source: http://www.comms-dealer.com/industry-news/cisco-unveils-software-solutions-cloud-scale-networking