Juniper Networks has released enhancements to its Contrail Cloud platform designed to help service providers mitigate the challenges in building and operating distributed and scalable clouds.
The updates include integration of OpenStack Platform and Ceph Storage from open source solutions provider Red Hat, built in AppFormix automation and visibility, pre-validated virtual network functions (VNFs) and new end-to-end support services.
According to Juniper, the enhancements are also designed to give carriers a far simpler path to delivering business, IoT and mobile services in the cloud.
“Realising the benefits of the cloud is near the top of the list for strategic imperatives for nearly all service providers big and small – equivalent to keeping costs low and innovation high,” says Pratik Roychowdhury, senior director of product management Contrail at Juniper Networks.
{loadposition peter}“Unfortunately for many, that move isn’t as easy as just flipping a switch. Based on our experiences in helping to run the cloud networks of some of the largest telcos in the world, we are introducing an easy, prescriptive path to building and operating a cloud, and making it available to all.”
Juniper says that some of the world’s largest service providers have already proven that leveraging cloud architectures to offer business and mobility services can yield immense benefits, including service agility and speed of innovation, as well as considerably lower risk and costs.
“However, the road to a distributed, scalable and always-available cloud is paved with operational challenges. Tedious procurement processes, complexities in building clouds, integration and interop, coordinating support across multiple vendors, and IT skills gaps in managing carrier-grade service level agreements (SLAs) can all complicate the journey,” Juniper notes.
In a recent poll among its customers, Juniper says it found:
- Respondents said “lack of visibility for all parts of cloud networks” is their top challenge in migrating to the cloud (nearly 40% ranked it No. 1); operational complexity ranked second; skills gaps among engineers third and rip-and-replace costs came in fourth
- More than half (55%) of respondents indicated they are using two or more vendors in the network, which can add operational complexity.
Radhesh Balakrishnan, general manager, OpenStack, Red Hat, said, “We are pleased to collaborate with Juniper Networks to reduce the complexity of building a cloud and deliver an open, cloud-grade solution”.
“As an industry leader for OpenStack and Ceph, we've set a clear vision for how software-defined compute and storage can play a transformational role in high-performance service provider clouds for NFV solutions. Building on Red Hat OpenStack Platform and Red Hat Ceph Storage, Contrail Cloud offers a compelling solution for customers to help them realise the true benefits of cloud and NFV.”