Comments
SDN
Iain Morris wrote about Telstra's SDN ambitions. I'm working on setting up an interview with Telstra if anyone has some burning questions.
imorris
1/21/2016 3:17:31 AM
User Rank Gold
Re: SDN
Virtualizing 75% of functions by 2020 is certainly an ambitious target -- I wonder if their MWC update will say anything about progress towards this goal. Is there a danger of trying to move too quickly when it comes to NFV/SDN given the concerns about interoperability and standardization? Telefonica seems to have backed off some of the ambitious targets it announced at MWC a couple of years ago.
vnewman
1/21/2016 7:06:21 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: SDN
@iMorris - My thoughts exactly! Overly ambitious! I wonder what the reason is for that particular number, if it is arbitrary or if there is staunch reasoning behind it. At some point, and I'm sure that point varies for every company, the law of diminishing returns kicks in. Yes, you will save on your energy bill and minimize storage costs, but at what cost to performance (for the reasons you stated below - interoperability/standardization/etc.)
batye
1/22/2016 12:21:36 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: SDN
@vnewman interesting point, I could not agree more as it does happens when bottom line not get calculated properly...
Re: SDN
vnewman - Overambitous goals aren't bad. Even if you fall short, you will have come a long way.
Re: SDN
@Mitch:
I would also like to add, some times setting overambitous goals works better for some people. A little push may sometimes result in wonders and bring out some hidden capabilities into light. And also I know that some people function much better when their plate is too full and turn out to be more effective and be triple productive. That is based on my observation and experience.
vnewman
1/22/2016 8:02:37 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: SDN
@Mitch - even though I like the overall gist of what you are saying, I feel like sometimes people lose sight of what's really important when persuing a lofty goal and important things (reliability, standards, useability) get sacrificed just to get there.
Re: SDN
Reliability, standards, and usability are all important, but it's also important to put those into balance. In the case of reliability, in particular, we're seeing a shift of definitions from requiring the standard "five nines" to making the service just reliable ENOUGH.
batye
3/1/2016 2:51:21 AM
User Rank Platinum
Re: SDN
@Mitch Wagner yes you right as it no longer anymore good ENOUGH :)... as competion could do it better...
Re: SDN
The AT&T media rep that I spoke with recently hinted that there will be an update soon. Maybe even above 5%. CenturyLink is targeting full virtualization across its IP core network and data centers by 2018.
vnewman
1/21/2016 7:26:18 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: SDN
@Mike. Interesting to note that about CenturyLink. I wonder if our top management knows their plans as our firm is not a huge proponent of over-virtualization. Literally the day our firm renewed our contract, we experienced extreme network slowness and were informed that CenturyLink, one of our two primary network carriers, was experiencing technical issues in multiple locations throughout the US. It happens every few months were there is a major breakdown in service but seems like there are daily hiccups. Is virtualization the answer or do they need to work on resolving such issues before even heading down that path? Anyone have thought on this?
Re: SDN
@vnewman I'm talking to them at the first of the month. Isn't that the danger of all of this virtualziation though? That something will get messed up for the current customers while the transitions are underway? I think that's the nightmare scenario that's causing some to drag their feet.
batye
1/22/2016 12:19:56 PM
User Rank Platinum
batye
1/22/2016 12:27:56 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: SDN
@vnewman I did see the same patern in Canada with Security Co... I think it does happen in North America everywhere... but many Co. in Canada did try to hide it under the carpet...
DHagar
1/22/2016 2:03:25 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: SDN
@vnewman, you raise excellent questions. I also believe your point addresses what hinders our progress in adapting new technologies - in that we race to play with the latest "capabilities" instead of developing the technology and working out the designs and models until they truly work.
When you are dealing with SDN/NFV that have have so many variables and unleash both new opportunities and problems, they would be further ahead to truly "develop" the commercial capabilities and provide reliable service to the customers. The development should work out the glitches and provide solutions and customer support that offers a reliable performance - that would truly drive the market.
Re: SDN
The development should work out the glitches and provide solutions and customer support that offers a reliable performance - that would truly drive the market..
@DHagar:
Excellent point.
Recently market has become ovrely competitive that it almost feels like a race when it comes to launching something new. So often times there is a tendency not to spend enough time in understanding all glitches from a previous version of the product and incorporate the fix in a subsequent version. More focus is put into how fast to bring something new into the market and win the race.
DHagar
1/22/2016 4:03:52 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: SDN
ms.akkineni, actually because that is true, companies like Apple, Huawei, etc., are advancing in the market due to the fact that they are focusing on performance and excellence in products and service. So it may become a "differentiator" over time.
Re: SDN
@DHagar:
Absolutely.
Time is of essence. Not to deny - that could be a differentiator and game changing factor. It kind of becomes mandatory to play 'catch up' game and keep up the pace.
Re: SDN
In other SDN-related news, Light Reading's Mitch Wagner writes that SDN startups Plexxi and Cumulus scored new rounds of funding. Google pitched on Plexxi.
Not a great year?
I question the assertion that 2015 wasn't a great year for SDN, other than SD-WAN. First off, that's a huge "other than." SD-WAN is not to be dismissed lightly.
We're also seeing momentum for SDN in virtual CPE.
Related, increased demand for NFV is driving demand for SDN.
AT&T is a leader in deploying SDN on production networks.
Why does AT&T feel the need to develop its own controller, given the plethora of choices available?
mhhf1ve
1/22/2016 9:11:11 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Not a great year?
> "I question the assertion that 2015 wasn't a great year for SDN, other than SD-WAN."
Yup. Is there an objective metric for how good a year is for a particular tech? I mean was it a good year for hoverboards? (Even when they caught fire?)
Re: Not a great year?
In my previous job, I interviewed four or five analysts, and SDN was mentioned by all but one as being a dissapointment in 2015. But maybe last year was the start of the shift from classic, early SDN to more of a second generation SDN?
mhhf1ve
1/25/2016 10:05:01 PM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Not a great year?
Perhaps your informal poll of analysts just marked the "trough of disillusionment" stage of adoption?
http://www.gartner.com/technology/research/methodologies/hype-cycle.jsp
batye
3/1/2016 2:49:37 AM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Not a great year?
@mhhf1ve interesting to know, thanks for the link...
Re: Not a great year?
Early definitions of SDN focused on OpenFlow. The current definition is more flexible -- it's just about using software to define the network, as the name implies. SDN today is about disaggregating software from hardware, which all the major vendors are doing. Indeed, it is becoming standard for networking.
I'm baffled why nearly a half-dozen analysts would think it's a bad year for SDN.
batye
3/1/2016 2:52:46 AM
User Rank Platinum
Re: Not a great year?
@Mike Robuck I would say it a change Now... as it poping everywhere... slow but visible... - how I see it...
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