Huawei launches three-layered open SD-WAN architecture and cooperates with industry ecosystem to enable B2B service innovation for carriers

Apr 23, 2018 [Shenzhen, China, April 23, 2018] Huawei has launched its three-layered open SD-WAN architecture for the first time, working with partners to build a leading SD-WAN solution. This solution provides open capabilities in terms of universal customer premises equipment (uCPE), interconnection with third-party application systems, and multi-cloud deployment. Partners can quickly interconnect with the open interfaces and service platforms provided by Huawei’s SD-WAN solution to obtain value-added services (VASs) in minutes and achieve fast integration with operations support systems (OSSs), business support systems (BSSs), and third-party portals, helping carriers build efficient and flexible WAN networks.

SD-WAN is an important part of Huawei's Intent-Driven Network solution

As SD-WAN becomes more mature, the evolution of SDN towards enterprise interconnection has become one of the most talked-about topics. Enterprises expect to leverage SD-WAN to reduce interconnection costs and improve service experience. They also hope that the solution architecture is fully open. There are three aspects to this openness. First, enterprise access devices must be able to make service platforms open, implement virtual network functions (VNFs), and support rapid provisioning of VASs. Second, the controller must be able to quickly interconnect with OSSs, BSSs, and third-party application systems to protect the original network investment and support more industry applications. Finally, the solution must be compatible with mainstream public clouds in the industry and achieve flexible deployment. This requires the support of an open solution architecture and ecosystem cooperation in the industry chain.

Based on its wealth of experience in the enterprise interconnection field, Huawei launches the SD-WAN solution with a three-layered open architecture to meet customer requirements. Huawei's ultimate aim is to work with partners in building a cooperative and win-win ecosystem.

Openness at the physical layer: The uCPE based on the x86 or ARM64 architecture supports the virtual machine (VM) and container mechanism and provides an open platform for the SD-WAN ecosystem. In addition, it supports more than 10 mainstream VNFs in the industry, including Huawei’s vCPE/vFW and those of Riverbed Technology and F5. In terms of virtual WAN optimization controller (vWOC), Huawei and Riverbed Technology have signed an alliance agreement to combine Riverbed SteelHead, the industry's leading optimization solution for accelerated delivery of all applications, with Huawei's leading solution. In terms of application services and security, Huawei and F5 will jointly reshape the enterprise interconnection experience for carriers and their enterprise customers as well as deliver more application services and innovative security VASs.

The solution also provides openness at the control layer. Huawei’s SD-WAN Agile Controller seamlessly interoperates with BSSs and OSSs by leveraging open standard RESTful application programming interfaces (APIs). The APIs allow the SD-WAN Agile Controller to implement a wide range of industry applications and support interoperation with third-party application orchestration vendors, achieving automatic service chain orchestration. Huawei are currently working together with HPE on fully integrating SD-WAN technology to be orchestrated by an HPE Service Director using open API.

With regards to cloud interconnection and openness, in terms of public cloud, Huawei’s SD-WAN solution is easy to integrate and can be deployed on multiple mainstream clouds, such as HUAWEI CLOUD, telecom carrier clouds, and Microsoft Azure. The solution supports cloud service mode delivery, achieving interconnection between Huawei’s SD-WAN solution and mainstream public clouds in the industry.

Huawei continues to leverage the three-layered open and innovative SD-WAN architecture with an open and cooperative mentality. With this approach, Huawei provides flexible deployment of VNFs on the cloud or locally and quickly provisions VASs such as virtual firewalls and vWOCs. In addition, Huawei continuously creates new value for carriers' B2B services and builds a smart, simplified, ultra-broadband, open, and secure Intent-Driven Network for customers.