The Linux Foundation and industry partners have launched another collaborative project which aims to integrate network functions virtualization (NFV) and software-defined networking (SDN) technology through orchestration software.
Dubbed OPEN-Orchestrator (OPEN-O), the initiative is driven by China Mobile and Huawei, with early support from Brocade, China Telecom, DynaTrace, Ericsson, F5 Networks, GigaSpaces, Infoblox, Intel, KT, Red Hat, Raisecom, Riverbed and ZTE. The project will be hosted by The Linux Foundation.
As an open source orchestration framework, OPEN-O will integrate open networking technologies and enable carriers to quickly and cost-effectively implement SDN and NFV through open source code development. The project will also aim to accelerate multi-vendor integration, service innovation and improve agility across network operations.
Speaking at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona last week, Linux Foundation executive director Jim Zemlin said the Open-O Project builds on other efforts like Open Network Lab’s Open Network Operating System project, OpenDaylight and the Linux Foundation’s Open Platform Network Function Virtualization project, all aimed at integrating open source code into telecom applications.
“OPEN-O will unite industry forces to set up the world's first SDN and NFV unified orchestrator, serving as an important step in promoting deeper convergence among SDN and NFV technologies and innovation in the networking industry,” the executive said.
China Mobile is expected to contribute its MANO platform, while Huawei is expected to contribute its SDN Orchestrator.
China Mobile EVP Li Zhengmao said NFV and SDN are the key technical enablers for automatic deployment and agile operation of the next-generation telecom networks and the orchestrator functions at the top part of them play the critical role.
“We are hoping that all partners work together to build the healthy ecosystem and accelerate the maturity of SDN and NFV. By embracing open source, China Mobile is expecting that the OPEN-O project will develop state-of-art open-source orchestrator software.”