Network virtualisation company Nicira has unveiled its Network Virtualization Platform (NVP), which is a software-based system that creates a distributed virtual network infrastructure in cloud data centres that is completely decoupled and independent from physical network hardware.
AT&T, eBay, Fidelity Investments, NTT and Rackspace have already deployed the NVP and are realising service delivery acceleration by reducing time and resources in data centres.
NVP, a scalable software system implemented at the network edge and managed by distributed clustered controller architecture, was designed to address the shortcomings of traditional networks by offering a platform that provides the operational model of a virtual machine.
The system is compatible with any data centre network hardware, it can be deployed non-disruptively on any existing network and allows for future changes to the network hardware without disruption to the operations of the virtual network platform.
In addition, NVP forms a thin software layer that treats the physical network as an IP backplane, creating virtual networks that have the same properties and services as physical networks, such as security and QoS policies, L2 reachability, and higher-level service capabilities.
Nicira chief executive officer Stephen Mullaney said Network virtualisation is the biggest change to networking in 25 years.
"NVP provides the final pivotal piece to cloud computing, the most transformational change to IT in a generation. And the largest most forward-thinking cloud providers are laser-focused on operations and economics, the two benefits Nicira delivers," said Mullaney.
