Stepping away from traditional chassis-based designs, Fujitsu has launched a new optical platform based on functional disaggregation. The new 1FINITY platform, which will be available globally, will enable service providers to take advantage of flexibility and modularity in the hardware domain, complementing the flexibility and modularity that has been developed in software with software-defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualisation (NFV).
The 1FINITY platform represents ‘a revolutionary approach to networking’ that enables open development, optimises functionality, and increases operating efficiencies, according to Fujitsu. The initial platform release comprises four distinct product families providing transport, lambda, switch, and access functionality. Each product will be an independent system on a blade that is capable of being a full network element. The self-contained, modular blades can stand alone to deliver specific functionality or be combined with others for a broader network application. The software framework logically re-aggregates modular functions and provides a consolidated northbound interface, supporting communication with a user’s operations support system (OSS) and business support system (BSS).
The small, dense form factor of the 1FINITY blades enables fast time-to-market, low initial investment, and efficient scaling, resulting in a pay-as-you grow approach for the specific functionality that users require. The blade-centric architecture allows full utilisation of rack space with blades as compact as one rack unit (1RU), and it eliminates rack partitioning due to chassis boundaries. Separating the blades from a shelf provides evergreen technology, allowing independent blade improvement and replacement as functionality advances. Support of open pluggable optics simplifies procurement for users, and support of open APIs and open standard protocols permits easy integration with a user’s chosen OSS.
‘The concept of disaggregation has been commonplace in the server world for years, but functional disaggregation in the optical networking world is a radical change,’ said Ron Kline, principal analyst, Ovum. ‘By evolving its portfolio to a more open ecosystem of components that will deliver customised offerings, Fujitsu is fostering a collaborative development approach to lead the industry down a path to open, agile solutions.’
The first member of the product family, the 1FINITY T100 blade, is designed specifically for metro data centre interconnect, creating a remarkably simple, powerful, point-to-point transport system. The open, modular blade delivers 1.6Tb/s of bidirectional transport as well as power and space efficiencies. Customer trials of the 1FINITY T100 blade are in progress, and general availability is scheduled for December 2015.
Fujitsu has plans to expand the 1FINITY portfolio with blades for wavelength services, extended-reach transport, high-density packet switching, innovative access, and multilayer interoperation with its flagship FLASHWAVE 9500 platform.