Global R&D team to play key role in development and adoption of SDN and OpenFlow technologies

ADVA Optical Networking has joined the Optical Networking Foundation (ONF): An organization committed to the development and standardization of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and OpenFlow protocols. Working alongside other ONF members, ADVA Optical Networking will play a key role in developing emerging Software-Defined Networking and OpenFlow technologies directed at the optical domain.

"SDN presents the networking industry with a real opportunity to drive radical new efficiencies," said Christoph Glingener, CTO at ADVA Optical Networking. "SDN and OpenFlow are already proving themselves inside the data center. By extending SDN beyond physical data center boundaries into the optical networking domain you can effectively automate your entire cloud networking infrastructure including the transport equipment interconnecting different sites. This type of holistic network virtualization is exciting; it’s something we've already demonstrated with our OpenFlow technology. Our partnership with the ONF will only accelerate our work here."

Until now, SDN and OpenFlow developments have largely focused on the packet layer with little attention paid to circuit switched optical networks. Earlier this year, teams from ADVA Optical Networking and the University of Essex unveiled an SDN testbed showcasing a common OpenFlow control capable of dynamically operating both packet and wavelength switches. As part of the OFELIA project, this was the industry's first glimpse into an automated network with OpenFlow in the optical wavelength-switched domain and highlighted the potential for true network virtualization across multiple network layers.

"Early adopters of SDN are already discovering exciting opportunities to streamline operations, drive down costs and create additional value with new applications," commented Jörg-Peter Elbers, vice president, Advanced Technology, ADVA Optical Networking. "In a cloud-centric world, there is no doubt that SDN will have an important play in data center connectivity and cloud access. To facilitate this transition, optical transport technologies for high capacity and low latency will be one of our key focus areas in the ONF."

Watch ADVA Optical Networking’s CTO Insights video for further information: http://adva.li/ctosdn.