Juniper Networks announced that Youku.com has deployed a new Juniper-based Ethernet switching infrastructure running on the Junos(R) operating system in its data center and Content Delivery Network caching points across the country. The Juniper Networks EX Series Ethernet Switches with Virtual Chassis fabric technology make it possible for Youku to easily scale its data center and content distribution network to meet fast-growing demand while simplifying network administration.

Since its creation in 2006, Youku has aimed to be the primary source of online video content for Chinese Internet users across all Internet-enabled devices. Youku has adopted a unique hybrid content strategy by licensing long-form, professionally produced content and fostering user generated content and original web videos produced under its brand "Youku Original." According to iResearch, Youku had approximately 231 million unique monthly visitors from homes and offices in March 2011 and approximately 52 million from Internet cafes in February 2011. The rapid growth of its online audience and content library, combined with the need to deliver a high-quality streaming service, encouraged Youku to adopt a more scalable, high-performance network infrastructure.

"Internet video is really taking off in China and we are determined to remain at the forefront of this market," said Jian Yao, chief technology officer of Youku. "In assessing our options for new switching infrastructure, the Juniper Networks EX Series switches stood out for delivering wire-speed performance, tremendous scalability and excellent stability in a compact footprint. With a single operating system running all switches and the use of Virtual Chassis fabric technology, we can keep expanding the data center without having to expand our network management overhead."

Within Youku's data center, the EX Series switches have enabled both internal and external networks to collapse multiple switching layers to create a simplified two-layer network architecture. The internal network uses Juniper Networks EX8216 modular switches which, through Virtual Chassis fabric technology, have been interconnected to create a single, logical device that forms a large Layer 2 core domain. This is connected to EX3200 access switches using dual 10GbE uplinks configured into Redundant Trunk Groups. On the external network, EX4200 switches deployed in a Virtual Chassis configuration form the switching core, with multiple 10GbE links to service provider routers and redundant link-aggregated GbE connections to Juniper Networks EX2200 access switches.

At Youku's remote caching sites, Juniper Networks EX3200 switches have been deployed to support 10GbE uplinks to the service provider and GbE link aggregation groups connecting to EX2200 access switches.

"Projections are that video will account for 50 percent of all Internet traffic by 2014 so, as a streaming video service provider addressing the world's largest Internet-connected population, Youku needs reliable, highly-scalable network performance," said Alex Gray, general manager and senior vice president, campus and branch business unit, Juniper Networks. "Our EX Series switches with Virtual Chassis fabric technology flatten the network to increase performance, reduce latency and make it possible for Youku to scale IT operations without increasing complexity."

With the Junos operating system running as a single operating system across its entire switching infrastructure, Youku can enjoy increased reliability, the ability to deploy new services faster and a decrease in network operation costs. An independent analyst study of 10 Juniper Networks customers documented a savings potential of up to 41 percent in network operation costs with Junos(R) and Juniper equipment.