Juniper Networks QFabric Revs Up Japan’s StarBED3

TOKYO–(Marketwired – Aug 12, 2013) – Juniper Networks (NASDAQ:JNPR, news, filings), the industry leader in network innovation, has announced that its QFabric data center network fabric architecture is being used to power StarBED³, the advanced IP network simulator run by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT). Deployment of the Juniper Networks^® QFX3000-M QFabric™ System gives StarBED³ an ultra-low latency, high-bandwidth infrastructure to support research and development of next-generation networks, security and services.

Located at the Hokuriku StarBED Technology Center, StarBED³ is NICT’s third-generation IP network test bed, aimed at emulating large and complex network environments. These environments are critical for researchers to simulate and test new Internet technologies. As one of the world’s largest emulation test beds, it comprises more than 1,100 physical servers, together with network switch clusters for controlling experimental nodes and supporting interactive communication over a backbone operating at speeds of up to 200 Gbps.

A key issue in constructing the StarBED³ network infrastructure was how to connect the largest possible number of servers at high speed with low latency while working within physical space and power consumption limitations. Another challenge was the traditional approach of concentrating core switches in a single location, creating high cable densities that significantly compromise operational maintenance procedures. NICT was able to overcome these challenges with QFabric technology.

News Highlights

• NICT deployed a QFabric System comprising a single-layer, distributed switch architecture featuring top-of-rack access nodes and a centralized control node for each logical device, significantly reducing operating costs.
• The QFabric System currently links 224 experimental servers at StarBED³ at high speed and with less than three microseconds of latency, all within a compact space and with low power consumption.
• The new QFabric test bed will enable researchers from universities, public institutes and private industries to test large-scale emulation technology platforms, network platform validation technology and multilayer integration validation technology in an IPv4/IPv6 environment.

Supporting Quotes

National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)

“We have to provide a highly flexible PC server cluster network suitable for a wide range of R&D projects on ICT technology. But often, when you try to design a flexible configuration consisting of many PC server groups linked together by small network devices, you run into problems with speed limitations and latency as well as with operational and administration standardization. QFabric addresses these issues and provides the ideal configuration for next-generation data centers. We see QFabric as a powerful tool for taking our large-scale emulation environment into the next generation.”
– Shinsuke Miwa, director, NICT Hokuriku StarBED Technology Center

Juniper Networks

“As an R&D focused company, Juniper is well versed in the critical networking needs of high-performance and large scale facilities like StarBED³. The QFabric architecture, which can be expanded to 40 Tbps, behaves like a single switch running the Junos® network operating system, significantly reducing the operational workload of running the data center. The fewer switches in the data center, the less complex it is, so operating costs will significantly decrease. The QFabric architecture will also reduce power consumption, save space and minimize cooling costs.”
– Douglas Murray, senior vice president, Asia-Pacific, Greater China and Japan, Juniper Networks

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About Juniper Networks
Juniper Networks is in the business of network innovation. From devices to data centers, from consumers to cloud providers, Juniper Networks delivers the software, silicon and systems that transform the experience and economics of networking. Additional information can be found at Juniper Networks (www.juniper.net) or connect with Juniper on Twitter and Facebook.

Juniper Networks and Junos are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. in the United States and other countries. The Juniper Networks and Junos logos and QFabric are trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. All other trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, or registered service marks are the property of their respective owners.