NTT Communications Develops SDN OAM Function Technology for Multiple Wide Area Network

— Visualizes end-to-end connection quality for SDN operation & maintenance —

TOKYO, Japan — December 14, 2015 — NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com), the ICT solutions and international communications business within NTT (NYSE:NTT, news, filings), announced today that it has established the basic operations, administration and maintenance (OAM) function, a key technology for software-defined networking (SDN) on multiple wide area networks (WAN). The new SDN OAM functions enable end-to-end network connection quality to be visualized on multiple WAN using link trace and loopback tests.

NTT Com expects its new technology to make SDN operation and maintenance on WAN more efficient. NTT Com is now working to commercialize the technology for various environments involving SDN, including big data processing, high-quality broadcasting networks, enterprise global intranets and more.

The new technology visualizes network topology by automatically collecting connection information on physical networks configuring SDN. It enables SDN operation and maintenance personnel to remotely monitor circuits and isolate problems and test circuits more accurately by verifying network connection quality and normality of link trace in end-to-end areas, even in WAN.

The basic technologies include the following:

• Visualization of physical network topology: Visualizes the types of machines used in end-to-end networks.
• SDN connectivity test: Identifies the end-to-end segment where trouble is occurring.
• SDN link trace test: Tests for end-to-end continuity when establishing circuits or changing circuit paths.
• SDN loopback test: Tests for loopback continuity when establishing circuits or changing circuit paths.

A demonstration of various verification tests for network normality using NTT Com’s SDN OAM function technology will be conducted at Okinawa Open Days 2015, which will be held at Okinawaken Shichoson Jichikaikan in Okinawa, Japan from December 14 to 18.

Background

As the use of SND increases, OAM functions to verify end-to-end performance are essential for promoting SDN usage on WAN. Until now, establishing connections through the network equipment of different manufacturers has been difficult due to conventional SDN technologies.

NTT Com is a participant in the Open Innovation over Network Platforms research and development project, also known as the O₃ (“O Three”) Project, which is the world’s first project aimed at making all WAN elements compatible with SDN, including mobile networks and Internet access. The project was launched by NTT Com, NEC Corporation, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Fujitsu Limited and Hitachi, Ltd. in June 2013. Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications consigned the project under its Research and Development of Network Virtualization Technology program.

Related News

O₃ Project launched for achieving the world’s first wide area SDN — Reducing time to construct wide area networks by about 90% (September 17, 2013)

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About NTT Communications Corporation

NTT Communications provides consultancy, architecture, security and cloud services to optimize the information and communications technology (ICT) environments of enterprises. These offerings are backed by the company’s worldwide infrastructure, including the leading global tier-1 IP network, the Arcstar Universal One™ VPN network reaching 196 countries/regions, and 140 secure data centers worldwide. NTT Communications’ solutions leverage the global resources of NTT Group companies including Dimension Data, NTT DOCOMO and NTT DATA.
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