Tellabs
Centralized Software Defined Network Management

Legacy enterprise networks have evolved from a time when operational efficiencies, reliability, and security were not needed in the local area networks. As a result, the manufacturers try to improve efficiencies, reliability, and security on their own which has, in turn, adds to the complexity and cost. The current interest in SDN, for enterprise networks, comes from SDN’s promise to mask legacy network shortcomings yet by bolting-on SDN, the root weaknesses of the network are left in-place and adding more complexity to the process.

Based on centralized intelligence and centralized software-defined network management, Tellabs Optical LAN removes this complexity. The company’s Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) acts as one big high-density switch that extends connectivity over a passive infrastructure across buildings and large campus while its Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) are thin client, no local management access, stores no network info nor user info, and best match the SDN “white-box” vision. The overlying management software provides global profiles that control and orchestrate traffic management—SLAs set QoS, bandwidth, and security per service, device, and user. Thus, OLAN inherently allows network resources to be defined in software and dynamically allocated based on real-time needs—thus, more automation, and more M2M. And, Tellabs FlexSym® Series current generation 10G XGS-PON hardware supports open-source and standards-based SDN protocols. “Our customers benefit from OLAN’s software-defined network management because less human touch directly improves network security and reliability,” states Jim Norrod, the CEO of Tellabs.

Tellabs’ software-defined network management delivers scalability and LAN agility through software-based actions, M2M automation and plug-and-play of sub-tended IoT devices in smart buildings. The system also improves security as it has fewer points of vulnerability (fewer devices and fewer complex full-functioning devices). Further, it delivers better network stability with high network availability with fewer moving ports with lower operational costs and capital costs.

One of the best business cases for Tellabs Optical LAN software defined networking solution comes from Deltek international headquarters in Herndon, Virginia. Deltek’s contemporary office has six floors and houses 700 employees.

Our customers benefit from OLAN’s software defined network management because less human touch directly improves network security and reliability

They first installed their Tellabs Optical LAN in November 2011. They initially chose Optical LAN for its ultra-reliable performance, reduce maintenance costs (e.g., lower equipment service-agreement costs) and for how the software-defined management lessen the burden on their IT staff for daily operations. Tellabs helped Deltek in saving $145,600 annually, and $1.5M over 10-years, in lower operational expenses due to Tellabs Optical LAN and its centralized software-defined management.

Tellabs’ go-to-market strategy relies heavily on an ecosystem of highly-competent solution integrators. “We expect our top integrators to have the ability to lead our customers through the process of planning, building, and operating an Optical LAN. If there are any skills gaps with the company’s integrator partner, or if the customers’ request for a direct relationship with Tellabs, it can supplement the partners’ services offering with internal capabilities,” stated Norrod.

For the future, Tellabs is in the early stages of releasing its symmetrical 10-gigabit XGS-PON solutions to the enterprise market that will have bi-directional encryption. “What is unique is that now our customers can choose what bandwidth is truly needed at the multi-rate Ethernet port and then align that bandwidth with XFP choice of 2.5 G-PON or 10G XGS-PON back at the main data center. By doing so our customers can optimize network space, energy, operations, security, reliability, and costs, with their true bandwidth requirements for IoT, smart building, cloud, and wireless,” says Norrod. Furthermore, these products are hardware ready to support open-source and standards-based SDN protocols. “The date which we release the software that enables the open-source and standards-based SDN protocols within an enterprise network will be driven by our customers and the market demand,” concludes Norrod.