Brocade announces new hardware and software for Brocade MLXe routers

Many of today’s organisations are encountering challenges in scaling existing network bandwidth and supporting increasing numbers of users and devices that require highly dynamic networks. These organisations are struggling with the transition to a more agile, software-driven infrastructure. However, the ability to meet these dual challenges has become more critical to their business success, especially as they move to hybrid cloud models.

To address these needs, Brocade has delivered software enhancements to the Brocade MLXe carrier-class routing platform, including support for OpenFlow 1.3 with significant features to help organisations deploy new application- and user-specific services in a secure manner. Delivered in unique Brocade MLXe programmable hardware, the Brocade OpenFlow 1.3 implementation provides fine-grained control for highly customised services at scale. The Brocade MLXe is the first carrier-class platform to support interworking between traditional routed networks and new software-defined networks, via Brocade Hybrid Port Mode.

The new hardware modules provide the right mix of high port density, wire-speed scale-out single-chassis performance, and industry-leading scale for simultaneous support of both IPv4 and IPv6, which is designed to help prevent Internet outages from route table explosion. Built with the Brocade VersaScale™ processor, this sixth-generation programmable silicon is a Brocade innovation that delivers the flexibility and features of software with the performance and scale of hardware. Designed for the most demanding service provider and data center networks, these elements address immediate business needs while providing flexibility and investment protection for the future.

With these additions, Brocade enables the most open and scalable networks possible, with the agility needed to meet the growing user expectations in the market today. As a result, this solution facilitates a smooth transition between legacy networks and networks designed for the New IP, which are driven by an increased demand in social technology, mobile devices, and the cloud.

“Platform scalability is always high on our agenda. To deal with this scalability we are constantly looking for the newest and most powerful equipment. Brocade has been our trusted supplier of innovative hardware and software solutions for many years now and we are pleased to also select their newest feature for our platform,” said Henk Steenman, CTO at AMS-IX. “The Brocade MLXe fits very nicely into the rest of our infrastructure, which features a multivendor network. It easily supports the bandwidth we need as the demands on our own network are evolving.”

Brocade delivers a truly open and complete Software-Defined Networking (SDN) solution with the recently announced Brocade Vyatta® Controller and the Brocade MLXe, providing the flexibility of open SDN backed by the proven experience and support from a trusted partner. As a result, organisations can accelerate their software networking transformation with a dynamic, flexible framework for business modernisation. The robust carrier-class architecture of the Brocade Vyatta Controller is fully tested with the OpenFlow 1.3 implementation in the Brocade MLXe carrier-class router, enabling complete SDN solutions optimised for the specific needs of service provider and data center networks.

“Networks today have much more demand put on them than ever before. In support of The New IP, we strive to help our customers modernise their networks with the most robust scalable, flexible, and open solutions possible,” said Jason Nolet, vice president, Switching, Routing, and Analytics, Brocade. “The Brocade MLXe also provides a seamless transition to real-world SDN with support for OpenFlow 1.3 in the first implementation that provides interworking between legacy forwarding and new software-defined forwarding. This capability provides a logical path for network operators to integrate OpenFlow into existing networks.”

New Supporting Elements:
- 20-port 10 GbE Interface Module with combo 10/1G support and MACsec encryption
- 2-port 100 GbE Interface Module with CFP2 interface
- Significant OpenFlow 1.3 features including SSL/TLS and Accounting with QoS, Group Table, and QinQ
- Unmatched SDN performance with full 12-tuple L2+L3+L4 matching for up to 128k flows with support for full 100G flow size
- First carrier-grade open solution for end-to-end multi- data center orchestration via OpenStack
- Advanced forwarding scale for up to 2 million IPv4 plus 800,000 IPv6 routes
- Agile programmable networks via Brocade VersaScale processor
- Industry-leading wire-speed scale-out performance with deep buffers and high port density

Brocade MLX Series
The Brocade MLX Series is designed to perform the pivotal routing function at and between cloud data centers and end user environments. Built with a state-of-the-art, sixth-generation programmable architecture and terabit-scale switch fabrics, the Brocade MLX Series helps service providers and enterprises meet massive bandwidth demands, achieve greater virtualisation, and provide high-value cloud-based services using less infrastructure— simplifying operations and reducing costs in the data center. The Brocade MLX Series can reduce complexity in campus networks by collapsing core and aggregation layers, as well as by providing connectivity between sites using MPLS/VPLS.