Cyan's Planet Orchestrate Integrates Cloud, NFV and WAN

Cyan announced Planet Orchestrate, a multi-vendor and multi-domain, network function virtualization and Cloud orchestration application for its Blue Planet software defined network platform. The new application combines WAN service creation and automation with the orchestration of virtual resources, creating a software-defined engine for revenue generation in carrier networks.

The challenge for network operators is to direct network elements and operationalize new virtualized services between data centers, on top of existing network services and across the WAN. Just like IT workloads are virtualized, optimized and automated, the network elements supporting those workloads can be orchestrated to bring together virtual and physical resources, as well as automating and dynamically configuring these resources across multiple network domains.

“The top motivation driving service providers to pursue SDN and NFV is the ability to deploy services much more quickly for new revenue opportunities – it’s about revenue and service agility,” said Michael Howard, principal analyst at Infonetics Research.  “While operators are certainly attuned to the capital and operational benefits of these transformative technologies, it is the orchestration of virtual compute, storage and network, combined with the automation of existing network resources that will lead to new, higher-margin revenue streams and happier customers.”

Based on the ETSI NFV ISG Management and Orchestration framework Planet Orchestrate provides multi-domain orchestration, cloud services orchestration and NFV orchestration, and uses open APIs to ensure interoperability with other platforms and tools. The application can leverage the OpenDaylight platform and other cloud or network management systems for deploying services. This single pane of glass that Planet Orchestrate empowers network operators to provision and manage services across networks comprised of both legacy and new SDN- and NFV-enabled components.

The application can be used across data centers and distributed architectures, as it is NFV vendor and function neutral. Available later this year, Planet Orchestrate will enable cloud orchestration with the ability to dynamically instantiate new cloud resources, such as virtual machines, new tenant networks and storage, on-demand through an enterprise portal with the ability to control network (bandwidth-on-demand) and virtual resource allocation.

“Planet Orchestrate combines the capabilities of a WAN service automation and network management system with an SDN controller and orchestrator to enable network operators to deliver new services on both physical and virtual infrastructure, more quickly and at a lower cost,” said Cyan President Michael Hatfield. “Developed in collaboration with network operators and other industry-leading Blue Orbit partners, Planet Orchestrate is ahead of the market and has already proven its viability and interoperability via multiple real-world trials and proof-of-concept demonstrations.”