NEC 2009 Annual Report Download - page 24

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Virtual
infrastructure A
Virtual
infrastructure B
SUCCESSFUL TRANS-PACIFIC DEMONSTRATION OF
PROGRAMMABLE FLOW SWITCH PROTOTYPES TO
ENABLE FUTURE INTERNET INNOVATIONS
NEC is pursuing research into future Internet innova-
tions, such as next generation internet. Programmable
flow switches represent a platform technology that will
pave the way for groundbreaking R&D aimed at
advancing future Internet progress.
Programmable flow switches have the potential to
revolutionize the prevailing network paradigm by sim-
plifying the complexity of managing existing IP (Internet
Protocol) networks.
Ordinarily, in conventional network equipment such
as routers and switches, the packet switches that
transmit data are integrated with the path control func-
tionalities directing the flow of this data. A program-
mable flow switch enables the separation of these
integrated packet switches and path control functions.
The separated path control functions are then installed
on a dedicated control server, which enables the unified
control of the network.
This breakthrough will allow network users to freely
assemble network control middleware without being
constrained by conventional network architectures,
paving the way for the development of revolutionary new
services. This means that network users will be able to
easily realize network environments using control mid-
dleware, even when they have yet to establish a dedi-
cated network infrastructure of their own. For example,
users will be able to easily set up a cloud computing
system within a virtualized network environment.
In October 2008, NEC successfully demonstrated
the use of programmable flow switch prototypes to
control a trans-Pacific academic research network.
These demonstrations were conducted jointly with
Stanford University of the U.S. In addition to success-
fully demonstrating line control and path control switch-
ing spanning a wide-area network connecting the
United States and Japan, NEC also demonstrated the
long-distance migration of services running on a com-
puter (virtual machine) installed at Stanford University in
the U.S. to another computer installed at the Service
Platform Architecture Research Center in Otemachi,
Tokyo, Japan, without any interruption of service.
Through these activities, NEC is helping to promote
research into future internet and new services that can
be delivered over these networks.
The communications interface between the pro-
grammable flow switches and control servers uses
“OpenFlow”* technology, an open standard developed
by the OpenFlow Switch Consortium.
Going forward, NEC plans to develop network
equipment that supports OpenFlow technology as part
of its ongoing R&D activites.
* For further datails on “OpenFlow” technology, please visit the following
website: http://www.openflowswitch.org/
FUTURE INTERNET ARCHITECTURE USING
A PROGRAMMABLE FLOW SWITCH
Dynamic virtual
machine migration
Reconfigure network
architecture dynamically
Infrastructure virtualization/optimization
Computing resources Network resources Sensors
Virtual machine Virtual machine
Integrated control
and management
Programmable
flow switch
Control server
22 NEC CORPORATION
Annual Report 2009