Juniper announced a new “core virtualization” strategy with the TX Matrix Plus, and the concept is quite interesting. The new capability links the Juniper JCS1200 for hosted-control-plane and the TX Matrix Plus as a large aggregator/on-ramp to create an IP infrastructure that can be partitioned to support multiple independent networks.
This capability is critical for a number of reasons.
- First, it deals effectively with the problem of network operators in separating premium service traffic from the Internet, something that is a security and performance issue everywhere and a regulatory issue in some areas.
- Second, it allows metro evolution to an IP core (something Juniper and Cisco both want, in order to marginalize PBT) by providing a means of keeping traffic there compartmentalized to avoid variations in QoS on key applications, and keeping IP involved in the major area of investment for the next decade.
- Finally, it opens the possibility of a “network-as-a-service” approach by operators, a means of perhaps pulling players like Google or CDNs in as customers.
But for us the big thing is the application of the JCS1200. Juniper is unique in its ability to support hosted control plane behavior, and this sort of thing could be a major element in a service-layer strategy. Juniper now needs to get such a strategy while it still has the lead here.