Juniper Networks has launched Unite Cloud, a data center framework that aims to simplify creation and maintenance of hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

Unite Cloud includes both hardware and software components necessary to build a modern network, like the new QFX5110 switch and Junos Space Network Director management app.

The framework also includes access to Juniper’s Contrail JumpStart service, enabling customers to experiment with open source networking tools.

“With the solutions announced today, Juniper is changing the landscape for IT leaders who are in search of open, automated and secure solutions to deploy hybrid cloud environments,” said Denise Shiffman, senior vice president for Development and Innovation at Juniper.

One ring to rule them all

Cloud computing
– Thinkstock / outline205

Unite Cloud follows previously launched Unite Campus and Unite Branch products. Juniper originally announced the Unite architecture in 2015, but the latest entry is the first to focus on core data center operations.

Unite Cloud enables customers to manage a mix of public, private, hybrid and multi-cloud environments. This mix is likely to emerge as the dominant method of deploying IT for the next few years - in a recent IHS Markit report, respondents indicated they expect to be using on average eight different cloud service providers by 2018.

Unite Cloud includes Network Director 3.0, the latest version of Juniper’s data center management tool, as well as the new QFX5110 data center switch which supports 10/40GbE access speeds and four 100G uplinks to enable leaf to spine deployment models.

The framework also offers access to Contrail JumpStart services to assist customers with the deployment of the Contrail Cloud Platform or Contrail Networking software in their data centers. Both products are based on open source projects and are especially suitable when deploying OpenStack clouds.