Juniper Networks has released its newest network fabric architecture, designed to overcome challenges seen with geographically dispersed data center environments that may come about as a result of the Cloud.

The MetaFabric architecture has also been designed with the software-defined network (SDN) in mind, allowing users to plug in directly to OpenStack and CloudStack orchestration platforms as well as Juniper’s own Contrail and VMware’s NSX.

Juniper has built MetaFabric around a new family of top-of-rack switches QFX5100 which offers 10G and 40G access, its MX Series of routers which nave new SDN and WAN capabilities allowing them to act as universal SDN gateways for connecting physical and virtual networks and its SDN optimization technologies.

It is also offering a MetaFabric reference architecture - version 1.0 - for guidance in deploying a VMware-virtualized data center using the Juniper solution.

It combines Juniper router, switches and security solutions with EMC, VMware and IBM systems running Microsoft applications.

Juniper Networks EVP of Platform Systems Rami Rahim said the new solution has been designed to offer enterprise-grade security for the network but at the same time to open up the network for greater innovation.

“IT leaders have been seeking a network that can keep up with the rigorous demands of their business, leverage the Cloud in a smart and evolutionary way and provide innovative solutions to secure both the infrastructure and data,” Rahim said.

Juniper is particularly keen to target service providers with its new network technology.

Rahim said like enterprise customers, Juniper is seeing a need within the service provider space for simpler, smarter and more open networks.

He said he believes MetaFabric will make end-to-end network deployment times faster.

“The MetaFabric Architecture is simple because it is operated and managed with abstract, high-level, standardized device and OS-independent instructions,” Rahim said.

“MetaFabric also features underlying infrastructure that is programmable and that reacts swiftly to new instructions.”

Regarding reductions in operating cost, Juniper said MetFabric will allow for applications impacting services to be deployed, operated and managed without service interruptions.

The fabric also has built in intelligence and analytics.

You can see how the MetaFabric architecture works below