Fujitsu’s Virtuora Network Controller enables TIP MUST compliance in software-defined networking architecture

Making SDN networks interoperable, flexible, and scalable

As the telecommunications industry shifts towards open, programmable networks, the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) has become a major catalyst in driving the adoption of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and network disaggregation. Under the TIP’s Mandatory Use Case Requirements for SDN Transport (MUST) initiative, compliance with open standards for Northbound (NBI) and Southbound Interfaces (SBI) is essential. These interfaces ensure interoperability and flexibility across a multivendor environment, empowering network operators to deploy innovative, scalable solutions.

Fujitsu’s Virtuora Network Controller (VNC) is as a powerful SDN solution that supports both TIP MUST’s NBI and SBI requirements to provide seamless network orchestration and automation across transport layers. Here’s a look at how Virtuora’s compliance with TIP MUST’s NBI and SBI guidelines position it as a critical enabler for future-ready, open telecom networks.

Understanding TIP MUST’s interface requirements

The TIP MUST initiative is committed to advancing open networking standards and promoting the use of multivendor solutions in SDN transport networks. It outlines key requirements for SBIs and NBIs, which play distinct but complementary roles in SDN architectures.

• Northbound Interfaces (NBIs): Enable SDN controllers like Virtuora to communicate with upper-layer applications, orchestration platforms, and third-party systems, supporting a service-driven network approach.
• Southbound Interfaces (SBIs): Facilitate communication between the SDN controller and underlying network devices, ensuring seamless integration across diverse physical and virtual network elements.

With both NBI and SBI support, Virtuora can connect network infrastructure with higher-level applications and management systems to foster a more automated, programmable, and resilient network.

 Virtuora Network Controller’s NBI compliance powers seamless orchestration and service automation

Fujitsu’s Virtuora Network Controller is designed to adhere to TIP MUST’s NBI standards, which enable advanced orchestration, automation, and integration with multiple applications. This compliance enhances the capabilities of SDN networks, supporting an open and flexible approach to service delivery.

Key features of Virtuora’s NBI support

1. Open APIs: VNC provides open, standardized APIs for seamless integration with orchestration platforms and applications, which enable custom workflows and service-driven network management.  

2. Intent-based networking: Through its NBIs, Virtuora supports intent-based networking, allowing operators to specify desired outcomes, which the network can autonomously configure to achieve.

3. Multidomain orchestration: Virtuora enables cohesive management across packet and optical domains, simplifying complex multilayer operations in a unified framework.

4. Data-driven insights: Real-time data collection and analytics through VNC’s NBIs provide valuable metrics for AI/ML-powered optimizations, empowering operators with predictive analytics to improve network performance.

Southbound Interface (SBI) compliance ensures multivendor interoperability and efficient network management

The Virtuora Network Controller also adheres to TIP MUST’s southbound interface standards, which focus on fostering multivendor compatibility and efficient device-level management. Compliance with SBI requirements allows Virtuora to operate within a broad ecosystem of transport network devices, furthering the goals of open networking.

Key features of Virtuora’s SBI support:

1. OpenFlow protocol: A widely adopted SBI protocol, OpenFlow enables direct network device control and dynamic path computation, ensuring smooth operations across disaggregated networks.

2. NETCONF/YANG integration: VNC uses NETCONF and YANG models to configure, manage, and monitor network devices, delivering programmability and flexibility for network administrators.

3. Transport API (T-API): Supporting T-API allows Virtuora to orchestrate optical network services efficiently, ensuring seamless integration across multiple transport domains.

4. gRPC protocol: The use of gRPC improves VNC’s ability to manage large-scale networks, providing low-latency communication critical for modern SDN deployments.

Benefits of TIP MUST compliant NBI and SBI support in Virtuora Network Controller

Virtuora’s compliance with both TIP MUST’s Northbound and Southbound Interface requirements offers a range of benefits that enhance network management and streamline operations:

• End-to-End automation: Virtuora enables automated provisioning, monitoring, and fault management, reducing Operating Expenses (OpEx) and accelerating service delivery. 
• Multivendor interoperability: Standardized interfaces allow seamless integration with third-party applications and platforms, minimizing vendor lock-in and maximizing flexibility. 
• Accelerated innovation: Open APIs and compliance with TIP MUST standards facilitate quick deployment of advanced services like 5G slicing, AI-driven analytics, and edge computing. 
• Enhanced scalability: TIP MUST-compliant NBIs and SBIs enable Virtuora to scale effortlessly, supporting expanding bandwidth demands and evolving technologies such as IoT.

Fujitsu and TIP MUST share a vision for open networking

By supporting TIP MUST’s NBI and SBI requirements, Fujitsu’s Virtuora Network Controller is shaping the future of telecom networks. This compliance promotes an ecosystem where operators can harness the full potential of SDN for innovative, scalable, and cost-effective network solutions. Fujitsu remains at the forefront of driving open networking and disaggregation, paving the way for a fully programmable telecom infrastructure.

Virtuora’s TIP MUST-compliant Northbound and Southbound Interfaces establish it as a powerful SDN solution for telecom operators aiming to build agile, resilient networks that are prepared to meet the demands of tomorrow’s digital landscape. This unified approach to TIP MUST compliance solidifies Virtuora Network Controller’s role as an essential asset in achieving scalable, flexible, and open telecom networks. To learn more about Fujitsu’s Virtuora Network Controller (VNC), read the solution brief.