MEF and ONUG have announced a collaboration that will see MEF leverage ONUG’s hybrid multi-cloud enterprise end user requirements in the development of MEF 3.0 SD-WAN managed services standards and related certification programs for services, technologies, and professionals.
The two organizations say ONUG’s enterprise use case requirements will directly influence MEF’s SD-WAN projects. ONUG and MEF will collaborate on the joint definition of common service models and APIs for automating SD-WAN services. Initial focus areas include:
- ONUG SD-WAN 1.0 service models and API specifications
- ONUG SD-WAN 2.0 multi-cloud integration use cases
- Application security for SD-WANs
- Intent-based networking and service automation for SD-WANs.
ONUG’s SD-WAN 2.0 Working Group, focused on addressing challenges in integrating SD-WAN connectivity into enterprise hybrid multi-cloud environments, has developed a reference architecture to define use case requirements for typical deployment scenarios. These scenarios include multiple cloud provider connections, application performance assurance, scaling, security policy enforcement, hybrid environment security integration, and multi-domain connectivity orchestration.
“ONUG is playing a vital role in determining the requirements for key enterprise SD-WAN use cases. This is a major step in ensuring that enterprise end users are provided with the services needed to enable digital transformation in the hybrid multi-cloud era,” said Nan Chen, President, MEF. “Together, our communities can create a lasting impact in the industry and shape how innovative software-defined WAN services are developed, designed, and delivered.”
MEF, meanwhile, recently released the MEF 70 “SD-WAN Service Attributes and Services” standard, which describes requirements for an application-aware, over-the-top WAN connectivity service that uses policies to determine how application flows are directed over multiple underlay networks regardless of the underlying technologies or service providers who deliver them. The organization continues to work on SD-WAN related standards.
“ONUG is eager to help define MEF 3.0 SD-WAN managed services standards by ensuring that they address the critical enterprise requirements of the Global 2000 on their journey to hybrid multi-cloud adoption,” said Nick Lippis, co-founder and co-chairman, ONUG. “ONUG looks forward to seeing these new standards reflected in the development of future SD-WAN reference solutions and proof-of-concept demonstrations for the benefit of the entire ONUG community.”
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Stephen Hardy | Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
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