Verizon launches OpenStack NFV deployments in five U.S. data centers

Verizon says it has added OpenStack-enabled network function virtualization (NFV) to five data centers in the U.S. The carrier asserts the deployment is the largest OpenStack cloud deployment reported so far.

The NFV roll out, completed with assistance from Big Switch Networks, Dell, and Red Hat, has created a production design based on a core and pod architecture. Verizon says it has similar deployments underway in other U.S. data center and aggregation sites. International deployment will begin over the next several months. Verizon says it also plans to adopt the design to edge network sites by the end of the year.

The "hyperscale-inspired" core and pod architecture features a 12-rack pod design that offers resiliency at scale. A leaf-spine Clos design, using centralized software-defined networking (SDN) control, takes the network from spine to leaf to vSwitch and avoids bandwidth bottlenecks, Verizon asserts. The architecture reduces operational complexity and offers integrated security and enhanced network operations visibility.

The deployments leverage Red Hat Ceph Storage and a spine-leaf fabric for each pod controlled through a Neutron plugin to the Red Hat OpenStack Platform. Verizon also is using Big Switch's Big Cloud Fabric for SDN controller software that manage Dell switches, which are orchestrated by the Red Hat OpenStack Platform.

"Building on our history of innovation, this NFV project is another step in building Verizon's next-generation network -- with implications for the industry," said Adam Koeppe, vice president, network technology planning at Verizon. "New and emerging applications are highlighting the need for collaborative research and development in technologies like NFV. We consider this achievement to be foundational for building the Verizon cloud that serves our customers' needs anywhere, anytime, any app."

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