Calient confirms interoperability of OpenFlow API for S320 optical circuit switch

Optical switch specialist Calient Technologies, Inc. says it has received preliminary interoperability testing results for its OpenFlow software-defined networking (SDN) application programming interface (API) on its S320 optical circuit switch (see "CALIENT plugs S320 optical switch into SDN with OpenFlow support"). In testing carried out by Tallac Networks, using the testing facilities of the InCNTRE lab at Indiana University, the S320 OpenFlow API provided a base level of interoperability with several commercial SDN controllers, says Calient. Similar compatibility was achieved with the Floodlight open-source controller that featured Calient-developed S320 extensions. In the testing, equipment operators using these controllers were able to dynamically discover and initiate connections through the switch and instigate a real-time view of the network topology. Operators also were able to define paths through the switch based on end-point addresses for easy network configuration. Together with an OpenFlow controller, the new API enables the S320 to reconfigure data center networks to optimize high-capacity data flows, such as virtual machine migrations or storage backups, at the optical layer and to function as part of a software-defined hybrid packet-circuit switched network. “We’re excited to be announcing the availability of our new API for OpenFlow for the S320,” said Daniel Tardent, Calient’s vice-president of marketing. “We’ve had overwhelming response to the hybrid packet-circuit switch network solution, as the flexibility and performance improvements are demonstrable. We are looking forward to getting this into more customer trials and production networks to better show off its capabilities.” Based on Calient’s proprietary 3D microelectromechanical (MEMS) technology, the S320 optical circuit switch supports up to 320 ports (320 input ports and 320 output ports) and per-port data rates of more than 100 Gbps (see "Calient debuts high-density photonic switch for data centers"). Completely agnostic to data protocols, the S320 enables any-to-any network connections with almost no latency (<60 ns), Calient asserts. The S320 chassis fits in a 19-inch rack and has maximum power consumption of 45 W. For more information on optical switches and suppliers, visit the Lightwave Buyer’s Guide.