WWT's Multi-Layer Multi-Vendor (MLMV) lab is an innovative and versatile physical lab environment focused on core networking. It is designed to demonstrate the integration of technologies from Layer 0 (the physical layer) to Layer 3 (the network layer) across multiple vendors in a cohesive system. This lab is designed to be custom-tailored to your specific needs. During this briefing, we will share an overview of the MLMV lab environment, discuss our capabilities, and develop a high-level plan to meet your needs.

As the capabilities of Core Networks increase, simplified management solutions that unlock their potential become more and more important. Convergence of optical and routing network functions ups the ante even further -- requiring management tools that help streamline new organizational processes. WWT can leverage its heavy investment in core networking technologies to help guide you through the ever-changing landscape of Core Network management.

This WWT-guided lab demonstrates several aspects of Cisco's Crossword Network Controller (CNC) in conjunction with Cisco NSO, including path control with Cisco SR-PCE (Path Computational Engine). CNC is a Segment Routing SDN Controller for transport networks. CNC allows an operator to create and manage VPN and Transport services with diverse SLAs, such as disjointness, bandwidth awareness, or low latency. It provides for creating engineered transport paths using SR-TE parameters and provisioning and linking VPN services to these paths. CNC performs real-time network optimization based on current network conditions utilizing the Crosswork Optimization Engine in conjunction with Cisco's IOS-XR-based Segment Routing Path Computation Element or SR-PCE. Cisco NSO is also included and tightly coupled to CNC as the Provisioning engine.

As modern networks have grown in complexity and scale, they require more stringent tolerances and demanding services, which has spawned the need for a more straightforward and optimized method of transmitting data. And as 5G becomes more widely adopted, such latency standards will only become more desirable. Moving to a next-generation Network Transport based on Segment Routing enables organizational agility and unprecedented control over network path optimization and end-to-end Service Level Agreements (SLA). This briefing is intended to be used for architecture validation, proofs of concepts (POCs), demonstrations, and functional and interoperability testing.

Within the past five years, there have been tremendous advancements in both optical and routing technologies. These advancements present a compelling technical solution and a strong business case to combine, or converge, Optical and Routing architectures into one platform.

TDM technologies have been a critical tool for telecoms, utilities and many other organizations for decades. However, in recent years there has been a massive decline in research, development and support for TDM hardware and software. This has caused the industry to migrate towards solutions that provide TDM endpoint capability, delivered through a modern IP core network. The technologies associated with this transition are referred to as TDM-to-IP, and WWT partners closely with leading OEMs to offer the best in class transition strategy.

Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) and Segment Routing (SR) technologies are critical to Carrier Networks today, and will continue to become more and more critical into the future. These technologies provide organizations with the ability to transport various types and classifications of traffic across an IP network and to do it with future-facing automation & orchestration. In addition, Segment Routing makes the network far more robust through fast reroute and enhanced traffic engineering capabilities. As new paradigms such as 5G and the Internet-of-Things (IoT) rapidly change the landscape, the importance of MPLS and SR will continue to expand within many industry verticals.