Juniper launches Cloud Metro, new routers and services for operators

Juniper launches Cloud Metro, new routers and services for operators

Juniper Networks introduced a new offering. The ‘Cloud Metro’ portfolio consists of routers and services for Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN) operators.

A MAN is inbetween a LAN and a WAN. ‘Metropolitan’ describes the size of the network, which roughly equates to a metropolis. According to Juniper, the supply of MAN solutions is outdated. Operators work with legacy equipment and inefficient software. The new offering answers demand. The solutions are released over the next two years. We’ll be covering each introduction.

Paragon Automation as a Service

Juniper Paragon Automation as a Service is a new service with tools for network automation. According to Juniper, it drastically reduces the workload of network administrators. The service uses AI to recognize and prioritize network problems. The technology reduces Mean Time to Know (MTTK) and Mean Time to Recovery (MTTR). The service will be available in the first half of 2023.

Juniper is also introducing a solution for device onboarding. ‘AI-Enabled Device Onboarding as a Service’ uses Paragon’s technology to accelerate device deployments. This solution will also be available in the first half of 2023.

ACX7000 routers

Furthermore, Juniper is launching six new routers in the ACX7000 series. The series is designed for data centres and Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN). According to Juniper, the new routers are more energy-efficient, smaller and faster than previous models in the series.

The ACX7100-32C, ACX7100-48L and ACX7509 are available immediately. The ACX7024 will follow in the third quarter of 2022. The ACX7908 and ACX7348 will also be available from the first half of 2023.

Paragon Active Assurance agents

Juniper Paragon Active Assurance agents are a new addition to the JUNOS OS, the operating system for ACX7000 routers. The agents function like sensors. Each network device can be reviewed remotely.

The concept isn’t. Almost every large network vendor offers a range of sensors. Nevertheless, the introduction is welcome. Thanks to the new agents, third-party sensors are superfluous for ACX7000 routers. Cost efficiency is a major advantage.

In addition, the agents support 5G UE/gNB emulation. This allows users to simulate 5G network traffic, thereby forecasting the speed a customer can expect. The agents will become available sometime in the coming months.

Zero trust

From the first half of 2023 onwards, Juniper is equipping all new services and products with zero-trust security measures. The ACX7000 routers encrypt data with a TPM 2.0 module. Moving data is secured by the MACsec encryption protocol. Moreover, Juniper emphasized that Paragon Automation as a Service is able to automatically verify the security status of ACX7000 routers.

Tip: Juniper Apstra is now suitable for edge networks