Brocade’s contribution to CERN openlab is to help the world’s largest and most respected centre for scientific research develop a long-term Software-Defined Networking (SDN) strategy for its IP network infrastructure. Brocade is an official networking contributor member to CERN openlab. The open day will feature discussions about the achievements of diverse CERN openlab projects during the last year. There will also be hands-on technology demonstrations from companies working with CERN openlab. Brocade and CERN openlab will jointly present how Brocade® Flow Optimizer and Bro Intrusion Detection Software integration are helping CERN monitor, detect, and prevent security threats. Brocade and CERN will also demonstrate Brocade Flow Optimizer and Bro IDS working together in a network composed of OpenFlow-enabled Brocade MLXe routers and Brocade ICX® switches. In addition, Brocade is collaborating with CERN openlab on a new solution designed to help the organisation address the long-term challenges facing its network infrastructure. Due to the nature of the research carried out by CERN, the organisation generates extremely large data volumes and therefore needs an efficient, scalable, and flexible network in order to handle traffic spikes and to serve as a platform for innovation.
The project with Brocade is intended to create a future-proof New IP network based on a framework of SDN applications, which can optimise the routing of data traffic entering and leaving the organisation. The network can intelligently filter trusted traffic to bypass firewall checks for better network efficiency and an improved user experience. It also allows CERN to monitor and detect security threats by mirroring data traffic to the Bro IDS. Upon detecting any threats, the Bro IDS can introduce threat mitigation by interacting with the Brocade Flow Optimizer. Through the CERN openlab project, Brocade will also be focusing on creating enhanced user interfaces for its solutions, giving collaborators at CERN the ability to view graphical charts and visualisations showing real-time and historical traffic information.
The open SDN solution will be based on OpenFlow and will utilise the Brocade SDN Controller and Brocade Flow Optimizer to increase network performance, proactively improve capacity planning, and eliminate network congestion.
