Whitepaper: Unified Network Platform

I’ve put the finishing touches on the convergence whitepaper I’ve been working on over the last few weeks (minus some time interrupted for RSA).

I’m introducing my vision for convergence via this whitepaper focused on my concept of a Unified Network Platform(tm) for networking, security, and network centric applications. UNP is the basis for creating a new paradigm whereby network and security functions can be delivered into the network through a software-based framework operating on general purpose computing hardware.

I will let the whitepaper do the talking about more specifics but here are some things I would like to point out.

• Plug-n-play security and network services. Put the appropriate services where they belong in the network, rather than being limited the feature set of any one piece of hardware or it’s location in the network architecture.
• Use an open platform to manage security and networking. Users have full control and the ultimate in customization options because of UNP’s open platform.
• Take advantage of the latest advances and economies in general purpose OTS hardware. Specialized ASICs should be used in specialized situations. Multi-core technologies are a new era for network and security processing applications.
• Unlock the handcuff hold vendors have on users. Upgrades, migration, replacement are all within the control of the user.
• Today’s and tomorrow’s network and security functionality. An expandable platform offers an open path to future needs.
• A UNP software-based platform can leverage current and future virtualization technology. I believe this will have an even greater profound effect on our thinking about network architectures, networking, security and network applications.

By no means do I see this whitepaper as complete. It truly is only a start. My thoughts and ideas about convergence are ever evolving and maturing. I see expanding on this vision over time, refining the UNP concepts and introducing new ideas and directions. The applications are just beginning. For example, the few network and security applications I mention in the paper are just the start to help communicate the ideas behind UNP.

Take a read of the whitepaper and let me know what you think. I'd love to hear any reactions, ideas, etc. I believe the timing is right and there's an exciting future for UNP.