Juniper has announced upgraded network automation features and triple performance for its workhorse MX Series 3D Universal Edge routers.

The new automation and performance capabilities are designed to help communications providers deliver HD video, cloud services and always-on collaboration tools their customers demand while remaining profitable, Juniper Networks Inc. (NYSE: JNPR) says. Also, enterprises need the increased capabilities to deploy hybrid clouds and flexible wide-area networks. The communications provider needs are part of the transition to New IP networks.

The Juniper Extension Toolkit (JET) uses open APIs to automate on Juniper's Junos network operating system, using third-party applications for provisioning, maintenance, and other capabilities. The applications can run on Junos equipment or elsewhere on the network. JET runs on all Juniper equipment that runs Junos software, not just the MX Series. It supports OpenConfig and YANG standards.

Juniper's service provider and enterprise customers are using automation to enhance DevOps methodologies, Paul Obsitnik, Juniper VP service provider portfolio marketing, tells Light Reading in an email. For example, JET lets service providers use network application development tools to integrate with OSS/BSS systems or build custom bandwidth reservation systems to programmatically react to network failure or load changes by optimally configuring optimal routes, circumventing failure nodes, or optimizing application performance in real time. OpenConfig support enables applications to connect to multiple vendors' equipment and applications.

The Junos Telemetry Interface provides high-frequency telemetry export capabilities to automatically optimize network performance and fault management, facilitating SDN and NFV migrations, Juniper says. The new analytics capabilities let the network push key statistical and event data to applications and other equipment, to adjust the network on the fly to changing conditions, Obsitnik says.

New MX Series MPC7, MPC8, and MPC9 line cards using programmable Trio silicon to provide up to 32 Tbit/s of throughput -- 2 million 4K videos simultaneously, Juniper says. For consumer traffic alone, traffic is doubling every 9–24 months, depending on the maturity of the market and customer base, driving the need for faster networking equipment, Obsitnik says.

Juniper expects the new products and capabilities to be available in the first half of 2016.

Juniper claims more than 90% of the 50 largest telecom companies today use MX Series routers in their networks.

Network automation and analytics are hot topics among equipment vendors. For example, both Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) and Arista Networks Inc. trumpeted programmability as key capabilities in competing same-day cloud network equipment announcements in November. Earlier that month, Cisco acquired ParStream to enhance its analytics. (See Cisco Boosts Analytics, Security With Acquisitions and Archrivals Cisco, Arista Beef Up Cloud Support.)

Analytics is also key to startup Versa Networks ' cloud NFV infrastructure. (See Startup Versa Announces 'Carrier-Grade' Multi-Tenant NFV Platform.)

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— Mitch Wagner, , West Coast Bureau Chief, Light Reading. Got a tip about SDN or NFV? Send it to [email protected].