Cisco Crosswork Optimization Engine provides real-time network optimization capabilities that allow operators to effectively maximize network utility as well as increase service velocity.
Network operators are facing challenges to support the exponential growth of network traffic while addressing the pressure to efficiently run network operations. Providing quick service and network resolutions is vital for the business to remain viable. Network operators need a toolset to help automate bandwidth optimization and efficiently steer traffic with little operator intervention.
As can be seen in the chart, traffic grows with an average of 25% CAGR across the different categories. To run the network efficiently, network automation is a necessity.
Let us look at a typical network operation lifecycle:
In a typical lifecycle, there is always a feedback loop that traditionally is done manually through human intervention. With network automation, the objective is to automate the feedback loop to enable quicker reaction to network events and faster determination on actions to perform on the network.
Looking at the network operation lifecycle above, Crosswork Optimization Engine is built to fulfill the need for a closed-loop optimization loop as described under “Near Real-Time Feedback Loop”. Through Crosswork Optimization Engine, the operator would be able to define the optimization intent, implement the intent, and continuously monitor, track, and react to maintain the original intent.
Feature |
Benefit |
Topology auto-discovery |
Based on IETF-standard BGP-LS to automatically discover IP topology across multiple-vendor |
Closed-loop feedback |
Leveraging real-time protocols such as BGP-LS and PCEP, Crosswork Optimization Engine enables closed-loop tracking of network state, reacting quickly to changes in the network conditions. Enabling closed-loop automation to enable a self-healing network |
Dynamic SLA management |
Industry-proven algorithm to manage SLA objectives dynamically based on defined intent |
Realtime Visualization |
Enables real time visibility of the network, constantly in sync with the current state to provide true representation of the underlying infrastructure |
SR-TE Policy lifecycle management |
Simple to use GUI to drive CRUD operation of Segment Routing Policy |
RSVP–TE Policy lifecycle management |
Simple to use GUI to drive CRUD operations of RSVP–TE Policy |
API Framework |
Open and Programmable that enables you to develop your own applications based on pre-defined API |
Function Pack |
Enables field-developed applications to support additional use cases |
Real-time, multi-vendor visibility
End-to-end visibility is important to any network operator to run their network effectively. Crosswork Optimization Engine not only provides this visibility, but also the ability to visualize the network across different layers (optical to IP) and the relationship between each layer.
Crosswork Optimization Engine leverages IETF-standard BGP-LS protocol to discover IP network automatically, with features such as:
● Up-to-date visibility: Maintains real-time up-to-date visibility of the network infrastructure which provides the network operator with true representation of the actual topology
● Hierarchical view: Provides a hierarchical view of the topology which enables operators to define the different levels of granularity in the topology visualization
Simplified workflow for SR-TE and RSVP–TE Policy Lifecycle Management
Crosswork Optimization Engine also provides an easy to use UI to manage the SR-TE and RSVP–TE policy lifecycle. The UI enables the network operator to:
1. Create, modify and remove SR-TE or RSVP–TE policies using an intuitive workflow
2. Continuously track SR-TE policy dynamic path computations to maintain SLA objectives
3. Preview an SR-TE or RSVP–TE policy before deploying it to the network
Standard Protocol Support: Key Protocols
Protocol |
Title |
Path Computation Element (PCE) Communication Protocol (PCEP) |
|
Path Computation Element Communication Protocol (PCEP) Extensions for Stateful PCE |
|
Path Computation Element Communication Protocol (PCEP) Extensions for PCE-Initiated LSP Setup in a Stateful PCE Model |
|
RSVP-TE: Extensions to RSVP for LSP Tunnels |
|
Traffic Engineering Extensions to OSPF Version 2 |
|
(IS-IS)Extensions for Traffic Engineering (TE) |
|
RFC 7752 |
North-Bound Distribution of Link-State and Traffic Engineering (TE) |
Crosswork Optimization Engine
Hypervisor |
VMWare ESXi 6.5 (Update 2 or later) and 6.7.x Note Installation should be done only from vCenter. Installation is not supported on ESXi directly. |
Memory |
96 GB minimum |
Disk Space |
1 TB |
vCPU |
16 vCPU |
Interface |
Two physical interfaces:
● One interface for management traffic, including SSH and GUI access to the VM. The DNS and NTP servers, and the default gateway, must be reachable via this interface.
● One interface for data traffic. Managed devices must be reachable via this interface (routable).
|
Crosswork Data Gateway
Hypervisor |
VMWare ESXi 6.5 (Update 2 or later) and 6.7.x Note Installation should be done only from vCenter. Installation is not supported on ESXi directly. |
Memory |
32 GB minimum |
Disk Space |
50 GB SSD |
vCPU |
8 vCPU |
Interface |
Three physical interfaces:
● One interface for management traffic, including SSH and GUI access to the VM. The DNS and NTP servers, and the default gateway, must be reachable via this interface
● One interface for southbound data traffic. Managed devices must be reachable via this interface (routable)
● One interface for northbound data publishing. The data destination must be reachable via this interface
|
Please contact your Cisco account representative for details regarding ordering Cisco Crosswork Optimization Engine.
Cisco environmental sustainability
Information about Cisco’s environmental sustainability policies and initiatives for our products, solutions, operations, and extended operations or supply chain is provided in the “Environment Sustainability” section of Cisco’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report.
Reference links to information about key environmental sustainability topics (mentioned in the “Environment Sustainability” section of the CSR Report) are provided in the following table:
Sustainability topic |
Reference |
Information on product material content laws and regulations |
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Information on electronic waste laws and regulations, including products, batteries, and packaging |
Cisco makes the packaging data available for informational purposes only. It may not reflect the most current legal developments, and Cisco does not represent, warrant, or guarantee that it is complete, accurate, or up to date. This information is subject to change without notice.
Cisco offers a wide range of services to help accelerate your success in connecting to Cisco Crosswork. The innovative Cisco Services offerings are delivered through a unique combination of people, processes, tools, and partners and are focused on helping you increase operational efficiency and improve your network control. Cisco Advanced Services use an architecture-led approach to help you align your network infrastructure with your business goals and achieve long-term value. Cisco Crosswork Products can be combined with Cisco SMARTnet™ Service to help you resolve mission-critical problems with direct access at any time to Cisco network experts and award-winning resources. Spanning the entire network lifecycle, Cisco Services offerings help increase investment protection, optimize network operations, support migration operations, and strengthen your IT expertise. For more information, please visit https://www.cisco.com/go/services.
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