Juniper Networks Expands SD-WAN Solution to Include SD-LAN

Juniper Networks now provides software-defined local area networking (SD-LAN).

The company on Tuesday said that customers can now manage and configure their LANs using the Juniper EX series switches. The cloud-managed solution that provides SD-WAN is the same one that has expanded to provide SD-LAN.

The new automated functionality is expected to cut down on complexity, improve savings and “increase workflows and leverage the WAN and LAN network for connected security,” according to Juniper.

Juniper Networks’ Manoj Leelanivas

“Juniper has a unique and innovative vision of unifying wired, wireless, SD-WAN and security under a common framework that delivers unparalleled automation, insight and actions to our enterprise customers,” Juniper chief product officer Manoj Leelanivas said. “These latest enhancements take us one step closer to that goal by expanding the breadth of our cloud offering and delivering even more deployment options for simple, seamless and secure campus and branch networks.”

Leelanivas explained the rationale for the portfolio expansion in a blog.

Allied Pinnacle, an Australian bakery ingredients supplier, uses Juniper’s SD-WAN offering to link more than 1,300 employees and 20 locations. Chief information officer John Khoury said the company needed to simplify operations as it connected all of the moving parts.

“With Juniper, we can now manage our local and wide-area networks from a single platform with advanced features like zero-touch provisioning, security policies and granular application service levels that deliver unprecedented ease, agility and assurance,” Khoury said.

Juniper also added three new CPE devices: the NFX350 universal CPE, which comes with improved processing horsepower, storage and memory; the SRX380 secure Gateway, which Juniper calls the “highest performing branch SRX”; and a Wi-Fi card for the SRX series of firewalls and edge devices.

Juniper on Monday appointed Raj Yavatkar as its new chief technology officer, replacing recently resigned Bikash Koley.