Huawei Agile Network FAQ What is an agile network? What is the relationship between an agile network and SDN?... 2

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1 Contents Huawei Agile Network FAQ What is an agile network? What is the relationship between an agile network and SDN? What is an agile campus? What are the benefits of an agile network? What are the transformations of an agile network compared to traditional networks? Must the agile network be deployed with the agile controller? Both Huawei's free mobility sub-solution and the traditional policy server solution can solve the problems brought about by mobility. What is the difference between Huawei's free mobility sub-solution and the policy server solution?... 7

2 Huawei Agile Network FAQ 1 What is an agile network? What is the relationship between an network and SDN? Based on Software Defined Networking (SDN) concepts and three architectural innovations, the Huawei Agile Network Solution is a next-generation enterprise solution that enables a swift and flexible network for services. The solution provides rapid service innovation (four times faster than the industry average), helping enterprises seize business opportunities amidst fierce competition. The Huawei Agile Network Solution encompasses four sub-solutions: agile campus network, cloud fabric solution, agile WAN solution, and agile branch solution. The Huawei Agile Network Solution fully satisfies the requirements of new network services such as mobile applications, cloud computing, social media, Big Data, and the Internet of Things (IoT), bringing significant benefits to enterprise customers. An agile network can be viewed as enhanced SDN that introduces the following significant architectural innovations: 1. Fully Programmable: from Hardware-Defined Networking (HDN) to SDN The essence of SDN is that network functions can be flexibly expanded and enhanced in software mode. Traditional, existing switches used by most enterprises are based on Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chips. The service processing functions of these chips are fixed before switches are delivered and cannot be flexibly expanded. Many device vendors have claimed that their products support software

3 upgrades and SDN programmability. In reality, new packet process functions such as new protocols and new protocol processing functions cannot be implemented on their devices. Huawei is the first company in the industry to introduce the Ethernet Network Processor (ENP) into a switch's packet process mechanism, simultaneously providing highly flexible software and high-speed hardware forwarding performance. Huawei has also optimized SDN architecture and introduced a Protocol Oblivious Forwarding (POF) structure. Huawei leads the industry in implementing programmable network functions and fast evolution, enabling a network transformation from hardware-defined to software-defined. This makes fast network function innovation and evolution possible. It is the fully programmable architecture (ENP + POF) that permits multiple innovative functions such as free mobility, united security, Packet Conservation Algorithm for Internet (ipca), wired and wireless convergence, and embedded unified user management. 2. Quality Awareness: First to Enable the IP Network to Detect Service Quality, Providing a Good Service Experience Rather than Simple Interconnections SDN does not solve the problem that traditional IP networks cannot automatically detect service quality. When a user has a poor experience, the network and network administrator cannot detect it. As a result, the experience of real-time services such as voice, videos, and desktop clouds is often poor. Huawei addresses this problem by leveraging its unique ipca technology. ipca provides a full-scale quality awareness system for devices, links, cards, and switch fabrics. If the user experience is affected due to a network fault, the quality awareness system can accurately and quickly locate the fault in a replaceable unit. This not only preserves the quality of the IP network experience, but also eliminates the considerable difficulty in locating an IP network fault. 3. Smooth Evolution: First to Deploy SDN on Live Networks Using Dual Planes on One Switch SDN features centralized control while current networks use distributed control. To implement easy evolution and interoperability, the Huawei Agile Network Solution employs dual planes on one switch. Huawei is the first to deploy SDN on a live network. 2 What is an agile campus? A sub-solution of Huawei agile network for enterprise campuses, an agile campus consists of an Agile Controller, agile switches, and a security resource center. Based on SDN concepts and three Huawei

4 architectural innovations, this sub-solution implements a wide variety of service innovations such as free mobility, united security, wired and wireless convergence, and dynamic workgroups. The agile campus solves problems brought about by mobility, including poor network experience, low network security, complex network deployment, and the negative experience of real-time services such as voice, videos, and desktop clouds. 3 What are the benefits of an agile network? Network user Enhanced user experience No mosaic, clear voice, and fast Internet access New experience for remote and mobile offices O&M Simplified O&M Automatic deployment of network resources based on users and services Automatic fault location CIO Softwaredefined services Service evolution four times faster than through hardware Coordinated security defense Single-point defense versus coordinated security defense on the entire network The agile network offers an unprecedented experience in quality and allows network administrators to optimize Operation and Maintenance (O&M) efficiency, and Chief Information Officers (CIOs) can introduce new, innovative services at unprecedented speeds. Enhanced Experience: Drops in service continuity, pixelation, unclear voice, slow operational response speeds are reduced, and enterprise intranet access rates in remote and mobile office modes are significantly improved. Efficient O&M: By leveraging the Huawei Agile Network Solution, manual labor can be

5 significantly reduced. Network administrators are relieved from the difficulties of complex technical terms, massive network devices, tedious manual network configuration, and the heavy workload of manual network fault location. Quick Service Innovation: Enterprise CIOs no longer need to worry about introduction and deployment of new services. The agile network supports innovation by adapting quickly to the introduction of new services. The agile network also enables enterprise ICT systems to implement service evolution four times faster than the industry average. 4 What are the transformations of an agile network compared to traditional networks? Mobility Cloud Computing Big Data Social Media Internet of Things 1. Shift the focus from technology, device, and connectivity to service and user experience 2. Shift from single-point management to complete network management 3. Shift from best effort to real-time quality detection on the network 4. Shift from static configuration to dynamic auto deployment 5. Shift from hardware-defined to software-defined Agile networks will bring about the following changes that will free enterprise customers from the constraints of traditional networks: 1. Traditional networks are centered on technologies, devices, and network connectivity. Agile networks focus on how to provide excellent user experience and service innovation. 2. Traditional networks are centered on a single device. Agile networks focus on the entire network, which is considered an integrated function that provides integrated services and experiences. 3. Traditional networks cannot detect poor user experience. Agile networks can detect user experience and service quality in real time. When user experience is poor, the network can automatically detect it and accurately locate faults. 4. Administrators of traditional networks pay much attention to technological details, complex device

6 configuration, and tedious fault location. Agile networks permit administrators to focus on user experience and service innovation and eliminate most manual labor. 5. Traditional networks are hardware-defined and evolve slowly. To implement new services and functions, devices on traditional networks must be replaced. Agile networks are software-defined and can evolve four times faster than traditional hardware-defined networks, making it easier to quickly introduce new services.

7 Huawei Agile Network FAQ INTERNAL 5 Must the agile network be deployed with the agile controller? Agile switches can be independently deployed, and the agile controller is optional. The following table gives the details: Embedded Functions of Agile Switches New Functions After Controller Is Deployed Fully Programmable Wired and wireless convergence (native AC) Free mobility United security Network capability openness Embedded user management Super Virtual Fabric (SVF) Large capacities of table entries Quality awareness: ipca Smooth evolution: dual planes on one device Device capability openness 6 Both Huawei's free mobility sub-solution and the traditional policy server solution can solve the problems brought about by mobility. What is the difference between Huawei's free mobility sub-solution and the policy server solution? Huawei's free mobility sub-solution is the first in the industry to introduce the full-scale resource orchestration capability of SDN. This permits network resources to be provisioned based on user location, guaranteeing an End-to-End (E2E) network experience and access rights. Common policy servers deliver access rights only when users go online and, consequently, cannot guarantee an E2E network experience Huawei Confidential Page7, Total7