Zeugma releases SDK for Zeugma Services Node (ZSN)

VANCOUVER: Zeugma Systems, a supplier of open telecommunications solutions for broadband service providers (BSPs), released a software development kit (SDK) for its flagship product, the Zeugma Services Node (ZSN).

The SDK leverages the scalable and fully federated compute grid which is inherent to the ZSN, allowing service providers and third parties to quickly and easily develop custom applications capable of running directly within the ZSN. This capability provides visibility and control over network resources heretofore not possible in a carrier-grade broadband aggregation, subscriber management, and edge routing device.

The Zeugma SDK provides APIs that give applications direct access to the subscriber management, routing, traffic management, and compute capabilities within the ZSN. Using these APIs, applications can “push” rules down into the data plane, instructing deep session inspection (DSI) technology to copy or intercept certain traffic flows up to the application for analysis and processing.

Applications are also able to dynamically modify traffic management aspects of the data plane with individual per-subscriber, per-session granularity. Zeugma’'s SmartBoost application, developed using the SDK, exemplifies the ease with which new service-enabling applications can be deployed.

Michael Howard, principal analyst with Infonetics Research, views the ability to rapidly develop and implement new applications as “an essential feature for Telco 2.0 network operators.

It has been proven many times over that closed development systems are inherently limiting-opening these systems to innovation from multiple sources is a prerequisite for operators to realize Telco 2.0 goals. Zeugma is ahead of the pack with the first SDK we’ve seen for carrier-class broadband edge equipment.”

According to Zeugma vice president of engineering Jeff Dillabough: “The ability to host diverse application sets directly within the Zeugma Services Node sets it apart from other broadband edge network equipment. And the availability of published APIs and a full SDK allows Zeugma, our customers, and even third parties to exploit this capability in novel ways.”

The ZSN can be configured with up to 12 compute blades, providing a high-performance, scalable pool of network-based application resources. A special framework, the Zeugma Open Application Sandbox (OAS), allows any combination of applications to simultaneously run in a protected environment.

Among other tasks, the OAS ensures that misbehaving applications are unable to adversely impact other applications or the underlying data plane. The Zeugma SDK is the companion software development tool for the OAS.

The Zeugma SDK is available now.