ONF Announces Release of TAPI 2.1

MENLO PARK, Calif., Nov. 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Open Networking Foundation (ONF) announced the Open Transport Config & Control Project has just approved the latest version of the Transport API, known as TAPI 2.1. TAPI delivers a photonic media model and flexible NorthBound Interface (NBI). The open API is being used by ODTN, the operator-led open source initiative to build optical transport networks using disaggregated optical equipment.

TAPI now provides an interface for integrated SDN control over layers 0, 1 and 2.  This newest version of TAPI incorporates a Photonic Media Model, allowing access to detailed network photonic capability information and configuration and the creation of photonic media channels across the network. TAPI 2.1 builds on the existing TAPI support for network topologies, connectivity services and notifications related to network performance, events and alarms.  With the new photonic capabilities added to TAPI 2.1, TAPI now covers all the major components of modern transport networks, including: Ethernet, OTN and Photonic switching. 

"TAPI 2.1 innovation paves the way for the disaggregation of optical network transponders and open line system components, and as such, accelerates network disaggregation efforts," said Dai Kashiwa, vice president of SDN/NFV technology development, NTT Communications.  ODTN makes use of TAPI as the NBI of the ONOS open source SDN controller and as the API between ONOS and an Optical Open Line System Controller. This really opens up the optical network to a host of vendor suppliers." 

TAPI is an open source software defined standard released under Apache 2.0 license.  All base models are written in UML, and the ONF Eagle toolkit is used to automatically generate both YANG and OAS versions of the API.  By using TAPI, developers can rapidly construct compliant interface code, thus vastly simplifying implementation, speeding development and ensuring a higher degree of inter-device compatibility.

"TAPI 2.1 is an important step in the evolution of standards," said Javier Gavilán, Core, Network Platforms and Transport Global Director at Telefonica. "By defining the interfaces in code, rather than in text documents, the API can be much more rapidly adopted and a higher degree of interoperability is expected. Telefonica is fully committed with TAPI as key element our SDN strategy in Telefonica optical networks and its support is compulsory for any new deployment."

TAPI 2.1 also incorporates refinements identified in the recent 2018 OIF SDN Interoperability Demonstration, performed by a community of vendors and operators. The project  has added work on OAM, completed in coordination with the MEF 3.0 Network Resource Model (NRM) and LSO Presto API projects.  The photonic media model work is the result of joint modeling with the ONF Open Information Modeling and Tooling Project as well as joint discussions with subject matter experts in the ITU-T.

The TAPI project can be found here: https://github.com/OpenNetworkingFoundation/TAPI/

About the Open Networking Foundation:
The Open Networking Foundation (ONF) is an operator led consortium spearheading disruptive network transformation. Now the recognized leader for open source solutions for operators, the ONF first launched in 2011 as the standard bearer for Software Defined Networking (SDN). Led by its operator partners AT&T, China Unicom, Comcast, Deutsche Telekom, Google, NTT Group and Turk Telekom, the ONF is driving vast transformation across the operator space. For further information visit http://www.opennetworking.org

Media Contact:
Greg Cross
PR for the Open Networking Foundation
[email protected]

SOURCE Open Networking Foundation

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