Juniper Networks has introduced the JCS 1200, a Control Plane Scaling Platform. JCS 1200 introduces independent scale of control and forwarding plane resources to help maximise service growth, operational efficiencies and control.

As service providers seek to deliver multiple services concurrently across a converged IP infrastructure, each service must contend for a fixed amount of control plane capacity in the underlying routing infrastructure. The Juniper Networks JCS 1200 claims to address this challenge by providing a dedicated platform for control plane resources (hosting multiple Routing Engines), which provides significantly enhanced scale, control and efficiency.

The JCS 1200 is a 12 rack unit (RU) chassis that provides 12 Routing Engine slots and connects to Juniper Networks T-series routers via redundant Ethernet connections.

The JCS 1200 leverages the JUNOS software, a single-source operating system that offers a uniform set of features, consistent implementation, and universal configuration and management tools.

"Enabling the control plane to scale independently of the forwarding plane is the next logical evolution of routing technologies, and we believe it will help providers accelerate the monetisation of their networks by delivering innovative, quality, scalable services which set them apart from the crowd,” said Matt Kolon, Asia Pacific CTO for Juniper Networks. “Juniper is once again advancing the economics of networking by delivering the industry’s first control plane scaling platform, which delivers significantly enhanced capacity, efficiency and control, while reducing the costs and complexities associated with managing today’s converged IP infrastructures.”

The JCS 1200 Control Plane Scaling Platform is expected to be generally available for deployment in Q2 2008.