DALLAS--Putting action behind its self-described status as a multi-vendor provider of systems for managing its and others’ network gear, Juniper Networks took Nakina Systems into its J-Partner Solutions Alliance Program this week.

Nakina demonstrated its Network OS (operating system) managing Juniper Networks’ MX-series Ethernet Services Routers at the TM Forum’s Management World Americas. Nakina also participated in the Catalyst project sponsored by Time Warner Cable (link to TWC Catalyst story) that explored better solutions for mobile backhaul services.

Nakina's Network OS can manage multiple technologies from many different equipment vendors. Through the partnership with Juniper, it will provide the company’s service provider customers a carrier-grade, multi-vendor, multi-technology network management solution. Juniper’s J-Partner Network Management Alliance Program is designed to encourage the development of applications that deliver flexible and interoperable network management solutions that lower the cost of service provider operations.

“We have proven we can work with leading vendors in OSS and support standards like MTOSI as we manage multi-vendor networks for higher level applications,” said Chris Chartrand, director of marketing at Nakina.

Nakina’s software provides a single point of integration for managing multi-vendor network elements that supports fault, configuration, accounting, performance and security functionality across legacy and next-generation networks.

Peter Mottishaw, senior analyst for OSS Observer said that a common, standards-based platform that provides a single point of integration northbound into higher level back office systems and southbound into the network elements holds the potential to significantly reduce OSS integration, maintenance and staff training costs for service providers.

Chartrand said the Network OS, also known as a universal mediation layer, is the missing piece of the network architecture. “Nobody has single-vendor networks anymore,” he said. He added that large equipment vendors have not been able to sell the idea that they can provide a true multi-vendor management solution—and for good reason.