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Introduction

The Juniper Networks NorthStar Controller is an SDN controller that enables granular visibility and control of IP/MPLS flows in large service provider and enterprise networks. Network operators can use the NorthStar Controller to optimize their network infrastructure through proactive monitoring, planning, and explicit routing of large traffic loads dynamically based on user-defined constraints.

The NorthStar Controller Release 6.2.7 is qualified to work with Junos OS 18.3R2.4 and later releases. Table 1 lists feature-specific minimum Junos OS requirements. The NorthStar features listed have been qualified with the specified Junos OS release and are intended to work with that release onwards.

Table 1: Feature-Specific Minimum Junos OS Requirements

NorthStar Feature

Junos OS Release

Analytics

15.1F6

Segment Routing (SPRING), MD5 authentication for PCEP, P2MP, Admin groups

17.2R1

PCEP-Provisioned P2MP Groups

18.3R2

PCEP-Provisioned P2MP Groups with MVPN (S,G) Service Mapping via Flowspec

19.4R1

EPE

19.2R1.8

Bandwidth sizing and container LSPs for SR-TE LSPs

19.2R1.2

PCC Delegated LSP Support for SR LSPs

19.4R3, 20.1R1

SR traversing binding SID support

19.2R1, 20.1R1

Path preemption

20.1R2

For more information on platform support and software compatibility for NorthStar Controller Release 6.2.7, see Platform and Software Compatibility.

Note:

The Path Computation Element Protocol (PCEP) configuration on the PCC routers does not persist across upgrades when the SDN package is not part of the installation binary. Before upgrading the Junos OS image to this release, save the existing configuration to a file by using the save command. After you upgrade the Junos OS image on each PCC router, use the load override command to restore the PCEP configuration.

NorthStar Controller supports PCEP, BGP-LS, Netconf, and JTI which currently are supported on MX and PTX Series devices. For PCEP capability on specific JUNOS OS versions, refer to specific Release Notes for that specific Junos OS version.

Junos OS supports Internet draft draft-crabbe-pce-pce-initiated-lsp-03 for the stateful PCE-initiated LSP implementation.

NorthStar Controller is Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) compliant (except for MD5 algorithm for PCEP messages). This only affects, and is a benefit to, users with FIPS enabled on their Linux servers.