I received several pings yesterday concerning my post about Junos Space. I’ll summarize a few of the questions below:

1) What exactly is Junos Space? Junos Space is a platform that allows you to develop and deploy simple, smart network applications. The network application platform includes a scalable runtime environment that is multitenant, has hot-pluggable network application support, includes a complete rapid network application development framework, and a Web 2.0 user interface.

2) Are there applications available today on the Junos Space Platform? Yes – Juniper has built several Junos Space applications to help customers with their network infrastructure automation. Applications like:

* Ethernet Design — enables rapid, accurate deployment of campus and data center networks
* Network Activate — provides fast network application setup of secure communication channels
* Route Insight — facilitates rapid planning, troubleshooting, and change simulation
* Security Design — enables security architects to design, validate and deploy security policies using an intuitive visual design
* Service Insight — enables proactive network maintenance with targeted actionable network intelligence
* Service Now — automates diagnostics to speed problem resolution and bring in operational efficiency
* Virtual Control — allows users to monitor, manage, and control the virtual network environments that run within virtualized servers

3) Can I build applications using Junos Space for my organization? Yes. What started out as a platform for Juniper to build applications, has matured into a robust development environment for our customers and partners. We have just released the first version of the Junos Space SDK along with tools, samples and guidance on how to build network aware applications. In addition to the applications that Juniper is building, we are starting to see robust interest from the broader developer community.  Not bad given that we just released the SDK in late December.

4) What other types of applications can I write? The sky is pretty much the limit. Above we referenced several interesting applications that we have built on the platform but with Junos Space, you have the ability to think broadly. Space gives you the opportunity to build a network aware application that can be leveraged in many different scenarios or verticals.

5) Where can I learn more? Start with the webinar that Alan Stokol and Alexander Kolchinsky will be presenting on February 24th. You can register at http://forums.juniper.net/t5/Junos/Junos-Live-Webcast-February-24-2011-Junos-Space-SDK/m-p/74116#M4240.

Over the course of the next couple of weeks, I’ll start posting various links so you can see Junos Space in action.

To learn more, visit our website at https://www.juniper.net/us/en/community/junos/.