Happy Friday! Here's a final roundup of news related to software-defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV).

Google and Red Hat cooperated to patch a crucial vulnerability in the GNU C library (glibc).

PLUMgrid began offering code for networking Docker containers.

NTT Docomo has developed NFV technology that can run evolved packet core (EPC) software from multiple vendors to enhance connectivity in high-volume areas. Docomo plans to deploy the technology on its network starting in March.

Brocade announced several technology partners to advance its 5G network goals. They include Coriant, Rift.IO, Metaswitch, and Openet.

Asocs, a provider of virtual base stations, validated its technology on Hewlett Packard Enterprise's (HPE's) OpenNFV platform.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise announced that Swisscom will use OpenNFV to provide virtual customer premises equipment (vCPE) to businesses.

HPE also introduced a software suite for application performance monitoring.

NEC and Juniper Networks expanded their alliance to deliver NFV-based products to service providers and enterprises.

CENX successfully tested interoperability of its Exanova Service Intelligence with vCPEs from Ixia, Mitel, and VMware.

NFWare announced its virtual carrier-grade network address translation (CGNAT) was used by Telefónica in lab tests. The objective is to extend the life of carriers' IPv4 networks.

Network management startup LiveAction raised a $36 million Series B. The round was led by Insight Venture Partners, joined by prior investors Accelerate-IT Ventures and Cisco Investments.

Ciena added six partners to its Blue Planet ecosystem: Active Broadband Networks, Calix, Centina, Dell, Qwilt, and Silver Peak.

Ericsson executed a large-scale cloud transformation project with the Japanese mobile operator SoftBank. They say the deployment represents a complete NFV solution. (For more on Ericsson's busy week, see here.)

Italtel announced its Netwrapper SDN application built on top of Cisco's Application Centric Infrastructure Controller Enterprise Module (APIC-EM). As previously reported, the technology understands each service's need for bandwidth and allocates network resources accordingly.

Networking equipment manufacturer Raisecom will use Wind River's Titanium Server to develop virtualized small-cell gateways.

Core Network Dynamics unveiled its OpenEPC 7, a core network in software designed specifically for commercial, carrier-grade deployments.

Illumio extended the capabilities of its security platform through integration with Microsoft's Active Directory groups. The new capability, known as Adaptive User Segmentation, dynamically calculates and provisions connectivity rules based on user identity to prevent unauthorized communications with, and access to, any Illumio-protected applications.

Allot announced that its Smart Data Source can be integrated with the Oracle Communications Analytics suite to correlate information about users, location, services, and the network.

VMware launched AirWatch 8.3, further integrating AirWatch with the NSX network virtualization platform.

Metaswitch announced that Perimeta, its virtual session border controller, was deployed by AIS, Thailand's largest mobile carrier.

Google Cloud Platform announced general availability of Custom Machine Types.

Nokia introduced the concept of a Shared Data Layer, a centralized storage point for VNFs. This renders the VNFs stateless and makes them easier to replace in the event of a failure, Nokia claims.

Here’s what else SDxCentral has covered lately:

  • How a Security Obsession Made CoreOS a Linux Container Player
  • Linux Containers Are Cool, but VMs Won’t Just Vanish
  • Docker’s Containers-as-a-Service Aims to Please Dev & Ops
  • Shaky Economy Doesn’t Faze Arista Networks in Q4
  • Juniper Forays Into Mobile, Again
  • Business Agility Drives NV Demand
  • Ericsson Does R&D With Telefónica, Vodafone & NTT
  • Verizon Chooses Viptela’s SD-WAN
  • Linux Containers Are Cool, but VMs Won’t Just Vanish
  • ClearPath Suffers From Investor Troubles
  • Docker’s Containers-as-a-Service Aims to Please Dev & Ops
  • ADVA Creates NFV Group From Overture Acquisition
  • NFV at Mobile World Congress: What to Look For
  • EMC & VMware Engineer a Hyperconverged Appliance
  • Beating the Bad Guys: Top Cloud Security Tools
  • Cisco Says Its Next-Generation Firewall Is More ‘Next-Gen’ Than Yours
  • Brocade Plays in 5G