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Ravi Shekhar
Architect and lead - Security and SDN - at Apple
Professional Background
Ravi Shekhar currently serves as an architect in the development team of the Cloud Services Platform at Juniper Networks, working closely under the direction of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO). His role revolves around the creation and enhancement of a cutting-edge platform that supports secure Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) and Software-Defined Local Area Networking (SD-LAN), as well as an enterprise data center project. This platform showcases a multi-tenant, cloud-grade orchestration/controller software built utilizing robust open-source components. It is designed to seamlessly manage both stateful Layer 7 security and Layer 3/2 routing/switching devices, effectively connecting them through IP-based VPN technology—including MPLSoGRE and VxLAN.
The innovative platform is notable for its unified intent-based policy support, integrating networking, Quality of Service (QoS), and security management, representing a significant advancement compared to traditional element management systems. A prominent feature is its closed-loop implementation that identifies network degradations and automatically adjusts flow routing to ensure optimal performance. Additionally, Ravi’s work involves the collection of analytics from network elements which serves pivotal roles in analysis, alarm generation, and dynamic triggering of VPN tunnels (DVPN). Looking ahead, AI integration is on the horizon to capitalize on operational intelligence from gathered data, enabling proactive recommendations for network/QoS provisioning.
Before taking on his current role, Ravi was instrumental as a founding engineer and architect within Juniper's data center switching group. He successfully architected, engineered, and oversaw the shipping of Juniper's proprietary QFabric data-center fabric. His pioneering efforts have had a lasting impact, leading to the standardization of various approaches under the Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN) framework in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). This crucial advancement paved the way for the development of a multi-vendor fabric that utilizes EVPN with VxLAN/MPLS encapsulations.
Ravi maintains an active role in communicating directly with key customers—having interacted with around 50 clients in his capacity as an architect at Juniper. His collaborations extend to working closely with product management and solutions teams to elucidate both existing and prospective features of Juniper's product offerings.
In his spare time, Ravi contributes to standardization efforts at IETF, driving initiatives aimed at creating open standards that benefit the wider technology community. His dedication to innovation is reflected in his impressive portfolio, which includes over 25 filed patents in the realms of network fabric construction, EVPN deployment, and application-based SD-WAN.
Education and Achievements
While specific education details are not provided in the bio, Ravi Shekhar's profound understanding of both theoretical and practical elements of networking technologies positions him as a leading figure in the field. His continuous contributions to standardization bodies like IETF further underscore his commitment to advancing networking technologies.
Ravi boasts an impressive record of achievement, primarily through his innovation in networking technology and his drive to bring those innovations to the market. His fundamental role in shaping Juniper's data-center capabilities through QFabric remains a standout achievement, showcasing his technical acumen and strategic vision.
Achievements
- Architect of Juniper's Cloud Services Platform, focusing on secure SD-WAN, SD-LAN, and enterprise data center projects.
- Founding engineer and architect behind the Juniper QFabric data-center fabric, enhancing scalability and efficiency in data center operations.
- Advocate and contributor to the establishment of EVPN as a significant networking standard within the IETF, fostering industry-wide adoption.
- Engaged in direct collaboration with numerous customers to understand and tailor solutions to meet their networking needs.
- Holder of over 25 patents related to network fabric design, EVPN technology, and application-centric SD-WAN solutions, demonstrating a strong focus on innovation and industry advancement.
