Google building own router to replace Juniper?

Google is building its own routers because of dissatisfaction with Juniper's systems, according to a blog in SD Times.

Under the heading Google to Doom Juniper, the blog states that Google is "fed up" with the limitations of Juniper's JUNOS operating system and is embarking on its own creation. Interestingly, the blog cites "multiple sources" for its information, including "one inside Cisco," Juniper's routing rival.

"It would seem that Google is fed up with JUNOS and all the various difficulties it can present in an environment where, frankly, no one has figured out the best practices," the blog states. "In a world where traffic is likely doubling every six months, it's hard to think of any type of hardware architecture that could possibly sustain itself. It would seem that Juniper hasn't figured this out either, and Google has taken it upon itself to chase down a solution of its own."

Juniper said it doesn't comment on rumours. Google was not immediately available for comment.

But in addition to citing one source within Cisco, the blog perhaps should be read with other caveats. It states that Google is the "one big ol' customer floating [Juniper's] bottom line."

But in its most recent earnings call, Juniper noted that Verizon was the only customer to exceed 10% of revenue for the third quarter of 2008. And in the second quarter, it was Nokia-Siemens.

Nonetheless, if true, it would not be the first time Google has attempted to go it alone in product development or network buildout. Two years ago, Google was reported to be building its own 10Gigabit Ethernet switches to meet its unique requirements.

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