Extreme Networks debuts new hardware/software for Agile Data Centre solution

Author: Dan Sait

Extreme Networks is bringing new hardware and software to its Agile Data Centre solution, with the latest additions promising to offer a ‘path to the new, agile data centre’.

The new launches include secure, plug-and-play technology which combines acquired data centre networking and automation tools with Extreme Networks’ management, analytics and security capabilities. This new hardware and software claims to reduce the risk and mitigate the complexity involved in deploying and managing multi-vendor environments and transitioning legacy architectures.

“For Extreme, interoperability means more than just a myriad of APIs. It means delivering real, multi-vendor capabilities that meet the needs of the modern enterprise – the types our competitors don’t like to talk about. With our new Agile Data Centre Solution,we are walking the talk,” noted Nabil Bukhari, senior vice president of products, Extreme Networks.

The claimed benefits of Extreme Networks’ solutions include:

• Cross-domain IT automation: Extreme Workflow Composer, powered by Extreme’s StackStorm platform, enables customised cross-domain, multi-vendor IT automation, enabling full integration of compute, storage, security and network resources.
• Automation at your pace: Extreme Embedded Fabric Automation enables plug-and-play data center fabric creation within seconds for a fabric of any size – with no need for additional software or servers. Customers can automate at their own pace with customisable workflows using popular tools such as Ansible, as well as the ability to move to full IT automation with Extreme Workflow Composer.
• Single pane of glass management: The Extreme Management Center platform delivers end-to-end, multi-vendor management and monitoring capabilities across the entire network – from the wired/ wireless edge and campus to the data center—reducing administration time and speeding issue resolution.
• Insights where and when you need them: The ExtremeAnalytics dashboard provides end-to-end application visibility and telemetry across the campus, data center, between VMs on hosts and to the cloud, enabling administrators to support the business with real-time information to make informed decisions. A virtual sensor captures traffic information on and between VMware virtual instances, without slowing down the network. The guest VM capability of Extreme’s SLX family of switches and routers gives network administrators distributed analyser capabilities for on-box analysis.
• Network adaptability and agility: Extreme’s open and vendor agnostic architecture eliminates lock-in and forms the basis for a network that easily and quickly adapts to ever-changing business needs fueled by digital transformation. Seamless VMware vCenter integration accelerates application deployment through zero-touch VM discovery, VM mobility and VM server migration.
• Hardware for any use case: Extreme’s SLX switching and routing platforms provide the foundation for the modern data center. New SLX 9030 leaf switches, designed for enhanced Top of Rack switching, and the SLX 9640 router for scalable, high performance border routing and data center interconnect (DCI), strengthen an already robust and comprehensive portfolio.