Extreme binds Enterasys gear tighter to its own

New software and hardware is intended to provide unified management and analytics with high performance networking

Extreme Networks has unveiled a software architecture for building SDNs and enabling interoperability between its technology and that of recent acquisition Enterasys.

Also, Extreme rolled out a 100G Ethernet module for its BlackDiamond X8 core switch, as well as 802.11ac wireless access points. Combined, the new software and hardware is intended to provide unified management and analytics with high performance networking to better support mobile, application and social networking driven environments.

The products will go up against unified access offerings from Cisco, HP, Brocade and Alcatel-Lucent.

+ MORE ON NETWORK WORLD: Extreme starts anew after Enterasys buy +

The software architecture supports centralized management, application analytics and software-defined networking. The centralized management piece is provided by Extreme's NetSight 6.0 application.

NetSight 6.0 is designed to provide a single tool that enables visibility across the mobile campus to the data center. It provides automated provisioning based on user, device or application, Extreme says, and allows for third party application integration.

NetSight 6.0 will ship in April and support the entire Extreme/Enterasys portfolio, the company says.

Application analytics is provided by Extreme's currently shipping Purview software. Purview helps associate applications with the users, devices and locations of execution. It gathers metrics to measure adoption, engagement and ROI of the application.

SDN is provided by Extreme's OneFabric SDN Connect 2.0 software, which will ship in April. OneFabric Connect 2.0 is designed to provide automated network provisioning through northbound and southbound programmability, and orchestration and configuration of physical and virtual networks.

OneFabric Connect provides northbound integration with SDN controllers and orchestration and automation tools through REST APIs. Southbound integration can be achieved through OpenFlow and other APIs.

OneFabric Connect is interoperable with hypervisors, virtual switches and device management tools from VMware, Citrix, Microsoft, Palo Alto, AirWatch, MobileIron and others, Extreme says.

The 100G module for the BlackDiamond X8 switch supports four CFP2 ports, for a full system capacity of 32 100G Ethernet ports per chassis. The blade supports distances of 100m to 10Km over single mode and multimode fiber, making the BlackDiamond X8 suitable for data center interconnect, IXP edge/core and high-performance computing deployments, Extreme says.

The 100G X8 blade will ship in April.

The new 802.11ac access point is called the 3800 series. It supports the 802.3af Power over Ethernet standard for Ethernet power-sourcing connected equipment as well as active-active dual Ethernet ports for resiliency. The 3800 AP will ship in April.

Jim Duffy has been covering technology for over 27 years, 22 at Network World. He also writes The Cisco Connection blog and can be reached on Twitter @Jim_Duffy.

Read more about lan and wan in Network World's LAN & WAN section.

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Tags Networkingextreme networksEthernet SwitchLAN & WANSDNInterop 2014

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