HP Teams with Accton and Cumulus on Open Network Switches

HP is teaming with Accton Technology and Cumulus Networks to launch a new line of open network switches for web-scale data centers -- a new category of branded white box switches that HP calls "brite box switches."

HP will provide dedicated sales teams, choice of hardware and software, and branded switches that are backed by worldwide local support and services through HP Technology Services, enabling customers to streamline operations and reduce supply chain risk. HP said this brite box approach enables it to provide a differentiated solution from original design manufacturers.  HP can de-risk supply chain concerns, provide global presence in over 160 countries and deliver a wide range of high value support and consulting services.

The first products are two open network switches that enable 10G/40G spine and 10G leaf data center deployments. Both switches will be available with Cumulus Linux OS and offer zero-touch OS installation using an open network install environment loader. In the second half of 2015, HP will expand the line to include 25G/50G/100G switches for higher performance Web scale data centers and 1G switches to address unique customer needs. HP will also expand the hardware and OS software choices to meet emerging customer requirements. The expanded offerings will enhance customers' ability to tailor their networking infrastructure to meet the specific applications and workload requirements.

"The complexity of Web-scale workloads and increasing customer demands for network services are challenging the scalability and agility of cloud data centers," said Antonio Neri, senior vice president and general manager, HP Enterprise Group. "Today's announcement underpins our commitment to accelerate the adoption of open networks and provide offerings optimized for web-scale deployments that enable faster time to service."

"Web scale data centers are a growing market segment with distinct needs for high scalability and network flexibility," said George Tchaparian, general manager of data center networks, Accton Technology. "This joint venture will build on the expertise of both organizations to provide global customers with a unique disaggregated networking solution built on new HP-branded open network switches and choice of networking operating system software."

"Modern data centers need great physical networking using layer 2, layer 3 and overlay architectures that are optimized for higher scalability, faster service delivery, and backed by a robust ecosystem," said JR Rivers, co-founder and CEO, Cumulus Networks. "This open networking approach to web scale data center networks empowers customers and gives web-scale IT the opportunity to serve the business better."

http://www.hp.com
http://cumulusnetworks.com/