Nokia will provide its data center switching solutions for Microsoft Azure. The deal expands the long-standing relationship between the companies, including collaboration as part of the open source SONiC initiative to develop chassis-based platforms focused on the requirements of high-capacity data centers.. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Nokia confirmed that it will supply its 7250 IXR chassis-based interconnect routers to support high-density 400GE applications in Microsoft’s tier-2 network architecture. Nokia will also be supplying fixed-form-factor platforms into other Microsoft network applications. This new agreement builds upon the companies’
The Nokia 7250 IXR offers a broad range of high-performance chassis-based and fixed-form-factor options for data center top of rack (TOR), leaf, spine and super-spine applications. The platforms support port speeds up to 400GE, with a path to 800GE, along with comprehensive IP and Ethernet feature sets.
Vach Kompella, Vice President, IP Networks Division, Nokia, said: “Today’s data centers have their own unique operational challenges, and Nokia has been working closely for some time now with Microsoft to understand its evolving data center needs and requirements. Our expertise in building high-performance, chassis-based systems was a key factor in our selection.”
David Maltz, Technical Fellow and Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Azure Networking, said: “Nokia’s platforms were a natural choice to deliver the massive-scale interconnectivity that Microsoft requires. Nokia brings density, performance and flexibility to Microsoft’s data center networks and cloud environments and is partnering with Microsoft to deliver chassis switches running the open source networking operating system SONiC.”
What's hot at OFC22? Nokia on IPoDWDM
The arrival of 400ZR and 400ZR+ optics will enable new network architectures, says Heidi Adams, Head of IP/Optical Marketing, Nokia, and the idea of IP-over-DWDM has popped up on the radar again.
The hyperscalers, in particular, see a pathway for using these new optics to drive greater efficiencies in their networks.
At OFC, Nokia introduced a Coherent Routing solution for service providers that is enabled by 400ZR, 400ZR+, and, in the future, 800GZR. Here is an overview.
Italy's TOP-IX Internet Exchange deploys Nokia 400GE IP
Nokia's Fabric Service Platform was co-developed with Apple
