Press Releases
2010
IBM and Force10 Networks Extend Resale Agreement
IBM certifies ExaScale™ to interoperate with its’ x iDataPlex clustering solutions for dynamic data center environments
SAN JOSE, Calif., May 25, 2010 – Force10 Networks, Inc., the global technology leader that data center, service provider and enterprise customers rely on when the network is their business, today announced that its ExaScale™ E-Series virtualized core switch/router will be integrated into IBM's iDataPlex servers and Intelligent Cluster. IBM will also provide support for the ExaScale switch/routers – including implementation and technical support – for enterprise customers worldwide.
“Today’s data centers require massive compute resources to answer the increasing growth of data while challenged to save power, cooling and management costs,” says Wendy McGee, director, HPC and iDataPlex Business Unit, IBM. “Since 2003, data center and grid computing environments have leveraged our Linux cluster technology, coupled with the Force10 core switch/routers, to gain line-rate 10 GbE throughput advantages that can cost-effectively scale in these density- and performance-sensitive applications. By certifying ExaScale virtualized core switch/routers to integrate with x iDataPlex technology, IT managers can now leverage Force10’s network management and architectural tools to gain greater data center efficiency and agility through better space utilization and computing density, all while using less power.”
Force10 Networks ExaScale E-Series is purpose-built for dynamic data center environments, such as those served by x iDataPlex. This virtualized core switch/router family incorporates Force10’s Open Automation technology which leverages new “open” components within the modular Force10 Operating System (FTOS) software that streamline the data center network fabric’s ability to participate in automated, policy-driven, real-time workload allocation in response to changing application and service demands. These software features within FTOS promote network agility through real-time communication with middleware orchestration tools and virtualized server technologies to enable automatic provisioning and management throughout the data center network.
“IBM and Force10 Networks have enjoyed considerable success over the past several years in delivering high performing, cost-effective networking solutions for large data centers,” said John Erdman, vice president of OEM Alliances, Force10 Networks. “Our agreement formally extends this automated, yet flexible approach we have taken together to leverage standards-based management, provisioning and automation tools, to help data centers deliver on-demand performance, rapid service delivery and lower management, power and cooling costs.”
About IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from across IBM and key Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services, solutions and technologies that enable customers, large and small, to take full advantage of the new era of e-business. For more information about IBM's Grid computing business, visit http://www.ibm.com/grid.
About Force10 Networks
Force10 Networks develops high-performance data center solutions powered by the industry’s most innovative line of open, standards-based, networking hardware and software. The company’s Open Cloud Networking framework grants Web 2.0/portal operators, cloud and hosting providers, enterprise and special-purpose data center customers new levels of flexibility, performance, scale and automation—fundamentally changing the economics of data center networking. Force10 Networks operates globally, providing 24x7 service and support to its customer base in more than 60 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.force10networks.com.
Contact:
Michael Schoolnik
StoryPR on behalf of Force10 Networks Inc.
+1 415-674-3816
michael@storypr.com
Force10 Networks, the Force10 Networks logo, Force10, E-Series, Traverse, and TraverseEdge are registered trademarks and Open Cloud Networking, Z-Series, ZettaScale, ExaScale, S-Series, TeraScale, FTOS, Open Automation, are trademarks of Force10 Networks, Inc. All other company names are trademarks of their respective holders.
