Force10 Networks and TBD Networks to Demonstrate Integrated Solution to Automate VMware and VLAN Provisioning at VMworld

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Force10 Networks, Inc., a global technology leader that data center, service provider, and enterprise customers rely on when the network is their business, announced today it has teamed with solutions partner TBD Networks to showcase leading-edge network automation technologies for the dynamic data center at this week's VMworld 2010 IT Expo in San Francisco (booth #738).

As part of TBD Networks' exhibit, Force10 is demonstrating how its switch/routers are managed  by TBD Networks. This real-world demonstration illustrates how network automation technologies drive down costs and empower customers to increase employee productivity, minimize human error, and accelerate the network's responsiveness to resource needs.

Force10 and TBD Networks understand the complex environments that companies must manage, and their customers are working with them to address the increasing complexities caused by virtualization sprawl.

For example, before migrating a virtual machine (VM) from one ESX/ESXi host to another, the VLAN that provides network connectivity for the VM must be properly configured to the new server to avoid disruptions and maintain integrity of the environment. Additionally, the dynamic nature of the virtual environment requires this move to happen immediately, adding a time constraint to the problem. Today, a typical way to solve this problem is for the virtualization administrator to request the network administrator to provision the VLAN prior to migrating the VM. The problem with this is that it may take the network administrator hours to many days to provision the VLAN as they typically have many other projects in the queue.

Network Switch vMotion Demonstration

Force10 and TBD Networks' solution to resolve this problem, as demonstrated at VMworld, is to use orchestration software that communicates with the hypervisor and the network switch. When the virtualization administrator tells the orchestration software to migrate the VM, the orchestration software tells the network switch to provision the VLAN prior to migrating the VM. This eliminates the need for pre-planning, avoids the need for the virtualization manager to wait for the network team, and ensures the virtual environment maintains full network functionality, security, and quality-of-service policies.

This demonstration shows how simple it is for a VMware administrator to safely migrate a VM from one ESX/ESXi host to another while maintaining the proper network connectivity. Using TBDVirtualFabric Orchestration software, Force10 network switches, and Force10 Open Automation software, VMware administrators can first test to see if it is safe to migrate a VM. Once the VMware administrator confirms the VM can be safely moved, TBDVirtualFabric software is used to initiate the migration.

"Server virtualization has delivered dramatic data center ROI by boosting server utilization," says Thomas Ludwig, CEO, TBD Networks. "An integrated solution such as that being shown by Force10 and TBD Networks is key to extending this ROI impact to network  and storage resources by enabling their dynamic allocation to fluctuating business priorities and the use of best-of-breed technology."

"Throughout 2010, we have established clear thought leadership in delivering an open approach to network automation. The market is looking for an alternative to all the pre-packaged unified approach and Force10 Networks is committed to being that alternative," said Michael O'Brien, vice president of Alliances at Force10 Networks. "Customers want choice and flexibility to fold in new technologies and we are offering that. The demonstration with TBD Networks is a clear example of technology that can be deployed today to allow customers to start deploying network automation and virtualization to address complexities and reduce costs."

About TBD Networks

TBD Networks develops innovative software to seamlessly manage network and VMWare environments, including virtual and physical switches. The company's focus is to optimize the performance and utilization of their customer's LAN and SAN. TBD Networks operates on some of the world's largest virtualized networks but can also scale from the smallest of virtualized environments.

About Force10 Networks

Force10 Networks is a global technology leader that data center, service provider and enterprise customers rely on when the network is their business. The company's high performance solutions are designed to deliver new economics by virtualizing and automating Ethernet networks. Force10's high density and resilient Ethernet switching and routing products increase network availability, agility and efficiency while reducing power and cooling costs. Force10 provides 24x7 service and support capabilities to its global customer base in more than 60 countries worldwide. For more information on Force10 Networks, please visit www.force10networks.com.

Force10 Networks, the Force10 Networks logo, Force10, E-Series, Traverse, and TraverseEdge are registered trademarks and ExaScale, S-Series, TeraScale, and FTOS are trademarks of Force10 Networks, Inc. All other company names are trademarks of their respective holders.

SOURCE Force10 Networks, Inc.