Plexxi and Opscode Collaborate on Easier Network Setup

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Plexxi, creator of the industry's first affinity-driven networking solution, today announced a product integration with Opscode®, the provider of the Chef™ IT automation platform, that reduces complexity and makes it easier to set up servers and deploy applications in the data center.  

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Unlike standard approaches that require network switches to be managed individually, the combination of Plexxi and Opscode Enterprise Chef™ allows users to provision their applications and the supporting network with a single action – all via the server. Once the user configures the application, the network is automatically optimized without additional administrative load.

The Integration
The integration with Opscode Enterprise Chef combines the power of Chef's programmatic server and application deployment automation with Plexxi's SDN-based switching solution, creating simpler server infrastructure management and increased visibility across the data center.  

How It Works
Plexxi's Data Services Engine, a data platform that resides on Plexxi's controller, communicates through various reusable channels, now including Chef. This allows Plexxi Control to communicate directly with Chef Server so when new nodes are provisioned, Plexxi Control can take the appropriate action on the networking side.

"Managing today's infrastructure has become expensive and error-prone," said Mat Mathews, co-founder and VP of product management at Plexxi. "To solve this problem, we're collaborating with Opscode to create easier-to-manage infrastructure by making network setup an extension of server provisioning and by treating the network as subordinate to the application – not the other way around."

"Today's increasingly complex data center requires a new level of scale and predictability," said Ken Cheney, VP of business development at Opscode. "The integration with Plexxi enables Opscode to tap our experience solving complex issues in computing and extend that to networking, dramatically reducing the complexity of managing today's data center."  

Plexxi Control and Plexxi Switch
Plexxi Control is server-based software that dynamically and continuously computes connectivity solutions to satisfy all workload needs. Plexxi Switches provide standard high-performance, low-latency 10Gb and 40Gbps Ethernet access connections, but interconnect with each other via Plexxi's high density, high capacity LightRail™ optical interface. The result is a system that directly manifests workload-optimized solutions in the real, physical network, creating a network that delivers to applications what they need, when they need it – every time.

Enterprise Chef
Opscode Enterprise Chef is the automation platform built specifically for the coded business. Chef is based on one key insight: What can express users' knowledge of their IT infrastructure and also put that knowledge into action? Code can. With Chef, users model evolving IT infrastructure and applications as code. Chef makes no assumptions about environments or users' approach to infrastructure and process. The result? Infrastructure becomes testable, versioned and repeatable – all as part of an agile software delivery pipeline. More information here.

Availability
To see the Plexxi/Opscode integration in action, register for DemoFriday on Sept. 13: http://www.sdncentral.com/events/plexxi-devops-chef-sdn-2013/.

About Plexxi, Inc.
Plexxi is the creator of the industry's first affinity-driven networking solution. Plexxi's products – Plexxi Control and the Plexxi Switch – create an optimized network that dynamically helps applications perform better. The company has raised $48+ million in venture financing from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Matrix Partners and Northbridge Venture Partners. Headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., Plexxi also has offices in Nashua, N.H. and San Francisco, Calif. For more information, please visit www.plexxi.com.

SOURCE Plexxi