Open Network Featured Article

The growth of open networking principles in the last few years has called for a new line of hardware options to help drive this push forward. Lanner has joined the outpouring of new hardware systems in this field and recently launched a new line of white box hardware tools geared toward network functions virtualization infrastructure (NFVi) deployments.

Lanner's new hardware, the HTCA-6200 and the HTCA-6600 are HybridTCA network appliances, not only geared toward NFVi, but also compliant with Network Equipment Building System (NEBS) protocols. Since both of the new hardware additions are carrier-grade communications platforms as well, each allows an extra note of flexibility to be brought forward, serving not only as redundant components as needs require, but also as sources of high-end performance, which is increasingly necessary in a world that demands more bandwidth routinely, especially in pursuit of open networking.

The HTCA-6200 boasts dual CPU blades along with dual network input / output blades, with the CPU blades driven by a pair of Intel (News - Alert) Xeon E5-2690 v3 / v4 CPUs each, along with a full slate of 16 DDR4 R-DIMM sockets.  An included BCM StrataXGS Trident-II BCM56854 switch fabric system with 720 Gbps provides extra control and load balance options.

Meanwhile, the HTCA-6600 capitalizes on the 6200's capabilities and augments same, offering a 6U rackmount form factor compared to the 6200's 2U. The 6600 boasts similar specs to the 6200 as well, with the same CPU and memory setup, but the 6600 boasts six Ethernet NI / switch blades. The top two blade slots are specifically geared for switch or Ethernet NI, while the remaining four are just for Ethernet NI.

Open networking requires a lot in the way of high-end material to fully function, and it's products like Lanner's white box hardware line that will help drive the network to the level of functionality needed to achieve the goal of fully open networking. Better, Lanner clearly knows its market as it's offering two systems that share a lot of similarities, but one that comes with significantly more capacity, allowing users to add to the system as needs on the ground dictate. That means customers are less likely to overbuy in the early stages to ensure what's needed is on hand.

It's a safe bet that Lanner's systems will go well in most any open networking application, delivering value on any scale and bringing this new capability to many more systems.