Open Network Featured Article

Making Web-scale networking accessible to enterprises has become the focus of network solution providers so they can give their customers an affordable way to build and efficiently operate their networks. This type of capability is essential for large organizations that are becoming more connected to both deliver and receive digital services globally. Cumulus Networks has just developed a solution called Cumulus Express designed to accelerate web scale networking as its first turnkey development appliance to give enterprises high performance switching hardware and open networking software.

According to Cumulus Networks, Fortune 500 adoption of Web-scale IT was responsible for driving more than a 200 percent increase in bookings year-over-year of its technology in 2016. Another 28 percent of the Fortune 50 were also part of the customer base, which included new clients Verizon (News - Alert), Athena Health, and Outbrain. Thirty percent of the company's existing customers also increased their web scale IT adoption by expanding their Cumulus footprint.

This data point highlights the need in the marketplace for solutions that allows large organizations to deploy web scale networking capabilities without the complexities of traditional data center infrastructures and propriety-based software.

"Cumulus Networks had the foresight to know that the world was ready for an open network OS, unlike other well-known competitors who are still struggling to catch up. The level of integration with third party systems is phenomenal because it's just Linux," said Joshua Brown, Healthcare Realty Trust Inc.

Cumulus Express is a one-stop shop experience that has been put together to simplify and streamline the adoption of Web-scale networking principles by including the hardware and software as well as the support organizations need with integrated 24x7 global availability and an extended team to help maintain and grow data center operations. It includes 1G through 100G hardware platforms with a complete portfolio of networking switches pre-loaded with feature-rich Cumulus Linux Network Operating System license, along with a list of compatible cables and optics.

The Cumulus Express is an out-of-the-box next-generation open networking experience with a set-up process that has been simplified with pre-activated license key and a list of certified cables/optics that can be purchased with a single order for the entire package through authorized Cumulus Networks resellers and distributors.

By 2020 more than 40 percent of global enterprises will have adopted Web-scale networking principles. For the vast majority of organizations, barriers for adoption are the complexities and cost associated with traditional systems. With Cumulus Express, the adoption process of web scale principles can be accelerated because of the all in one and one-stop shop approach Cumulus Networks has implemented in this new solution, including open networking.