April 11, 2013

 

Extreme Networks (News - Alert), a provider of high performance Ethernet switching for cloud, data center and mobile networks, has expanded its Open Fabric Edge network architecture to deliver a high performance network solution to enterprises.

The Open Fabric Edge enables unified communications (UC), physical security (PhySec) systems, audio-video bridging (AVB), and WLAN on a single converged network. The open standard architecture delivers increased scalability and flexibility allowing advanced services and customization, while also lowering total cost of ownership.

Zeus Kerravala (News - Alert), principal analyst and founder of ZK Research, says the Open Fabric Edge framework from Extreme Networks helps enterprises heighten the return on infrastructure investment with innovations contributing to availability, automation and task enablement that the market has experienced with cloud and data center networks.  

Kerravala added, “ExtremeXOS serves as middleware across switches at each layer, brokering intelligence and communications for convergence, mobility and SDN.”

Open Fabric Edge is certified to work with major collaboration platforms including qualification in the network infrastructure optimization program for Microsoft (News - Alert) Lync Server 2010. It supports all aspects of unified communications, including VoIP desk phones, softphones, instant messaging and video collaboration. It also delivers intelligent mobility for bring your own device (BYOD).

Highlights of the Open Fabric Edge include Summit X430 series VoIP switches, Summit X440 series switches, Ridgeline 4.0 Network and Service Management Software, Chalet, and Altitude 4022/4522 access points.

Further, Open Fabric Edge supports third-party integration via ExtremeXOS operating system. It also allows IT departments to easily deploy high resolution cameras for PhySec in the access layer. Chalet, an intuitive Web-based GUI, helps detect and provision IP-based cameras, using secure 802.1x authentication and QoS policies to ensure quality video.

Automation and network customization is enabled with the support of both programmable APIs, and SDN tools with OpenFlow and OpenStack. Additionally, new cost-optimized Summit X430 wired access switches and Altitude 4022 and 4522 Wireless LAN 802.11n APs allow for strategic cost-optimization deployments as the demands of the network increase.


Edited by Jamie Epstein