Cumulus Networks Collaborates with VMware on VMware EVO SDDC

VMware becomes latest Tier 1 IT provider to bring Cumulus Linux to enterprise data centers around the world

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--()--Cumulus Networks® announced today at VMworld 2015 that Cumulus® Linux®, the operating system for Open Networking, will power new hyper-converged infrastructure solutions from Dell and QCT (Quanta Cloud Technology) based on VMware EVO™ SDDC™. With this strategic technology partnership, VMware joins Dell, HP and more than 80 hardware providers, resellers and distributors around the world that partner with Cumulus Networks to offer networking solutions with Cumulus Linux or Cumulus RMP.

Organizations will benefit from Cumulus Networks’ shared vision with VMware -- data centers can be more agile and flexible when defined in software, and not hardware-based. For VMware EVO SDDC integrated systems with Cumulus Linux, physical networks and virtual infrastructure will be able to be managed and operated via the same tools sets and automation.

VMware EVO SDDC will provide a prescriptive, simple way for organizations to build software-defined data centers. With this new program, VMware provides compute, storage, network virtualization and now fully integrated physical networking solutions. Cumulus Linux will be integrated with the hardware management system (HMS) component of VMware EVO SDDC that provides software integration at the network layer. Hyper-converged infrastructure solutions based on VMware EVO SDDC will be available as an integrated system on select validated hardware platforms, such as QCT.

Running Cumulus Linux as the network OS allows VMware partners to offer their customers improved economics vs. the traditional black-box model of networking. Hundreds of organizations of all sizes -- from small businesses to the largest web scale data centers in the world -- and across industries ranging from education to healthcare to technology use Cumulus Linux to build affordable, high capacity networks that are easily managed in a DevOps model.

“We share VMware’s vision of the software-defined data center -- that highly automated software on bare-metal infrastructure is the modern model to reduce overall data center complexity and cost,” said JR Rivers, CEO and cofounder, Cumulus Networks. “The work Dell and QCT are doing within the VMware EVO SDDC program are great examples of how the disaggregation of networking hardware and software creates greater value for customers as they embrace modern models of IT.”

VMworld 2015 attendees can learn more about VMware EVO SDDC in the Hyper-converged Infrastructure Partner Zone and in the numerous VMworld sessions.

Supporting quotes:

“By enabling customers to run the VMware stack on standardized infrastructure from the vendor of their choice, Cumulus Linux will help deliver on the vision of the software-defined data center. With hyper-converged infrastructure solutions running VMware EVO SDDC, customers will be able to achieve hybrid cloud-style economics and agility.” -- John Gilmartin, vice president and general manager, Integrated Systems Business Unit, VMware

“Our approach with the EVO SDDC program is a natural extension of our existing partnerships with VMware and Cumulus Networks. Within this new program, we are working closely with customers to evaluate new capabilities to stand up a self-contained private cloud instance ready to go within hours.” -- Tom Burns, VP and GM, Dell Networking

“QCT, Cumulus Networks and VMware have integrated the right combination of network hardware and software components to make the software-defined data center trend pay off for our customers. It's an approach that automates both deployment and operations, while delivering lower TCO and simpler manageability. It's an approach that delivers exceptional value compared with black-box approaches.”-- Mike Yang, SVP and GM of QCT (Quanta Cloud Technology)

Additional resources:

● VMware news release

● Cumulus Networks & VMware information website, blog post and webinar sign-up

● Dell news release

● QCT news release: http://www.quantaqct.com/information/pressrelease/pressrelease?pressrelease_id=61

● Cumulus Networks Open Networking Community: https://community.cumulusnetworks.com

About Cumulus Networks

Cumulus Networks helps customers realize cost-effective, high capacity networking for modern data centers. Linux transformed the economics and innovation for data center compute, and Cumulus Linux is doing the same for the network. It radically reduces the costs and complexities of operating modern data center networks for businesses of all sizes. Cumulus Networks has received venture funding from Andreessen Horowitz, Battery Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Peter Wagner and four of the original VMware founders.

For more information visit cumulusnetworks.com or follow @cumulusnetworks.

CUMULUS, the Cumulus Logo, CUMULUS NETWORKS, and the Rocket Turtle Logo (the “Marks”) are trademarks and service marks of Cumulus Networks, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. You are not permitted to use the Marks without the prior written consent of Cumulus Networks.

The registered trademark Linux® is used pursuant to a sublicense from LMI, the exclusive licensee of Linus Torvalds, owner of the mark on a world-wide basis.

VMware, VMworld, EVO, and EVO SDDC are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions. The use of the word “partner” or “partnership” does not imply a legal partnership relationship between VMware and any other company.

[i] Source: Gartner, “Forecast Analysis: Integrated Systems, Worldwide, 3Q14 Update

Contacts

Bite Communications
Thomas McLean, +1 415-365-0383
thomas.mclean@biteglobal.com

Contacts

Bite Communications
Thomas McLean, +1 415-365-0383
thomas.mclean@biteglobal.com