Taking a more aggressive step into the virtualization realm, Nortel Networks (TSX: NT) has announced its Virtual Services Switch (VSS) 5000, a new virtualization solution designed for data centres, along with a new version of its Ethernet Routing Switch 8600, version 5.0, as the vendor aims to bring on board new partners and end-users.
Seeing growth and significant uptake with the virtualization market space, Rami Rammaha, marketing manager at Nortel, says the company wants to help data centre managers better consolidate features, power, cooling and maintenance within their infrastructures. The VSS 5000, he says, helps data centres to extend their virtualization capabilities into the network by working in layers three, four and seven of the network layer.
“Data centre virtualization allows IT departments to pool and allocate resources to specific user groups as needed,” Rammaha said. “We’re offering an end to end virtualization solution where we’ve consolidated security, application availability and we’ve virtualized different features to service multiple customers using a single box.”
Rammaha says by working with layer three, four and seven, the VSS 5000 can address switching, routing and other intelligent services needs as required. Because VSS 5000 is able to take different functions and services and chain them together, Rammaha says, the single box-solution helps save data centre costs by using one solution instead of running multiple devices.
“This is made possible by our role-based management software that we’re also introducing with this device,” Rammaha said. “It lets IT personnel provision services on the fly because it’s a scaleable platform that virtualizes different functions, all the while using a single platform.”
With the new solution, Rammaha says Nortel is hoping to attract new partners and end-users. The VSS 5000, which will be made generally available worldwide in Q4 2008, will be offered at a bundled price that includes the services required as well as the number of users.
“It will lower the savings in the operational sense, and also in the power and cooling sense,” he said. “It’s all about simplifying the network and being able to integrate multiple functions into the same platform with our unified management software.”
In addition to the VSS 5000, Nortel will also be introducing a new version of its Ethernet Riding Switch 8600. Version 5.0, Rammaha says, is a combination hardware and software solution that will virtualize things such as switching and routing and will work to extend virtual private networking services across the LAN and campus network.
“The Ethernet Riding Switch 8600 5.0 will be able to tie in with the VSS to help separate and map the traffic of customers through the VSS 5000,” he said. “We want to help our partners take advantage of the customers who already have the 8600 because they can now upgrade to version 5.0.”
This solution, he adds, will be made available within the next month or two and will focus on increasing the availability, scalability and security of the traffic coming over the network.
“We’re trying to show partners and enterprise customers that Nortel has the ability to provide an end to end solution in the virtualization and services space,” Rammaha said. “This is a key area for us and I’m hoping we make good headway.”