Force10 Targets Data Center Efficiency With Network Automation

Force10 Networks plans to build network automation solutions that support Oracle VM server for x86 virtualization of network resources and Oracle Linux, using its Open Automation Framework and leveraging the functionality of Oracle's technologies.

The gold-level Oracle partner is targeting improved efficiency and flexibility in the data center with a new suite of network management and architectural tools, currently under development. This suite will allow administrators to provision network and infrastructure resources similarly to virtual machines, based on their requirements, according to Force10. As a result, quality of service and network security policies will automatically migrate with the virtual machines whenever local server resources are provisioned, the company said.

"Oracle VM helps maximize the use of physical server resources, and also makes it easier to deploy and manage applications as business priorities change," said Monica Kumar, senior director of Linux, virtualization, and MySQL product marketing at Oracle. "Partners, such as Force10, leverage Oracle VM in their solutions to enable joint customers to achieve greater value by increasing resource utilization across servers and the network."

Force10's Open Automation Framework uses open elements within the modular Force10 Operating System (FTOS) software, developed to streamline the data center network fabric's ability to respond to changing application and service demands with automated, policy-driven, and real-time workload allocation.

In the coming month, Force10 plans to add more features to its virtualization and management tools, and also expects to support more environments, according to the company.

"Force10 is excited to support Oracle's virtualization solutions as part of its comprehensive effort to deliver interoperable solutions that help IT managers simplify their data centers and lower costs by automating network configuration, management, and security-related tasks," said Michael O'Brien, VP of alliances at Force10 Networks.