Vyatta Open Source Routers: Enterprise Ready

As enterprises look to cut their costs, Vyatta's introduction version 6.0 of its open source routing code last week again raises the question as to what extent IT organizations can and should trust open source code in their network operations. Within the networking world, however, open source routers have made nominal in roads into enterprise markets. There are different reasons for the lack of adoption, mostly reflecting that routing is less about features and cost within businesses today and more about Cisco's dominance.

But even without Cisco, businesses have had their concerns about open source routing. Performance on a commodity hardware platform, for one, feature richness for another. Basic capabilities, like Netflow reporting, have been missing, which has given organizations pause before considering going with open source. Since Linux's widespread adoption, enterprises have relied on open source software to some degree within the IT operations. Other platforms, Snort for example, have gained popularity, but it's been Linux more than any other open source project that has promoted open source within IT running a quarter of the OS shipments today, according to Gartner.

Vyatta Version 6.0  addressed at least some of those concerns, adding a number of features both to its Vyatta Core and Vyatta Subscription editions. Vyatta Core is the general code base available both through the community and Vyatta. The new version of Core will include Netflow/Flow logging and analysis, 802.11 wireless support, IPv6 readiness, firewall enhancements including the addition of personal firewalling, and improvements in QOS handling.

Vyatta Subscription is based on Vyatta Core and provides extensions for manageability and scalability that will be required by enterprises and providers. The new version of the Subscription Edition includes TACACS+ support, simplified VPN client management and the addition of Vyatta Remote Access API.

Vyatta also announced its inclusion in Riverbed's RiOS Services Platform (RSP) which provides a hypervisor running virtual appliances. RSP allows companies to consolidate critical applications and services onto a Steelhead appliance and reduce hardware in remote offices. RSP offers a way for Vyatta's Subscription Edition of its router software. The partnership means that Riverbed and Vyatta have tested the virtual appliances and can provide support. The Subscription Edition starts at $993.Those additions resonated well with the Vyatta's customers. "As we continue to scale our network in Australia and New Zealand, Vyatta is our platform of choice for BGP routing," said Ben Matthews, Senior Network Engineer at Telarus. "As global routing tables continue to explode it delivers significant scalability and exceptional value. Many of the new features in Version 6.0, including Netflow support and Vyatta's API, offer significant advantages in our ability to monitor and manage our growing network."

The same goes for John Spracklen, CTO of Southwest Data Centers, a data hosting provider. Spracklen needed to replace a pair of Cisco 2501 routers in his co-location facility. He went out looking for a new router, came across Vyatta, and downloaded the open source code for testing. They eventually bought the Vyatta software "We spent $10,000 for the whole package plus consulting when I was prepared to spend $250,000 for a new Cisco solution." He particularly liked the introduction of NetFlow and customer firewalling. "It gave us something to monetize," he says, "now we can offer personal firewalling to our customers." The addition of those features makes Vyatta something worth considering by enterprises, particularly those constrained by tight IT budgets.