Startup Linux Offering to Rival Network Tech Giants
Startup Linux Offering to Rival Network Tech Giants by UCStrategies Staff
Startup Cumulus Networks released its Linux-based network operating system last week, noting its ability to bring flexibility and low-cost benefits of open standards to data center networks that are dominated by Cisco and other vendors.
The company is based in Sunnyvale, California, and was founded in 2010 by former Cisco and VMware networking engineers, who had raised over $15 million in venture funding from Andreessen Horowitz, Battery Ventures and other investors such as former VMware CEO Diane Greene.
According to IDC statistics published in February, the Linux operating system runs over 20 percent of all servers sold today. They have replaced servers that use proprietary software as a basis, which has led to lower server prices.
The aim of Cumulus Networks is to create similar impact on data center networks where proprietary technologies are dominant. These types of networks have a stronger integration of hardware and software, are comprehensive and costly, and according to the startup, do not have common tools for network management, automation and monitoring.
The CEO and co-founder of Cumulus Networks, JR Rivers said: “Linux revolutionized the compute-side of the datacenter over the past 15 years. Having a common OS broke vendor lock-in, drove down server hardware cost, allowed scale-out architectures, and provided a common platform for innovations like virtualization. Meanwhile networking remained stagnant. Innovation is finally coming to the network, and we are bringing that same transformational impact that Linux has had on datacenter economics and innovation to the networking side of the house.”
Cumulux Linux allows businesses to make use of lower cost industry-standard hardware and software-defined tool sets to put their corporate networks together, according to Cumulus Networks.
Cumulus Linux will be able to operate in corporate data centers, and can be used by cloud service providers. Cumulus Networks stated that DreamHost and Fastly are two such service companies that can use the software, and so is another, which has been described as “one of the world's biggest cloud providers.” It remains unclear which the latter company is.
A variety of channel partners such as SYNNEX, Penguin Computing and UnixSurplus have been lined up by the company.
The CEO of Penguin Computing, Charles Wuischpard, said: “The trend towards open systems and architectures is now taking hold in the network world, providing more choice and flexibility for customers at reduced cost.”
He added: “We have been successfully delivering open Linux-based solutions for fifteen years. Partnering with Cumulus, who is introducing a Linux based software stack to the world of switches, is a natural fit for us.” Cumulus Linux will be made available by Penguin Computing over the company’s new portfolio of 1-, 10- and 40-Gbe switches. (CY) Link