How have datacenters changed over the past few years? Do
you see a change in preference of certain
technologies?
The datacenters have changed over the past few years. Today they
are both larger and smaller in nature, smaller — as
virtualization technology had reduced the space and energy of the
datacenters. For instance instead of using 10 physical servers, one
virtual server can be used. But at the same time it’s
becoming larger as the datacenter applications and information are
mounting up. The companies are moving from client/server, utility
computing and datacenter virtualization to virtual environment that
will provide business agility and financial efficiency.
According to Gartner, 86 percent of the server workloads will be
virtualized by 2018. Emerging workloads and technologies are
driving the need for high-performance, scaled-out shared storage
fabrics. Fibre Channel fabrics are the premier choice for highly
virtualized data centers and cloud architectures. Today the
companies are looking at datacenters with no walls — that
means applications can reside anywhere. Thus cloud computing
technology is picking up.
What is the significance of ‘Cloud optimized
networks’ for enterprises?
One of the most compelling reasons for migrating to the cloud is
greater agility in an increasingly dynamic business environment.
Building a cloud optimized network that spans multiple IT
architectures and applications can help organizations solve a wide
range of business challenges. However, they first need to
understand their challenges and goals before they can decide what
type of cloud makes the most business sense. We provide
capabilities to address public, private and hybrid cloud
challenges.
We have introduced the Brocade Cloudplex architecture for
virtualization and cloud-optimized networks. Cloudplex is an open,
extensible framework that will help organizations migrate into a
cloud environment. This architecture will be the innovative
foundation on which Brocade plans to deliver technologies, products
and services during the next three to five years.
Last year Brocade announced the VDX 6720 switches that had
incorporated the Virtual Cluster Switching (VCS) technology, how is
the product doing in the market (adoption rate)?
In 2008, Brocade acquired Foundry Networks to build the cloud
mission. We are now bringing together highend Ethernet technology
and the best of Fibre Channel innovation. Last year we launched the
VDX 6720 switches, the first product that incorporates VCS (Virtual
Cluster Switching) technology.
The VDX 6720 switches were shipped in February 2011. In just three
months, we have signed about 100 customers — indicating that
the product is doing well in the market.
The companies are adopting VCS technology as it transforms data
center networks through certain innovations that are optimized for
highly virtualized and cloud environments. With the help of this
technology, the companies need not configure switches that are
added to the network.
The close competitor of Brocade is betting big on video (it
is estimated that 91 percent of internet traffic will consist of
video by 2013). How is Brocade planning to tap this
market?
We have no plans to tap the video market. We are a specialized
storage network company and unlike our competitors we do not want
to keep on changing our focus by selling solutions like video or
phone.
What are the company’ s future plans?
About 16 to 20 percent of our investment goes into R&D. We
would keep on innovating technologies like fibre channel, fabric
adapter, VCS etc. This year we have introduced Cloud- Optimized
SANs, DCX 8510 Backbone, 1860 Fabric Adapter and many more
products.
About Author
Vinita Gupta is Principal Correspondent at InformationWeek India. Vinita has over six years experience in IT reporting and has interviewed more than 500 business executives. She has a PG Diploma in Business Management from NMIMS and Post Graduate Degree in Communication and Journalism from Mumbai University
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