BLADE opens door for partners with virtualisation technology

OEM network switching specialist BLADE Network Technologies has launched a range of standalone switching products aimed at organisations moving into virtualisation. The firm, which also supplies vendors like IBM (IBM), HP (HPQ) and NEC with embedded switching found in BLADE server chassis, is offering its 1Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet switches through the channel.

The firm has also announced a deal with IBM for inclusion in the IBM System x option portfolio which will allow IBM partners to by BLADE Network switches direct from IBM distribution routes.
Rivals
The firm's VP EMEA Charles Ferland, explains: “We are not looking at replacing the core backbone...Keep your Cisco backbone; you don’t need to deploy a whole blade network infrastructure to gain the benefits.”

BLADE is aiming at areas where performance is critical, and Ferland claims that independent test on its equipment prove it has around eight times lower latency and three times better price performance than its nearest Cisco (CSCO) rival. In post recessionary times, Ferland believes that potential clients will say, “I can’t just buy a box because of the [Cisco] badge” and instead opt for its technology as a top of rack replacement.

The move into switching does bring the firm into completion with its major OEM customer HP although Ferland is unconcerned, believing that the rivals are in different spaces in the market and its good relationship with HP could extend to an OEM agreement in the future.

BLADE, which luckily span out of Nortel before its recent troubles, has distribution agreements with Avnet (AVT), Bell Micro and Consolidate IT.
Technology
On the product side, the firm’s VM-ready technology allows some clever configuration management processes to be highly automated in either a VMware (VMW), Hyper-V, Xen or KVM environments. The switches detect which virtualisation technologies are in use and automatically reconfigures access, security and routing configuration to match any changes to the corresponding virtual server.

Ferland believes that alongside its strong performance story, virtualisation support and low energy usage, which he claims is around three times lower than the nearest Cisco rival product, offers a compelling product to help channel partners get their feet in the door. “The inclusion in IBM’s portfolio, we feel, is a serious endorsement and confirms us as a trusted supplier.” he adds.