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Westcon Group announced the integration of Avaya's data networking solutions into the company's LEAP (Learn, Experience, Architect, and Plan) Centers of Excellence. The announcement was made during an exclusive partner event at Westcon's LEAP headquarters in Denver, Colorado.

Founded in 2010, each LEAP Center is engineered to replicate real-world scenarios faced in deploying virtualization and private cloud infrastructures. Resellers can test and experience an array of high-growth solutions, including high-performance virtualized computing platforms, virtualization-enabled core switching, virtualization provisioning, network virtualization, SAN and SAN switching platforms, application networking, virtualized unified communications, virtualized applications, and unified data center management. Full functionality is available both on-site and via remote access.

"While competitors claim to have training facilities, not one comes close to the technology access and broad-based functionality offered by our LEAP Centers," said Dean Douglas, President and Chief Executive Officer, Westcon Group. "Our aim is to go beyond product demonstrations to offer a hands-on data center experience that mirrors real-world data center environments. With the ability to configure each center to replicate an end-user's environment, new functionality can easily be viewed and tested as it would appear in their current infrastructure. Today's announcement is a testament to the power of LEAP and the strength of our relationship with Avaya."

Westcon will now fully integrate the range of Avaya data networking solutions into the LEAP data center - including the company's Ethernet switching solutions, the Avaya Virtual Services Platform (VSP) 7000 and 9000. Both are key elements of the Avaya Virtual Enterprise Network Architecture (VENA) networking strategy, enabling enterprises to more effectively reap the benefits of virtualization. Avaya VENA ensures uninterrupted VM mobility within and between data centers with the ability to fully leverage the hyper-scale delivered by next-generation products such as the Avaya VSP 7000 and 9000.

"Westcon's LEAP Centers provide resellers with a unique way to experience Avaya's next-generation data networking solutions," said Steve Bandrowczak, Vice President and General Manager, Networking, Avaya. "The centers offer hands-on access to our full networking portfolio, including the Avaya VSP 7000 and 9000, to help resellers increase value, capture high-growth opportunities and close deals with Avaya's solutions. Westcon has consistently proven itself to be one of Avaya's most valued distribution partners and their centers are a unique value-add for our customers. We are pleased to be part of Westcon's innovative LEAP initiative."

Each LEAP Center is a proof-of-concept facility and the cornerstone of Westcon's broad-based mentor/reseller enablement framework. Key offerings include accelerated training, business planning, vendor leverage, and demand generation - all of which may be deployed to assist partners in expanding their portfolios. This environment can be customized for the reseller to replicate an end-user's data center infrastructure. In addition to the center's advanced technological benefits, the LEAP curriculum helps partners better articulate the business benefits, justification and ROI for each solution - increasing relevancy and ultimately sales.

Attendees at the event were offered a glimpse into the newly expanded training centers. Additionally, Westcon and Avaya executives - as well as key reseller partners - participated in a broad range of speaking tracks, including: "Executive Relevance Selling for the Data Center," "Partner Challenges in Selling into the Data Center," and an exclusive look into Westcon's own experience with virtualization.