SCIENCE

Extreme Networks has announced product support for Data Center Bridging (DCB) protocols in multi-vendor environments.  The company recently participated in the Enterprise iSCSI Interoperability Test Event, led by the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), an independent provider of broad-based testing and standards conformance services for the networking industry.

The test event, which took place at the UNH-IOL, Oct. 25 –29, 2010, demonstrated the continued power of Ethernet and recent extensions to the standard, such as Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE), to support high performance storage.  Extreme Networks was one of many networking and storage vendors to participate and demonstrate the power of open data center architectures for converged data and storage networks.  IEEE standards, including CEE and Data Center Bridging (DCBX), enable the lossless transport of Ethernet-based storage traffic and deliver the reliability and lossless characteristics required for demanding SAN applications.

"UNH-IOL plugfests, such as the Enterprise iSCSI Interoperability Test Event, provide the vendor community with a neutral test environment where interoperability and innovation can be fostered," said Mikkel Hagen, senior engineer for the UNH-IOL.  "Companies like Extreme Networks are staying ahead of the curve by identifying and addressing interoperability issues early on, as industry support for enterprise iSCSI continues to grow."

The IEEE and UNH-IOL have contributed to the development of standards-based protocols to improve the overall performance of data and storage over Ethernet networks.  At the heart of Extreme Networks architecture and networking product line is the capability to provide lossless, high performance storage networking over multi-vendor Ethernet architectures, as opposed to existing single vendor implementations.

Extreme Networks, as a participating member of the Plugfest, has incorporated CEE and DCBX into existing BlackDiamond and Summit switching products to help enhance investment protection for customers.  These products enable customers to build networks today that will work in a multi-vendor environment and allow users to add CEE functionality over time – without the need to rip and replace existing infrastructure.

"We value the UNH-IOL's commitment to maintaining an open and interoperable environment where Ethernet-based storage technologies can be tested and evolve," said David Ginsburg, senior vice president of marketing for Extreme Networks.  "These enhanced Ethernet capabilities provide a storage platform that is highly cost effective, manageable and open, while ensuring investment protection."