Extreme Networks has announced that VMware has deployed its innovative enterprise, data center and Metro Ethernet networking solutions. VMware's network features over 50,000 Ethernet ports that deliver connectivity to its engineering lab and supports the IT infrastructure team for its converged voice implementation.  

Extreme Networks met VMware's demanding requirements for highly resilient and scalable network connectivity. Today, VMware's thousands of employees across multiple campuses are served by Extreme Networks' leading Ethernet switching solutions featuring 10 Gigabit Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet and Fast Ethernet, all powered by the ExtremeXOS modular operating system. The network deployed by Extreme Networks, due to its common operating system and wealth of features, delivers lower overall cost of ownership while enhancing employee productivity. This enables VMware to develop its industry leading virtualization platforms addressing cloud computing environments, and virtualized data servers.

"We required a robust, feature rich and energy efficient network to handle our data, virtualized applications and converged voice, and we achieved this through a trusted vendor like Extreme Networks, as they help it to achieve maximum availability so that we can drive continuous development," said Drew Kramer, senior director of technical operations and R&D for VMware. "Working with Extreme Networks, from its high performance products to its knowledgeable and dedicated staff, has resulted in a world class infrastructure."    

VMware has deployed Extreme Networks family of high performance network solutions, including the BlackDiamond8800, BlackDiamond 12000 modular switches and the Summit series of X450, Summit X350 and Summit X250 fixed switches. These switches perform at the core, aggregation and edge of the network carrying critical business information.

VMware supports a 24/7 operation, mission-critical business and product testing applications.  The network, implemented both within VMware's campuses and as a wide area, fiber connected Metro ring, enables employees, from IT staff to developers and operations, who require very stable, reliable and fast network access and converged multimedia, to be at the leading edge of productivity while not thinking about the underlying network.  

"Assisting VMware, which places the most rigorous demands on its network infrastructure, demonstrates the scale and efficiency delivered with our core to edge network portfolio," said Eileen Brooker, vice president of worldwide strategic alliances and OEM partnerships for Extreme Networks.  "Networks provide the foundation for the evolution of virtualization and we are very proud to help the #1 company."