Pluribus Networks today announced a relationship with Super Micro Computer, Inc. to power its next-generation MicroBlade microserver platform switching blades with the Pluribus Netvisor network operating system. Netvisor is the industry’s first and only bare-metal, distributed network hypervisor operating system, enabling the convergence of compute, network, storage and virtualization into a highly programmable, open-standards-based platform. This joint solution further validates the Pluribus Freedom architecture that brings together compute and networking into a truly software-defined networking (SDN) platform. The Pluribus team will be available to talk about the new solution at the Open Networking User Group (ONUG), taking place in New York City, May 5-6, 2014.
The Supermicro MicroBlade is a 6U 112 node Intel Atom-based compute and network platform featuring integrated 10/40 GbE Intel FM5224 Ethernet switches to deliver industry-leading energy efficiency, density and ease of management in ultra high-density server deployments. The Pluribus Netvisor offers Layer 2+ features and high-availability across multiple switch modules within the MicroBlade platform via Netvisor’s fabric-cluster capability.
Multiple MicroBlade chassis may interconnect via the fabric-cluster, offering a single point of management and powerful analytics, while distributing the switching intelligence “in-rack” as opposed to a single point at the top-of-rack.
Enterprises, scale-out data centers, cloud operators and even SMBs can now take advantage of Supermicro’s server and switch expertise, combined with the Pluribus Netvisor network operating system, maximizing performance per watt, per dollar, and per square foot. The optional addition of OpenStack includes a set of orchestration capabilities for IT and service provider cloud deployments. The MicroBlade builds on a close relationship between the two companies that already includes use of Supermicro motherboards on the Pluribus Freedom F-series server-switches.
“Our strategic relationship with Supermicro further demonstrates the power of the Freedom architecture and Netvisor network operating system, helping to redefine the way enterprises and cloud operators will deploy infrastructure and services in today’s highly competitive environment,” said Kumar Srikantan, president and CEO of Pluribus Networks.
“Supermicro’s innovative MicroBlade architecture with integrated 10/40 GbE SDN-enabled switches maximizes server density, reduces cabling, and lowers latency in hyperscale data center, cloud and enterprise environments,” said Charles Liang, president and CEO of Supermicro. “With 112 ultra low power, 8-core Atom nodes in 6U and integrated next-gen switch modules featuring hypervisor OS technologies from Pluribus Networks, MicroBlade provides the perfect power, space and cost-saving microserver solution. The MicroBlade complete solutions reduce deployment time and optimize resource utilization to accelerate productivity and infrastructure ROI.”
Typical deployments consist of a 42U rack with up to 7 MicroBlade chassis, offering 784 servers, or, alternatively, a combination of the MicroBlade, Supermicro storage, and the Pluribus Freedom Server-Switch as an OpenStack-based cloud controller, a fully featured cloud rack.
The Supermicro MicroBlade microserver consists of the following:
- 112x Intel Atom C2000 Nodes
- 4x MicroBlade SDN Switches
- Intel FM5224 Ethernet Switch
- Intel Atom C2000 Processor
- 2x 40Gbps QSFP uplinks
- 8x 10Gbps SFP+ uplinks
- 1x 1Gbps RJ45 uplinks
- 56x 2.5Gbps downlinks
- 1x RJ45 Console port
- 1x Chassis Management Module (CMM)
- 8x Redundant Platinum Level High Efficiency (95%+) Digital Power Supplies
Product Availability and Pricing
The Supermicro MicroBlade system powered by the Pluribus Netvisor will be available from Supermicro partners by end of Q2 at published pricing, and includes Layer 2/3 capabilities. Additional Netvisor licenses, including advanced routing and multicast, the vManage GUI, inNetwork Analytics and inNetwork SDN are available separately. For more information, visit www.pluribusnetworks.com/go/supermicro or www.supermicro.com/products/MicroBlade/Pluribus