Cumulus Networks, provider of Cumulus Linux, the operating system for open networking, today announced its new software release expanding architectural choices for modern data center networks. Cumulus Networks also revealed an expanded ecosystem of channel and technology partners and announced collaboration with industry leaders to provide validated solution guides for three leading data center initiatives around server virtualization, Big Data and OpenStack. These new milestones build on the company’s momentum and allow companies of all sizes to more easily take advantage of open networking with benefits including affordable capacity, broader availability, and simpler data center automation through consistent Linux tools.

“Organizations realize the need for a new data center blueprint in which data center automation tools integrate seamlessly with cloud application workflows,” said JR Rivers, co-founder and CEO of Cumulus Networks. “Cumulus Linux 2.5 helps bridge the gap for existing datacenter networks by bringing the benefits of server-style automation and tools.”

Cumulus Linux is the first network OS as a platform for modern data center networking, enabling a rich ecosystem of management and automation tools on top of high capacity IP fabrics. Cumulus Linux 2.5 extends modern data center tool adoption to existing network blueprints.

New features ease design

Cumulus Linux 2.5 supports Layer 2 network architectures allowing companies operating such environments to embrace modern data center tools they may not otherwise be able to employ. Specifically, Cumulus Linux 2.5 includes features such as active-active MLAG and active-active first hop redundancy protocol (VRR).

New validated solutions ease deployment

Cumulus Networks is simplifying customer implementation of dominant enterprise cloud use cases. With validated solutions for VMware® vSphere®, Big Data solution with Apache™ Hadoop®, and cloud orchestration with OpenStack, Cumulus Networks is making it easy for customers to deploy these solutions with Cumulus Linux. The validated solutions include detailed step-by-step instructions with design guides, examples to try out on the Cumulus remote workbench for testing, and use-case specific training.

Expanded ecosystem and reach ease consumption

By collaborating with a rich ecosystem of partners, Cumulus Networks enables an open networking model that lets customers choose the hardware, software, management and orchestration tools that are best suited for their specific environment. Cumulus Linux 2.5 is supported on 19 hardware switching platforms including 40G, 10G and 1G switches from five open networking switching suppliers. Cumulus Networks is adding new solution partners for Big Data and OpenStack solutions while continuing to strengthen its market reach through a worldwide channel partner program with presence across four continents and fifteen countries.

With over one million switch ports in service, Cumulus Networks technology is used by companies ranging from small businesses to some of the largest global web-scale providers, in industries from technology to healthcare to education, and in regions spanning North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Now, the Cumulus Networks vision of a modern data center networking model is achievable for a broad market of enterprise customers.

Availability

Global availability of Cumulus Linux 2.5 is planned before the end of the year. Existing customers with a valid subscription are eligible for an upgrade.