IBM is announcing reseller and OEM agreements for switches and routers that help move and manage data across networks. Demands on networks are increasing with the proliferation of the mobile web and connected sensors expected to lead to 16-fold growth in each individual's "information footprint" by 2020, according to IBM.
New and/or expanded networking supplier relationships announced today:
Brocade -- IBM has introduced new networking switches that it will resell that are manufactured by Brocade. The new switches, "IBM Converged Switch B32," are the first Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) offering from Brocade. This expands upon the long-standing OEM agreement between both companies. The IBM Converged Switch B32 is available immediately.
Cisco -- IBM has expanded its long-standing relationship with Cisco through a new agreement enabling its Systems & Technology Group sellers and partners to resell the Cisco Nexus 5000 for IBM System Storage switches, a leading family of Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) switches for data center networks. Expected availability is September 2009.
Juniper Networks - IBM today is announcing an original equipment manufacturing (OEM) agreement with Juniper Networks where IBM will rebrand and sell selected Juniper EX and MX switches and routers. Availability expected later this year. This expands upon IBM and Juniper's long-term relationship that includes a reseller agreement with IBM Global Technology Services, as well as collaboration on Juniper's Stratus Project, and IBM's ten worldwide Cloud Labs.
FCoE represents an emerging technology that provides faster networking performance and offers customers the potential to simplify their datacenter infrastructure and lower both capital and operational expenses via the consolidation of multiple data traffic flows over a shared network.
IBM will also provide services through its Global Technology Services unit to integrate networking products, and offers IBM Systems Director and Tivoli network management software to manage the flow of data and transactions.
For more information about IBM and IBM's networking switches and offerings, visit http://www.ibm.com/....