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    Anuta Launches Network Virtualization Platform

    One of the primary benefits of virtualization is that it allows IT organizations to manage systems at a higher level of abstraction. What’s good for servers should obviously be just as good for networking, which is one of the reasons we’re starting to hear more these days about network virtualization.

    The latest entrant in this space is Anuta Networks, a startup company that today launched an nCloudX network virtualization platform that works across the installed base of networking gear from Cisco and Juniper Networks.

    According to Anuta Networks CEO Chandu Guntakala, network virtualization is more viable today because of the rise of software-defined networking (SDN), which makes it a lot easier to manage a network. But what makes the Anuta Networks approach different is that it works with installed networks versus requiring customers to upgrade to a new set of routers and switches that support new SDN software.

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    The nCloudX platform, which Guntakala says reduces network service deployment times to a few hours instead of weeks, currently supports networks from Cisco and Juniper Networks and hypervisors from VMware with additional support for other enterprise networks and virtual machine platforms planned for later this year.

    In many ways, Guntakala notes network virtualization renders much of the debate over technologies such as OpenFlow relatively moot because multi-vendor networks regardless of whether they support an open or proprietary standard can be managed under a common framework. Guntakala adds that Anuta Networks in the future will also be adding support for both the OpenStack and CloudStack frameworks for managing cloud computing environment.

    Enterprise networking in 2013 is evolving in a way that gives IT organizations not only more control, but it does so across networking equipment from multiple vendors. How diverse those networking environments will become remains to be seen. But the one thing that is for certain is that organizations will no longer have to standardize on one networking platform simply because managing two or more was too cost prohibitive to even consider.

    Mike Vizard
    Mike Vizard
    Michael Vizard is a seasoned IT journalist, with nearly 30 years of experience writing and editing about enterprise IT issues. He is a contributor to publications including Programmableweb, IT Business Edge, CIOinsight and UBM Tech. He formerly was editorial director for Ziff-Davis Enterprise, where he launched the company’s custom content division, and has also served as editor in chief for CRN and InfoWorld. He also has held editorial positions at PC Week, Computerworld and Digital Review.

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