Versa Networks is partnering with several appliance makers to run its software-defined WAN software on their open hardware systems.
Versa officials on Sept. 20 announced the SD-WAN appliance ecosystem that initially includes Advantech, Lanner Electronics and Silicom, all of which will offer hardware that has been validated by Versa to run its software. The hardware-software combination gives enterprises and service providers an open offering that can affordably bring them the benefits of SD-WAN, according to company officials.
“With Versa’s innovative software platform and the high-value CPE [customer premises equipment] from our partners, this ecosystem and architecture will be able to deliver a truly impactful operating and profit model for next-generation managed services like SD-WAN and SD-security,” Versa co-founder and CEO Kumar Mehta said in a statement.
Enterprises traditionally have used technologies like Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) to run applications and data from branch offices to the data center. However, in a more cloud-centric world, more flexible and less-expensive methods are needed to move traffic not only to the data center but also directly to and from the cloud and internet. SD-WAN is designed to offer a broader array of options—including broadband and LTE wireless—and to automatically choose the best connectivity method.
IDC analysts predict the SD-Wan market will hit $6 billion by 2020, and Gartner analysts say that while about 1 percent of enterprises currently are using SD-WAN technology now, that will increase to 30 percent by the end of 2019. Established vendors like Cisco Systems and Riverbed Technology are growing their SD-WAN capabilities, while an array of pure-play vendors like Versa, Viptela, VeloCloud, Silver Peak and Talari Networks—are gaining traction in the space.
Advantech will run Versa’s SD-WAN and SD-security software on white-box systems designed to support Versa’s products. The systems run on a variety of Intel processors, from dual-core low-power Atom C2000 chips to Xeon D-1500 and E5 series silicon.
Lanner has developed an integrated offering that merges Versa’s SD-WAN software with Lanner’s virtual CPE (vCPE) platforms that will enable service providers to manage SD-WAN and network-functions virtualization (NFV) environments at their customer sites. For its part, Silicon officials said the company’s ADI Engineering Division Intel-powered appliances are shipping with Versa’s SD-WAN and SD-security software.