Level 3, Working With Brocade, Offers One-Stop-Shop

Level 3 Communications, Inc. has enhanced its data center networking portfolio to simplify service deployment for its customers.

Level 3's solution offers its customers a one-stop-shop for ensuring their Level 3 SAN service is compatible with the latest industry hardware.

Level 3 is working with Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., to provide an end-to-end solution for connecting two or more geographically dispersed data centers using the FC, FICON and FCIP SAN protocols. SAN protocols are an offering in Level 3's Data Center Networking portfolio, which also includes dark fiber, managed fiber, wavelengths and private line options. The solution is designed for enterprises seeking to replicate data to multiple data centers and to support applications that require business continuity, disaster recovery and/or data distribution.

"Level 3 is dedicated to providing enterprises with a comprehensive suite of options to best meet their network service needs, and our data center networking portfolio clearly demonstrates this," said Paul Savill, senior vice president of Transport and Infrastructure Services for Level 3. "Working with Brocade, we are able to expand this already robust portfolio to provide our customers with the ability to ensure their advanced SAN protocols service is compatible with their essential network hardware."

In selecting network solutions, businesses are typically forced to independently coordinate desired services separately from the associated hardware they are using. Often this requires a third party, or 'network consolidator,' to evaluate the compatibility between network services and hardware. As a part of its professional services, Level 3 is working with Brocade to act as the consolidator for its data center networking customers, offering a transparent and collaborative approach to ensuring enterprise hardware is aligned with Level 3's advanced SAN Protocols service.

"Optimizing data center connectivity requires solutions that combine low-latency, distributed architectures and the need for non-stop operations," said Doug Ingraham, vice president of Product Management, Data Center Group, at Brocade. "We are delighted to provide Level 3 with our industry-leading SAN extension solutions that facilitate replication and backup over any distance using cost-effective data center connectivity/network links."

Level 3's Data Center Networking portfolio provides a package of solutions that enable enterprises to securely interconnect company facilities and data centers around the globe. The portfolio offers businesses managed optical networks, which enable synchronous and asynchronous data storage replication. Level 3's latest enhancement joins a portfolio that includes scalable and transparent route diversity, business continuity, cost control and experienced network consultants for strategic data center management.