Brocade and CERN openlab Collaborate

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. announced a partnership with CERN openlab to help the center for scientific research develop a long-term software-defined networking (SDN) strategy for the New IP.

Brocade has been named an official networking contributor member to CERN openlab, building on its previous relationship as a technology supplier to CERN.

Created in 2001, CERN openlab is a public-private partnership between CERN and leading ICT companies from across the world. Its mission is to accelerate the development of solutions to be used by the worldwide Large Hadron Collider (LHC) community.

Brocade will be collaborating with CERN openlab on a solution designed to help the organization address the long-term challenges facing its network infrastructure. Due to the nature of the research carried out by CERN, the organization generates large data volumes and therefore needs an efficient, scalable, and flexible network in order to handle traffic spikes. The project with Brocade is intended to create a future-proof network based on the New IP and featuring a framework of SDN applications to optimize the routing of data traffic entering and leaving the organization. Brocade will also create enhanced user interfaces for its solutions, giving collaborators at CERN the ability to view graphical charts and visualizations showing real-time and historical traffic information.

The open SDN solution will be based on OpenFlow and will utilize the Brocade SDN Controller and Brocade Flow Optimizer application to increase network performance, improve capacity planning and eliminate network congestion. The solution will also use OpenFlow-enabled Brocade MLXe routers and ICX switches.

Alberto Di Meglio, head of CERN openlab, commented: “As one of the most complex machines ever built, the Large Hadron Collider requires cutting-edge ICT solutions both to control its operations and to analyze the vast amounts of data produced by the experiments. This means that we are often at the very forefront of what is possible in terms of network and infrastructure management. We are pleased to be collaborating with Brocade to help develop a modern and agile network that will support CERN’s research in the years to come.“

Kelly Herrell, SVP and GM, software networking, Brocade stated: “Research carried out by CERN is crucial to answering many of humankind’s questions about the origin of the universe and information technology plays a critical role in enabling these experiments. CERN openlab’s commitment to open source technology is a key part of what has made it an IT pioneer over the last 14 years. As a founding member of the OpenDaylight Project, Brocade has been leading the industry’s transition to open SDN. We are very excited to be a part of CERN openlab and look forward to working closely with CERN to help deliver efficient, scalable SDN solutions they need to continue their research.“