IBM News Release:

IBM Advances the Software Defined Environment with Solution that Boosts Overall Network Performance, Scalability, and Management

New virtual overlay extends network intelligence and provides cloud-level scalability for all enterprises

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ARMONK, N.Y. - 26 Mar 2013: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today strengthened its commitment to helping customers reap the benefits of the Software Defined Environment with the launch of new software that makes it easier for organizations to set up, manage and scale virtual networks for faster delivery of cloud, analytics, mobile and social business services.

Software Defined Networking (SDN) is an approach to network design and management that moves the control of network switches – which forward data through an enterprise – from the switches to an extensible software platform with open interfaces. By doing so, administrators can easily manage and change the priorities of switches remotely to accelerate, moderate or block certain types of data from flowing through their network. The result is greater enterprise performance, scalability and security.

The IBM Software Defined Network for Virtual Environments (SDN VE) is a virtual overlay network solution that automates and speeds the process of setting up such SDN networks. In addition, SDN VE enables network administrators to speed up traditionally time-consuming tasks such as network provisioning from days to hours.

“Our vision of the Software Defined Environment is one of an intelligent data-driven ecosystem that is easily managed and scaled to meet ever-changing market demands,” said Dr. Inder Gopal, IBM vice president of System Networking Development. “The SDN VE is a solid, necessary step toward that future.”

In addition to management and provisioning, the IBM SDN VE, which is based on IBM’s DOVE (Distributed Overlay Virtual Ethernet) architecture, automates network virtualization. While servers and storage systems have supported virtualization capabilities for years, network virtualization is becoming increasingly critical for faster delivery of cloud, Big Data analytics, mobile and social business services. Cloud service providers in particular are turning to SDN to better cope with changing market economies, increase agility and improve multi-tenant security, while significantly reducing costs and complexities along the way.