Stories by Jim Duffy

Arista Networks this week unveiled a fixed configuration top-of-rack switch with 100G Ethernet uplinks for congestion-sensitive big data, streaming video and IP storage workloads.

Cisco is considering joining a handful of companies, including Google and Microsoft, that have defined a specification for 25Gbps and 50Gbps Ethernet for data centers requiring greater than 10/40Gbps.

Cisco last week acquired Assemblage, a maker of browser-to-browser collaboration tools that do not require downloads, plugins or installations.

Cisco and NetApp say their FlexPod integrated IT infrastructure reference architecture has generated $US3 billion in joint sales since its launch in 2010. FlexPod unit shipments have grown 81 per cent year-over-year, with demand reaching a $US2 billion annualized run rate.

Cisco's proclamations on the value of the Internet of Things/Everything market -- $14.4 trillion -- would seem to include everything but the kitchen sink... and maybe even that if it's IP-enabled.

Pluribus Networks, the SDN start-up with the server/switch combination and network hypervisor/operating system, is looking to make a gradual exit from the hardware end of that market. Pluribus this week said distributor Arrow Electronics will now supply the Pluribus-branded, 1RU E-68 Server-Switch that combines Broadcom Trident II chips with Intel Xeon server-class, multi-core processors.

SDN start-up PLUMgrid launched networking software for OpenStack, a high profile customer and a new round of funding.

HP this week is refreshing its 5400 series switch line with new chassis that features double the switching capacity of its predecessor.

A global environmental engineering company is turning to software-defined networking as a way to boost productivity and save money.

When Cisco launched the Insieme product line last fall, it said it had an aggressive migration program on tap for customers of its 15-year-old Catalyst 6500 to the new Nexus 9000 data center switches.

Juniper Networks combined its hardware and software units to better align product development and share technology across products lines for cloud and intelligent networking.

Cisco has announced vendor network service orchestration systems for traditional and virtualized networks, and one of the vendors AT&T selected for its Domain 2.0 SDN/NFV project.

Cisco this week announced its intent to acquire ThreatGRID, a New York-based maker of malware analysis and threat intelligence technology.

Rackspace doesn't fit Cisco's acquisition profile, CEO John Chambers told a room packed with reporters this week at the company's annual conference and exhibition.

This year, Cisco recognizes the 25th anniversary of its Networkers user conference. To put this run in perspective, here's a timeline of Cisco-specific events interspersed with world, national, cultural and technology milestones that occurred over this period.