Network Virtualization - News, Features, and Slideshows

While many CIOs are grappling with the need to move beyond IT operations and contribute more to improving customer service, it’s a concept that VMware’s global CIO, Tony Scott, understands very well.

SDN company Midokura this week said it will support for Cumulus Networks' Linux network operating system in its network virtualization software.

Software defined networking applies the abstraction concepts of hardware virtualisation to networking infrastructure. This works well for cloud implementations, which need significant configuration and planning. But SDN and network virtualisation may still be too immature for prime time.

Juniper Networks this week will extend its SDN offerings with the release of its controller, roughly six months ahead of schedule.

Dell says it's hoping to move closer to the forefront of data center technology with the release today of a suite of new products designed for software-defined networking.

If you aren't intimately familiar with software defined networking, don't fret. Only 10 per cent of 450 IT practitioners at a recent Network World event raised their hands when asked if they understand SDN. But if the emerging technology lives up to its promise to redefine networking as we know it, there is no time like the present to dig in and learn more.

Enterprises replacing legacy network infrastructure are increasingly turning to software-defined networks, which can automate an entire network fabric. Having helped hosting companies and academic institutions, a variety of resellers, system integrators and consultancies are ready to bring SDN to the enterprise.