Dell Networking has expanded its S-series portfolio with the new high-density 1RU 10/40GbE switching platform for highly-virtualised data centres.

The S6000 doubles the density and throughput while consuming up to 50 per cent less power than previous generation top-of-rack switches.

Built-in advanced virtualisation and automation features help customers scale larger virtual deployments in a smaller physical footprint, and helps solve the challenge of bridging virtualised and non-virtualised aspects of the infrastructure.

The solution will support more flexible network architectures for high-density compute racks in top-of-rack position, or provide network connectivity for multiple racks in efficient end-of-row or middle-of-row configurations.

It is also fresh air capable and validated as part of Dell’s Frest Air colling solution for servers, storage and networking. By leveraging the thermal and reliability advantages engineered into this portfolio of equipment, customers are able to run data centres even warmer, helping reduce additional maintenance and infrastructure costs, while enabling lower overall energy consumption.

Like the rest of the solutions in the S-series portfolio, S6000 supports OpenFlow for controller-based applications; Bare Metal Provisioning (BMP) for rapid and automated deployments; Virtual Server Networking (VSN) for automated VM mobility and VLAN configuration; and Perl and Python scripting for maximum programmability and interworkings with development operations (DevOps).

“Virtual environments are expanding while physical footprints remain constant, resulting in massive density increases in servers and storage. Networks need to keep up. That’s what inspired the S6000,” said Shabbir Ahmad, regional sales director, Networking, EMEA Emerging Markets.

“The S6000 platform can help customers unify virtualised and non-virtualised IT elements, providing a gateway to a software-defined enterprise.” - TradeArabia News Service