Time Is Nigh For Cisco-VMware Software-Defined Networking Tech Integration

Cisco Systems talk to VMware in a deeper and more meaningful software-defined network connection, could the formal integration of their respective technologies far behind?

This is a question that many partners are now thinking that customers have begun deploying VMware and Cisco application-based NSX Infrastructure (ACI) in their data center environments.

Until recently, customers saw their purchasing decision RPS as one or proposition either between the NSX and ACI, mainly because the former is only software and also includes Nexus 9000 switches and Cisco Application Infrastructure Policy Controller (APIC).

Patrick Cronin, director Kovarus, partner of VMware and Cisco in San Ramon, Calif., Says NSX and ACI can coexist and work well in customer environments.

"NSX offers rich functionality of the virtual switch, abstracting from the network using a controller and overlays," Cronin said. "ACI combines hardware and software in a government policy-based network infrastructure built around the requirements of specific applications."

VMware NSX positioned as a way to facilitate network management and speed service delivery, and as technology network security. Cisco launch of ACI emphasizes hardware-based security and automating tasks, accelerating the deployment of data center applications and monitoring traffic from the virtual machine.

Ryan Marsyla, Technical Director RPS Trace3, Cisco and VMware partner based in Irvine, California, said that if customers benefit from Cisco and VMware to align and integrate AIT and the NSX. "The obvious advantage is the ease of customer adoption, [and] clarity around which support. This would eliminate discussions between computers on the network and virtualization," he said

Another potential RPS beach integration of a network of sub-layer visibility benefits during deployment NSX - which could facilitate the troubleshooting - for centralized management, policy implementation and scale, Marsyla said.

However, there are obstacles to customers using both technologies. Despite the AIT and the NSX can provide "a powerful politician, compliance and highly scalable network," the cost of buying both may be prohibitive for some customers, according to Cronin.

"If a customer would pay for the ACI and NSX, which would get the Cadillac of networks. But Caddy cost a pretty penny," Cronin said.

Ron Lin, vice president for August Schell, a partner of VMware based in Rockville Maryland, does not see the NSX-ACI integration as a short-term game. "I see a world where you have the integration between VMware NSX Controller [the NRS management system vendor] and control of the AIT for this," he said.

While it remains to be seen whether the AIT-more-NSX becomes a trend full blown, partners working with two vendors said the trash talk that after the acquisition of VMware SDN startup Nicira began in 2012 has decreased a bit since Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins took over last July.

Robbins, in an interview with CRN Thursday suggested that Cisco may be open to the idea of ​​working more closely with VMware to make it easier for customers to deploy their technologies together.

"What concerns VMware, I think our teams speak where there may be points that balance the competitive nature of society, but also meet can be a part of the demand from emerging customers. So I think 'is to be determined,