Avaya extends virtual networks to on-site premises

Avaya has extended its Virtual Enterprise Network Architecture (VENA) beyond the datacentre to campus networks in a bid to help enterprises manage the use of applications on their networks more effectively.

The company claimed that customers using its 8800 and 8600 Ethernet routing switches can use VENA to streamline cloud deployments and deliver always-on content to staff to enhance productivity.

Avaya said that the system gives companies the ability to install, provision and manage real-time applications and services in much shorter times by allowing one-touch rather than manual provisioning.

Simon Wilson, from Avaya's EMEA enterprise data networks division, told V3.co.uk that the update will let firms take more advantage of virtualisation technologies on site, a trend Avaya expects to grow in the future.

"Applications can be hosted in the datacentre but are used by those working on the edge of the network, so being able to configure applications on site while removing downtime and increasing simplicity through virtualisation is a big benefit," he said.

"We believe that a lot of organisations are going to start using virtualisation technologies, so we want to be ahead of the curve before this change takes hold. That's why we have brought the VENA product to the edge of the network."

The software update is available now for customers of the 8600 and 8800 switches, but some may require new hardware or software upgrades.

VENA is based on industry-standard IEEE Shortest Path Bridging technology which Wilson said gives it an advantage over propriety platforms which customers are wary of using owing to their closed nature.

The update follows the launch of VENA for use in datacentres in November, and Wilson said that Avaya will make further announcements about the platform in the coming year.