Arizona State University (ASU) has deployed a software-defined network (SDN) from Brocade.
ASU, one of the most innovative universities in the United States, collaborates to develop new approaches and make discoveries that advance science.
To support data-driven initiatives, ASU has deployed a SDN from Brocade that promised a stronger, more flexible network foundation.
Brocade’s SDN solution offered a powerful network with OpenFlow 1.3 capabilities that enable ASU’s departments to conduct high-volume, data-driven research in their areas of focus.
Jay Etchings, director of research computing at ASU, said: “Now we can pursue funding opportunities that demand built-in, software-defined functionality. Unlike competing institutions that are focused on papers and theoretical components, we’re actually doing these things.”
The performance of the Brocade networking solution has enabled ASU to spend more time focusing on research and developing unique approaches to a variety of initiatives. Before the new Brocade infrastructure, the best performance that a researcher could expect was approximately 2 Gbps.
Thanks to Brocade’s SDN solution, the university connects lab directly to the Internet through its routers, automatically applying traffic encryption and delivering network performance that exceeds the 10 Gbps speeds offered by the scientist’s lab equipment.
Other benefits of the Brocade’s SD network include increasing the effectiveness of Global Security Initiative (GSI), a university-level group at ASU that supports national defense, development and diplomacy communities.
GSI empowers decision makers as they confront complex, interconnected global challenges such as the web of climate change, water security and national security. Researchers in this group have built cybersecurity solutions powered by SDN which helps to ensure a secure, agile network for Internet of Things smart grid technology.
