Versa Networks Establishes the First Open and Software-Based SD-WAN Ecosystem

Ecosystem Partners and Validated Hardware include CPE Leaders Advantech, Silicom Ltd., and Lanner

Santa Clara, Calif., September 20, 2016

Versa Networks, a leading provider of software-defined wide area networks (SD-WAN) and software-defined security (SD-Security) solutions for service providers and enterprises, today announced that the company has established the first open SD-WAN appliance ecosystem. The ecosystem’s launch partners and third-party validated hardware, which include Advantech, Silicom Ltd. and Lanner Electronics are paving the way towards a truly open and software-based solution for SD-WAN that eliminates the need for proprietary hardware.

Customer benefits of a truly software-based SD-WAN solution and ecosystem include:

• Lower Capex and Opex versus a proprietary hardware-based solution
• A broader range of hardware platforms to better meet new technical requirements, such as targeted managed services and/or customized do-it-yourself deployments
• Rapid delivery of specialized platforms to meet specific business opportunities
• Pre-loaded Versa software on all certified appliances provides platform choice while delivering the packaged hardware experience customers expect
• Higher performance and more scalability using highly-efficient, multi-core Intel processors and optimization techniques, such as a Data Plane Developer Kit (DPDK)
• The ability to easily and agilely add features or capacity without a hardware replacement

Each launch partner announced today brings a unique customer vision to the ecosystem.

Advantech, a global intelligent systems leader, has developed a scalable range of white box platforms to support Versa SD-WAN and SD-Security software. More than just commodity servers, Advantech’s platforms have been fully certified by Versa and profiled for exact performance and feature sets. Integration into Versa’ Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) and serviceability framework guarantee seamless deployment and lowest total cost of ownership (TCO). The platforms scale from dual core Intel® Atom™ Processor C2000 platforms to Intel® Xeon® Processor D-1500 based mid-range systems to dual socket Intel® Xeon® Processor E5 series appliances.

Lanner Electronics, a leading global manufacturer of network appliances, has created an integrated solution that merges Versa SD-WAN software with Lanner’s virtual customer premise equipment (vCPE) platforms. Lanner Electronics and Versa Networks have tested and validated an integrated solution that delivers flexibility and cost advantages for creating agile and profitable managed services. The joint solution enables service providers to centrally and cost-effectively manage a truly NFV-based and software-defined WAN at their network customers’ sites, instead of the traditional investment in proprietary hardware and hands-on management.

And Silicom, an industry-leading provider of high-performance networking and data infrastructure solutions, has announced that its ADI Engineering Division appliances are now shipping and are fully certified with Versa SD-WAN and SD-Security software. Silicom’s appliances are precisely optimized for SD-WAN and vCPE applications, with support for LTE and Wi-Fi, higher port density and the newest Intel CPU and acceleration technologies. Silicom’s appliances targeting the SD-WAN market scale from the Intel® Atom™ C2000 family to the Intel® Xeon® Processor D-1500 series, all of which are available for the Versa application.

The Move to Truly Software-based SD-WAN

Networking is seeing the same migration from hardware to software-based architectures that compute and storage have seen over the last decade. ‘Software-defined’ platforms for the network started in the data center and local area network (LAN) via software-defined networking (SDN), but more recently the technology has moved to the WAN with SD-WAN. But not all SD-WAN products are fully software-based and hardware independent.

Versa SD-WAN is a purely software-based approach that is based on a dynamically scalable, multi-tenant and service chainable system. It includes support for 3rd party virtual and physical appliances and legacy network protocols, providing easy integration with existing network routing and VPN architectures. Coupled with a wide range of software-defined security functions (next-gen firewall and UTM), Versa provides integrated Internet security and access control features for customers deploying direct Internet and cloud application access. When paired with the cost-effective and powerful Intel-based platforms within the Versa open SD-WAN ecosystem, customers can maintain the experience of appliance deployments while realizing the full cost, performance and agility benefits of “software-defining the WAN,” as well as creating higher profit managed services.

“We are excited to be partnering with global CPE leaders Advantech, Lanner and Silicom Ltd. to accelerate the WAN’s evolution to software,” said Kumar Mehta, CEO and co-founder of Versa Networks. “With Versa’s innovative software platform, and the high value CPE from our partners, this ecosystem and architecture will be able to deliver a truly impactful operating and profit model for next-generation managed services like SD-WAN and SD-Security.”

About Versa Networks

Versa Networks, the leader in SASE, combines extensive security, advanced networking, industry leading SD-WAN, genuine multitenancy, and sophisticated analytics via the cloud, on-premises, or as a blended combination of both to meet SASE requirements for small to extremely large enterprises and Service Providers, and via the simplified Versa Titan cloud service designed for Lean IT. Thousands of customers globally with hundreds of thousands of sites trust Versa with their networks, security, and clouds. Versa Networks is privately held and funded by Sequoia Capital, Mayfield, Artis Ventures, Verizon Ventures, Comcast Ventures, Liberty Global Ventures, Princeville Capital, RPS Ventures and Triangle Peak Partners. For more information, visit https://www.versa-networks.com or follow Versa Networks on Twitter @versanetworks.