Nemertes Impact Analysis:

Extreme Networks (NASDAQ:EXTR) new BlackDiamond 8900-xl line cards and Summit X480 stackable edge switches offer 512K MAC address tables, to deal with network flattening caused by virtualization. Virtualization architecture (virtual NICs and ports) and implementation (many MAC addresses per domain) can drive up layer 2 switching requirements, and Extreme is offering 2-4x the MAC table space of current switches.

Today, 93% of organizations are deploying server virtualization, averaging 7-10 virtual machines per virtual server. As large enterprises, cloud providers and managed hosting providers move to virtualization at scale, physical network switches will push against address table limitations.

Impacts::

Enterprises: Model your layer 2 networks to project any potential address table limitations.

Vendors: Extreme is throwing down a gauntlet for 3Com (NASDAQ:COMS), Brocade (NASDAQ:BRCD), Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO), Juniper (NYSE:JNPR), HP (NYSE:HPQ) and privately held Arista Networks, Blade Network Technologies and Force10 Networks.

Investors: A possible game changing requirement driving close vetting of all high-end data center switch investments; the fortunes of smaller, high-end vendors including Arista, Blade, and Force10 may hinge on their reaction.

Ted Ritter, Senior Research Analyst

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