Brocade and IBM Extend OEM Relationship

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. announced that IBM will rebrand and sell the Brocade enterprise IP networking family of products through the IBM global sales force and authorized IBM Business Partners.

This original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement complements and extends the existing relationship between Brocade and IBM for storage area networking (SAN) products. Initially, IBM plans to sell the following Brocade IP networking product families under the OEM agreement, with additional products to be added over time.

Brocade FastIron SX Series
or IBM s-series Ethernet switches

IBM will offer multiple models in each product family:

• Brocade NetIron MLX Series as IBM m-series Ethernet routers
• Brocade NetIron CES 2000 Series as IBM c-series Ethernet switches
• Brocade FastIron SX Series as IBM s-series Ethernet switches
• Brocade FastIron GS Series as IBM g-series Ethernet switches

In support of this agreement, Brocade has been working with IBM to develop customized programs across many key functional areas, including sales, marketing, training/certification, and technical support/service.

“This agreement supports IBM’s view of networking as an integral component of our dynamic infrastructure initiative, which helps customers manage the convergence of business and IT infrastructures,” said Barry Rudolph, vice president, IBM System Storage. “IBM is focused on providing its customers with the best networking choices and options, which is why we’re pleased to expand our relationship with Brocade.”

“This agreement with IBM underscores Brocade’s long-term commitment to its OEM customers, a strategy we believe delivers the full promise of next-generation enterprise networking solutions in a pragmatic, non-proprietary way to protect customers’ IT investments,” said Mike Klayko, CEO of Brocade. “IBM’s selection of the Brocade high-performance, high-volume networking product family provides customers with a very competitive choice in their IT infrastructure. We look forward to bringing these solutions to market through IBM’s global sales channel.”

IBM currently rebrands and sells a broad portfolio of Brocade data center networking products and technologies, including the multiprotocol Brocade DCX Backbone along with Fibre Channel directors, standalone and embedded switches, host bus adapters, and related software. Today’s amended agreement strengthens and further diversifies Brocade go-to-market routes for its enterprise IP networking portfolio. Customers will now be able to purchase Brocade networking products and services through any combination of channels, including OEM sellers, global resellers, and direct from Brocade.

“The announcement of an OEM arrangement leverages the strengths of both IBM and Brocade,” said Zeus Kerravala, senior vice president, Global Enterprise Research at the Yankee Group. “For Brocade specifically, it means that it has secured a significant new go-to-market route for its enterprise IP networking portfolio through a respected IT solution provider. This is one of the most tangible proof points of the growth strategies for the enterprise networking business that Brocade identified when it acquired Foundry Networks.”

Availability
IBM expects to make these products generally available to customers in May 2009.