Avaya Delivers Latest Milestone in Data Networking Strategy; Simplifies Deployment of Next-Generation Collaboration Applications

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Avaya, a global leader in enterprise communications systems, software and services, announced that it is extending the capabilities of its Avaya Virtual Enterprise Network Architecture (Avaya VENA) beyond the data center to the campus network. This marks a significant milestone in Avaya’s data networking strategy and delivers the virtualization capabilities of Avaya VENA to the company’s Ethernet Routing Switch (ERS) 8800 and 8600 products.

Avaya VENA simplifies the enterprise network, helping organizations streamline the deployment of cloud-based services and improve the delivery of always-on content. It brings network virtualization and IEEE Shortest Path Bridging (802.1aq) to the campus, enabling Avaya ERS 8800 and 8600 customers to install, provision and manage real-time applications and services in minutes rather than days. The capabilities of Avaya VENA are available immediately to new ERS 8800 and 8600 customers. Existing customers whose platforms support Release 7.1 can upgrade by means of a simple software update.

“Avaya VENA helps CIOs say yes to more devices, better applications and enhanced services,” said Steve Bandrowczak, vice president and general manager, Avaya Data Solutions. “It eliminates old-world constraints and limitations, simplifying the enterprise network from end to end. Avaya VENA significantly reduces customer time to service, allows enterprises to quickly and easily deploy next-generation applications, and lets organizations of all sizes better meet their business needs.”

“Avaya is executing on its vision of making VENA an architecture that can be deployed end-to-end; from the data center, to the campus and ultimately to the wiring closet and the branch office. VENA gives Avaya a unique position in the market, enabling network virtualization across the whole enterprise, not just the data center,” said Rohit Mehra, director of Enterprise Communications Infrastructure, IDC. “Network management will be one of the most critical elements of network virtualization, and Avaya’s focus on delivering the tools to configure, manage, and troubleshoot the virtualized network will differentiate Avaya in this market.”

For Customers: Faster Deployments With Fewer Complications

Avaya VENA simplifies the deployment of next-generation applications and services by providing the critical network infrastructure needed to create private clouds. Whereas traditional deployments require significant manual provisioning, Avaya VENA enables simple, one-touch provisioning across the network. It helps increase network performance and efficiency, ensures resilience and reliability, and provides users with access to an always-on service that empowers communication anywhere, anytime, without interruption.

“World-class hospital systems like UC Health provide physicians with real-time access to radiology picture archive and communication system (PACS) imaging like CT and MRI across multiple devices,” said Mike Kincaid, manager of Network Services and Telecommunications, UC Health. “Avaya VENA greatly simplifies the deployment of vital business applications like PACS, potentially reducing delivery times by days or even weeks and taking human error out of the equation. It is no longer necessary to painstakingly establish paths between nodes—configure each end, and the network does the rest.”

“The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City network is complex, particularly since all its servers, applications, and voice and data systems are housed in two data centers in different locations,” said Randy Paxton, lead network engineer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. “The virtualization capabilities of Avaya VENA will enable us to significantly reduce the complexity of our network and to spend less time on the configuration of our core switches. Moving a DMZ web server from one data center to the other will be effortless, requiring no IP address change or reconfiguration.”