Virtualization, Virtualization, Data centers, Enterprise, Mergers and Acquisitions, Networking, Software defined

VMware Acquires PlumGRID’s SDN Assets, Talent

VMware has acquired SDN (software-defined networking) technology and talent from PlumGRID, according to SDxCentral. PLUMgrid specializes in secure SDN offerings for OpenStack and containers -- key areas as VMware strives to offer multi-cloud management tools to partners and customers.

No doubt, VMware's SDN and software-defined storage businesses are in growth mode. But the company also is under pressure to accelerate those efforts, especially as the traditional server virtualization market cools off.

Among the opportunities: Multi-cloud management, where global annual spending will grow nearly 30 percent annually from 2016 through 2021, Markets and Markets predicts.

Same Products? Not Quite

At first glance, the VMware and PLUMgrid technologies seemingly overlap. But SDxCentral points out these points of differentiation.

"Rather than create an SDN controller to dictate instructions to switches, PLUMgrid created IO Visor, an I/O processor that sits in the Linux kernel and controls virtual domains for network virtualization, monitoring, and security. IO Visor has since become a Linux Foundation project."

VMware, meanwhile, has overhauled its channel program to reward partners that begin to specialize in software defined data centers. Channel Chief Ross Brown described the new partner program incentives to ChannelE2E in August 2016.

PLUMgrid Confirms Transition

Now, PLUMgrid's team hopes to build upon those efforts. In a Dec. 19 blog, PLUMgrid founder and CTO Pere Monclus stated:

"Today we’re announcing that we will be starting a new journey as we continue revolutionizing and transforming the networking industry to build and expand on software-defined infrastructure for private and public clouds. Our technology and IP have been acquired, and many of our employees have joined a new team."

VMware hasn't said much about the deal -- other than confirming it to SDxCentral. We'll be sure to watch for updates.

Joe Panettieri

Joe Panettieri is co-founder & editorial director of MSSP Alert and ChannelE2E, the two leading news & analysis sites for managed service providers in the cybersecurity market.