'Real-world' SDN solutions

Extreme Networks has expanded its software-defined networking (SDN) platform and OneController™ to deliver proven, open and standards-based Group-Based Policy and OpenDaylight integration with the Microsoft Skype for Business unified communications platform.

  • Wednesday, 29th April 2015 Posted 9 years ago in by Phil Alsop

These industry-first solutions leverage Extreme Networks’ advanced policy management and the NetSight network management application to deploy Group-Based Policy to the complete network infrastructure from a single management application. With this first-of-its-kind management solution, enterprise-scale customers are deploying and configuring SDN in multi-vendor, ‘brownfield’ environments.


Production Enterprise SDN Deployments:
Extreme Networks has helped customers, including the Town of Enfield, Connecticut and Mount Mary University, to seamlessly migrate from the company’s initial SDN solutions to its current enhanced SDN platform.


The Town of Enfield provides centralized IT support for schools at 32 locations, and public works and emergency service agencies. Enfield’s CIO was challenged with improving IT services for the community, while increasing operational efficiency and reducing costs. By leveraging Extreme Networks’ enhanced SDN platform, Enfield has implemented an on-demand service portal for users that includes mobile lab scheduling in their schools. The scheduling system improves the learning experience for students and enable self-provisioning. The SDN solution enables automatic bandwidth allocation and prioritization of critical systems.


University environments, including Mount Mary University, are challenged with deploying QoS and security policies efficiently across wired and wireless networks. With Extreme Networks’ SDN platform, Mount Mary automates QoS policies and gains contextual insights into the network and applications. The result is a faster, simplified and controlled UC deployment with Skype for Business.


Key SDN Enhancements:
· Microsoft Skype for Business (formerly Microsoft Lync) – Provides the dynamic software and network intelligence required to effectively support Microsoft Skype for Business via the OpenDaylight integration.
· Group Based Policy – Integrates Extreme Networks’ NetSight management application with OpenDaylight Group-Based Policy (GBP) to deploy consistent network policies across a multivendor network.
· SDN Applications Store – Offers an online repository of paid and free apps for customers and technology solution partners’ Software Defined Networks.
· SDN Developer Portal – Provides third-party developers of SDN applications with the necessary information needed for developing, submitting and managing their applications in the Extreme Networks app store.