Infoblox Introduces Scalable Network Control For the Next Generation of Private Cloud Deployments

Infoblox Inc. (NYSE:BLOX), the network control company, today introduced Infoblox Cloud Network Automation, bringing scalable network control to the next generation of private cloud deployments.

Enterprises are increasingly turning to private clouds in search of cost savings and greater agility than are possible with traditional client-server architectures and public cloud services. IT departments generally go through several phases as they mature their private cloud infrastructure: The first phase involves pilot projects, where IT teams test out cloud design and infrastructure with non-critical applications and workloads. Once the teams have gained experience and confidence, they move to the second “production” phase, where some mission-critical workloads are moved onto the private clouds. The third phase involves the transition to geographically dispersed private cloud environments in multiple data centers and may include multivendor cloud platforms.

In each of these phases, control of core network services is crucial. Infoblox Cloud Network Automation delivers control that scales from pilot to production to multi-platform, so that private cloud deployments—regardless of size and scope—aren’t hobbled by manual processes for managing core network services. The solution has three parts:

• Infoblox Cloud Network Automation console. This is the centralized graphical user interface that provides visibility and control of virtual machines (VMs) and tenants as they are provisioned and decommissioned. The console enables administrators to establish processes, set logical grouping and configurations, and ensure all elements are functioning as they should.
• Infoblox Cloud Platform Appliance. This is a new virtual appliance that is deployed locally with each private cloud—enabling scale. As the number of datacenters running private clouds grows and they are distributed across diverse geographies, these appliances automatically provision IP addresses and DNS and DHCP services locally. They also gather information about VM and cloud activity and make that data available through the global user interface. The Cloud Platform Appliances are managed centrally but operate autonomously, providing all the benefits of both centralized management and local survivability.
• Adapters. Infoblox offers free adapters for connecting Cloud Network Automation to cloud platforms from VMware, OpenStack, and Microsoft. These adapters enable multivendor support and allow for consistent automation regardless of underlying cloud platform technology.

Infoblox already supports the industry’s widest range of platforms for private cloud with free adapters for connecting its network control appliances to cloud platforms from BMC, CA, Cisco, ElasticBox, HP, Microsoft, OpenStack, ServiceMesh, and VMware.

At the Cisco Live 2015 event opening today in Milan, Italy, Infoblox will be demonstrating an integration of Infoblox Cloud Network Automation with the Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) architecture, at Booth E54 in the Milano Congressi.

With Infoblox Cloud Network Automation, the benefits of private cloud are within reach:

• The point-and-click control console makes it quick and easy to provision virtual servers with IP addresses and DNS records, so that introduction of new cloud-based applications isn’t needlessly delayed.
• IT departments gain the flexibility to quickly scale up and scale out their private clouds as workloads increase, without stumbling over ineffective manual processes for managing core network services.
• Centralized visibility and control free up network managers to focus on important tasks rather than chasing down errors and outages caused by improperly configured virtual servers.
• The risk of downtime is reduced because autonomous cloud appliances allow for local survivability even when links between data centers are severed.
• Having real-time and historical data on VMs, tenants, and associated network elements enables easier auditing and compliance.
• Security is enhanced because it is easier to trace which VMs and applications are assigned specific IP addresses.

“A best-of-breed private cloud is only as fast as its slowest component,” said Nolan Greene, research analyst for network infrastructure at IDC, a leading provider of global IT research and advice. “When building private clouds, IT architects should consider automating core network services, such as assigning IP addresses and DNS records, to make sure virtual machines can be easily commissioned and decommissioned in a matter of minutes."

“We’re excited to help our customers accelerate their journeys into the private cloud,” said Scott Fulton, executive vice president of products at Infoblox. “As they move through the life cycle of private cloud—from pilot to production to multiplatform—Infoblox Cloud Network Automation provides the rock-solid core network services they need to succeed.”