The CloudEthernet Forum has been launched to address the specific issues of scaling and applying suitable Ethernet solutions to deliver cloud services.
With virtual machine populations running into the millions across geographically dispersed datacenters plus the migration of storage networks to Ethernet, the industry group said it can provide a unique framework for industry stakeholders to collectively develop solutions that address technical challenges such as VLAN scaling, layer 2 performance and resilience across very large domains and consolidating storage network technologies onto Ethernet.
Ultimately, the work of the CloudEthernet Forum enables cloud service providers, carriers and enterprises to quickly and simply build and manage very large amounts of computing and storage capacity to meet the rapidly changing localized performance, scalability and regulatory requirements of cloud services, all while optimizing operational costs, the group also said.
Just as the MEF has enhanced and standardized Carrier Ethernet to create services suitable for geographically-dispersed enterprises and mobile operators worldwide, the CloudEthernet Forum will work to develop Ethernet to enable collections of millions of virtual servers and storage devices to perform reliably and efficiently across both regional and global networks.
The founding members of the CloudEthernet Forum include: Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya, Equinix, HP, Juniper Networks, PCCW Global, Spirent Communications, Tata Communications and Verizon.
The CloudEthernet Forum is an MEF organization but will operate independently. New members such as systems integrators, NEMs and service providers, including leading cloud providers, are encouraged to join.