Extreme Networks has entered into a definitive agreement with and Enterasys Networks to acquire all its outstanding stock in an all cash transaction valued at $US180 million.
As network switching players in enterprise, data centre and cloud, Extreme Networks and Enterasys Networks together will combine and extend their products and technologies to provide customers with some of the most advanced, high performance, and open solutions in the market.
“The combination of Extreme Networks and Enterasys is significant in that it brings together two companies with distinct strengths addressing the key areas of the network, from unified wired and wireless edge, to the enterprise core, to the data centre and cloud,” said Zeus Kerravala, Principal Analyst & President of ZK Research. “With an open software approach, the companies can drive product innovations and customers will benefit from their increased resources and larger scale.”
The combined company will be committed to continue to support the product roadmaps of both companies going forward to protect the investments of current customers and avoid any disruption to businesses.
Within approximately two years, the companies expect that ExtremeXOS, Extreme Networks advanced network operating system, will be extended to incorporate additional features that are available in the Enterasys network operating systems and fully support both hardware platforms. The company believes customers will benefit by having a single network operating system that delivers functionality across both product lines and is designed to allow customers to seamlessly choose which hardware platform best meets their deployment needs.
“Since its first release in 2004, ExtremeXOS has been developed with a Linux abstraction layer that makes it relatively easy to extend ExtremeXOS to support other vendors’ switching hardware,” said Chuck Berger, President & CEO of Extreme Networks. “Combining Enterasys technologies and products including their Coreflow modular switches, IdentiFi wireless and the NetSight system management application will extend and complement our product offering which we expect will provide significant added value to the current customers of both Extreme and Enterasys.”
“Our number one priority is to ensure an even more positive customer experience by preserving the value of our current customers’ investments and combining the best of both companies’ technologies and talent,” said Chris Crowell, President &CEO of Enterasys Networks.
