Cisco, VMware Disagree on Software Defined Networking (SDN)

Cisco Systems (CSCO) and VMware (VMW) partner on VCE. But that doesn’t mean they agree on Software-defined Networking (SDN). The background: Cisco has posted a blog raising big questions about pure software-based network virtualtion. The blog comes only days after VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger presented the company’s network virtualization solution at VMworld 2013 this week — pitching VMware NSX to a mass audience.

Both VMware and Cisco have publicly stated that network virtualization is important to their portfolios, but their strategies, on the other hand, part ways.

First, VMware, a company that revolves everything around virtualization, launched NSX, it’s solution for network virtulization.

The product, according to VMware President and COO Carl Eschenbach, delivers speed and efficiency through the same operating model as compute virtualization and extends the value of existing network infrastructure. This approach, he said, protects the infrastructure investments of VMware customers and partners.

But Cisco Chief Technology and Strategy Officer Padmasree Warrior had a concern with this software-only approach, at least that’s what she said in her blog post from yesterday.

“However, a software-only approach to network virtualization places significant constraints on customers,” she wrote. “It doesn’t scale, and it fails to provide full real-time visibility of both physical and virtual infrastructure. In addition this approach does not provide key capabilities such as multi-hypervisor support, integrated security, systems point-of-view or end-to-end telemetry for application placement and troubleshooting.”

She went on to further state: “Software network virtualization treats physical and virtual infrastructure as separate entities, and denies customers a common policy framework and common operational model for management, orchestration and monitoring.”

Gelsinger said during his keynote that VMware NSX “is the coming out party for network virtualization,” but Cisco, however, doesn’t seem to think so.

“Businesses today are looking for more from their investments as they turn on new services and applications more quickly, in a way that is easier to manage and that can scale with applications needs,” Warrior wrote. “We believe that delivering those benefits requires the flexibility of software coupled tightly with the performance and scalability of hardware and ASICs.”

While this ongoing battle between software and hardware continues for network virtualization, partners are left to the wayside, weighing out the pros and cons of both options. Which side will channel partners flock to and how will each company’s partner programs adapt to these changes?