Extreme Networks Boosts Cloud Management Application, Extends Broadcom Relationship

Extreme Networks just enhanced one of its tools and announced a prestigious Broadcom partnership.

The vendor has rebranded the HiveManager cloud management application it got through the purchase of Aerohive Networks. HiveManager is now ExtremeCloud IQ and will support Extreme’s wired edge switching solutions.

Extreme also is giving ExtremeCloud IQ an automation capability called Co-Pilot. The new feature will be available later this year and for no charge until April.

Extreme Networks’ Abby Strong

“It’s akin to having an extra team member that works around the clock and helps execute the most-time intensive tasks,” said Abby Strong, Extreme Networks’ vice president of product marketing.

The vendor is launching a partner specialization for ExtremeCloud IQ, according to Gordon Mackintosh, vice president of worldwide channels. Mackintosh said approximately 50 partners have participated in trainings to earn the specialization.

Extreme Networks’ Gordon Mackintosh

“We believe that we can enable partners really quickly and get them going quickly,” Mackintosh said.

The company also announced it’s now a Broadcom preferred enterprise campus networking provider. Extreme will build new hardware with Broadcom chips inside and has special access to certain Broadcom resources. The companies will unveil a validated campus networking design later this year. Read their full agreement.

Broadcom has been working with Extreme for more than 20 years, according to Broadcom senior vice president and chief sales officer Charlie Kawwas.

“Extreme has an extensive lineup of leading campus networking solutions, verified leadership in the enterprise wired and wireless LAN market for innovations in fabric networking, Wi-Fi access solutions, and IoT security,” Kawwas said. “Coupled with our best-in-class networking products, Extreme customers will have access to some of the most innovative solutions in the marketplace.”

Strong said Extreme’s flexibility is one of the reasons Broadcom selected it. The company prides itself on being able to provide the most customized solutions, she said.

“One size does not fit all. And that’s one of the things that I’ve really loved since coming here: this ability to mix and match the services that we offer — the hardware platform integrated with best-of-breed software application with a focus on being open and flexible,” she said.

Strong said the revamped ExtremeCloud IQ application and the Broadcom partnership news validate where Extreme is going in the market.

“Not only are we really embracing our cloud-driven strategy to be the industry’s first and best cloud-driven, end-to-end networking vendor, but it allows us to create that differentiation and extend it to our partner base so that they can use that to provide additional value to their customers,” she said.

Extreme launched an MSP specialization earlier this year along with multiple new rebates.