Arrcus aims to ACE next-generation networking

Previously separate capabilities bundled into a single platform

Arrcus has released version 2.0 of its Arrcus Connected Edge (ACE), a network platform aimed at core-to-edge infrastructure deployments, which now bundles previously separate capabilities into a single unit.

According to Arrcus, the ACE 2.0 platform was developed to deliver the kind of network capabilities required for enterprises and service providers to run new 5G and Web 3.0 applications.

It supports use cases from spine-leaf and top-of-rack switching to multi-cloud networking, 5G edge and cell-site routing, as well as core virtual distributed routing.

In addition to new capabilities, ACE 2.0 is now available to customers in the form of an annual subscription licence, while Arrcus has also unveiled a new Partner with ACE (PACE) programme for resellers and integrators.

Network infrastructure is facing massive changes, according to Arrcus, with the application landscape evolving at a rapid pace towards Web 3.0, while underlying networks are still what it describes as a rigid and inflexible collection of legacy routers and switches.

"Digital technology is transforming the world around us at an ever increasing pace, changing every aspect of business and consumer experience. You need high-speed, high-bandwidth, intelligently routed networks with ultra-low latency to make that possible," Arrcus CEO Shekar Ayyar said in a statement.

ACE 2.0 is based on the ArcOS v4.3.1 network operating system, a hardware-agnostic platform for switching and routing, but adds other capabilities such as multi-cloud networking with ArcEdge and ArcOrchestrator v2.1.1, plus Virtual Distributed Routing with Arrcus VDR, Route Reflection with ArcRR v4.3.1, and analytics with ArcIQ.

These capabilities allow ACE 2.0 to support ultra-fast BGP route convergence, enable application-aware traffic engineering through an end-to-end EVPN control plane and SR-MPLS/SRv6 data plane, and support 5G network slicing, Arrcus said.

With ACE 2.0, the platform is now available to customers via an annual subscription licence, while customers can also access solutions built on Arrcus technology in a variety of marketplaces including AWS Marketplace, CoreSite, Equinix, PagerDuty, and TCS CUBO.

The new Partner with ACE (PACE) programme lets hardware vendors, resellers, and technology partners build and validate their solutions with the ACE 2.0 platform. It offers early access to the ACE SDK and API set, product integration verification, and co-marketing opportunities, Arrcus said. ®