Cloud networking solution provider Arista Networks (ANET) is expanding its existing relationship with VMware (VMW) to help its joint customers accelerate their adoption of network virtualization in the software defined data center (SDDC) space. Through the new agreement, Arista and VMware will work together to develop integrated SDDC solutions for VMware NSX.

Arista and VMware have collaborated on projects for the past four years, most recently working to develop VXLAN specification and interoperability across physical and virtual networks in 2012, according to Arista. The latest joint effort to develop NSX integration and Arista Networks support for the vCenter Operations Management Suite and vCenter Log Insight is the next step in bridging the gap between the companies’ product portfolios.

"With multiple years of joint engineering and customer deployments, this announcement highlights our growing relationship with VMware, said Jayshree Ullal, president and CEO of Arista Networks, in a statement. “Arista is committed to working with VMware products and architectures to optimally combine the VMware network virtualization platform and Arista programmable physical networks for the best networkwide virtualization deployments."

By working together, the companies will be able to combine Artista’s data center switching products with the VMware NSX, giving users access to next-generation network virtualization, custom programmability options and simplified architectures, according to the press release. The new single point of access model will also allow users to use software-defined data in new ways, including network service delivery automation, end-to-end network virtualization, simplified troubleshooting with increased network visibility and seamless integration without performance impact on non virtualized applications or servers, according to the companies.

"VMware and Arista are challenging the status quo in networking today, driving innovative, agile and cost-effective solutions that are changing the operations and economics of data centers,” said Raghu Raghuram, executive vice president of Cloud Infrastructure and Management at VMware. “Through our shared vision for the software-defined data center, we are empowering customers to integrate Arista EOS-based network infrastructure with VMware NSX to enable the same operational model to be used for both virtual and physical workloads, resulting in increased efficiency and agility for the data center operator."