Dell said it will deploy SDN provider Big Switch Networks’ Big Tap application and Switch Light Operating System as part of its open networking initiative, the vendor’s blueprint for an ecosystem of open-standards networking gear, applications and operating systems.

The strategic agreement could be a boon for both companies, supplying upstart Big Switch with a ready-made path to offer its technology to legacy-based enterprise accounts, and providing Dell with an integrated solution to transition customers to SDN-based networking. The vendor said it will run Big Switch’s Big Tap Controller and Switch Light OS on its S4810 and S6000 data center switches.

In this case, the Big Tap SDN-centric network monitoring solution will leverage Dell switches to provide a scalable, flexible and cost-effective monitoring fabric. Big Tap enables tapping traffic everywhere in the network and delivers it to any troubleshooting, network monitoring, application performance monitoring or security tools.

Tom Burns, Dell Networking Business Unit general manager, said the Big Switch deal will help customers transition to SDN at a comfortable pace.

“The Dell Open Networking strategy is all about giving the customer choice, and Big Switch’s SDN is a perfect example where this is going to have a big impact,” he said. “Traditional enterprises are making the move to SDN incrementally, and they want the assurance that they are going to be well supported along the entire path. Dell provides this assurance.”

Douglas Murray, Big Switch chief executive, said the time is right to move SDN technology to a wider audience. In particular, the Dell deal offers customers a compelling business case for adopting SDN technologies to improve network services and business application performance, he said.

“The early adopters of SDN were largely the hyperscale players,” said Murray. “But with the advent of initiatives such as Open Networking from Dell, the path for all enterprises to enjoy the benefits of SDN is getting easier. The joint solutions coming from the Dell and Big Switch partnership will bring hyperscale data center design and choice to a broader audience.”