Why STT Connect choose Dell Networking for SDN transition

STT Connect is a cloud service provider headquartered in Singapore and is part of Singapore Technologies Telemedia. It has global ambitions and has partnered with leading Singapore telco StarHub to launch StarHub Enterprise Cloud.

STT wanted to implement SDN to their data center infrastructure. They run a very centralised philosophy for managing their expanding network. Moving to SDN fit well with this centralised approach, as it offered automation which would cut the time taken to roll out new parts of their network globally.

David Robinson, STT Connect CTO, then went to the market and shortlisted three key vendors.

A solution from Dell Networking and involving an SDN controller from BigSwitch was finally selected.

It came down to a unique mix of service levels, price and Dell's embracing of open standards that drove the decision.

Using OpenStack, the STT Connect team can now roll out new parts of the network in just hours compared to days without the move to SDN.

"We can [now] build, run and operate our entire platform and can launch it with a single push of a button in 40 mins with our four core team members" says Robinson.

Embracing open standards

Since acquiring Force10 in 2013, Dell has developed a full suite of networking solutions from the center of the Data Center through to branch level.

The vendor has also been a key driver of open standards in the SDN and NFV areas like OpenStack and OpenFlow.

"Dell is committed to changing the game in networking," says Tom Burns, vice president and general manager, Dell Networking.

"We're extending our leadership in SDN, NFV, and advanced new architectures that maximise customer choice and provide superior economics to the way networking has always been done.

Dell's new networking platform

Earlier in 2016, Dell Networking announced the latest version of its networking operating system OS10.

"Modern, software-defined, data centers require a fresh approach to operations – not just for the network, but across compute and storage elements as well," said Burns.

"OS10 gives customers a future-ready springboard to innovate their networks and data center infrastructure more quickly and consistently, affording customers greater efficiency and capability at scale.

OS10 represents an interesting new direction for Dell as it continues to extend and enhance its networking portfolio with innovations in software and hardware," said Brad Casemore, Research Director, Datacenter Networks, IDC.

"It's worth noting that Dell also is looking beyond networking as an operational silo or a discrete domain, anticipating fast-evolving requirements for consumption models, IT operations, and the breaking down of traditional IT silos.