IBM has signed an agreement to acquire Blade Network Technologies, a provider of software and devices that route data and transactions to and from servers to virtualise and manage cloud computing and other workloads.
IBM said that with Blade, it can drive innovation at systems networking level to enable clients to speed the delivery of key information from system to system for workloads such as analytics and cloud computing while reducing data centre costs.
In addition, IBM plans to continue providing clients a choice in core networking offerings while using Blade’s standard-based system networking technology to create systems that are efficient, easy to manage and simple to deploy.
IBM system storage and networking general manager Brian Truskowski said that Blade will help the company to integrate networks with its systems, optimising them for workloads that require high-speed and low-latency performance such as cloud computing and business analytics.
"BLADE will increase IBM’s System Networking development, sales, support, skills and awareness and help IBM build smarter systems that are optimized for client requirements," Truskowski said.
The acquisition is anticipated to close in the fourth quarter of 2010, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and applicable regulatory reviews. Financial terms were not disclosed.
