Quanta Computer Adopts Software-Defined Networking
Quanta Computer is s the largest notebook computer ODM company in the world. It is under contract to manufacture products for some of the biggest global brands, including Apple, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, and Sony. With ODM manufacturing facilities in several countries, Quanta has announced to use Brocade's IP networking solutions to help in its transition to Software-Defined Networking (SDN) while simplifying operations at its facilities, and to more efficiently produce a wider range of digital products.
According to Dave Chen, Associate Vice President of Quanta Computer, the competition in the notebook market, and the fact that its factories are highly network-dependent with a network edge of more than 10,000 ports, is one of the reasons to make its network infrastructure more intelligent with Software-Defined Networking.
Chen goes on to say, "We’ve deployed Brocade networking solutions at Quanta Shanghai Manufacturing City because they provide a radically simplified administration model, which reduces costs and improves network availability, and sets us up for further improvements and increased production line flexibility by leveraging SDN."
Brocade has provided several networking solutions, beginning with it ICX 7450, ICX 6450, and ICX 6430 switches, which will be part of the Brocade HyperEdge Architecture to support the Quanta Shanghai Manufacturing City (QSMC) plants.
The Brocade HyperEdge Architecture simplifies campus network design, streamlines application deployment, reduces management complexity and saves operational costs by employing consolidated management, shared network services and scale out networking. This brings the campus network into today's modern digital ecosystem by removing the complexities of legacy campus architecture and collapsing unnecessary network layers.
Additional solutions Quanta deployed include, Brocade MLXe Core Routers, Brocade VDX 6740 data center switches, and the Brocade SDN Controller and Brocade Flow Optimizer. With the SDN controller, Quanta will not experience disruptions to existing network operations as it transitions to SDN by leveraging the OpenFlow support in true hybrid port mode.
"Leading-edge manufacturers are increasingly looking to implement Industry 4.0 strategies with smart factories that support strong customization of products under the conditions of highly flexible mass production," said Henry Zhu, country manager for China, Brocade.
By deploying the Software-Defined Networking ready network infrastructure from Brocade, Quanta is making its manufacturing ready for software-defined production lines so it will have the flexibility to make virtual retooling on the spot without long production delays of legacy systems.
Edited by Maurice Nagle
