Fastcom, Extreme Networks, Fabric. What the?

Many of you will have seen the constant posts and articles around Extreme Fabric. We at Fastcom are massive believers in this gear. So much so, that we've invested huge amounts in building a nation wide Fabric network, after all, you have to eat your own dog food right?

Personally, I have been invested in Extreme's technology stack now for 15 years. It's always been ahead of the curve, and in working with end customer organisations in a range of verticals such as Hospitality, Manufacturing, Education, Government and Healthcare, I get to hear from end users and administrators how streamlined the entire system is, with a single pane of glass to control everything from routers, switches, and access points, including the ability to monitor and review non Extreme Networks Devices. Hidden deep in the bowels of Extremes Management engine, Machine learning is constantly monitoring behind the scenes, offering better ways to do things, and spotting potential issues before they occur.

Briefly, what is Fabric?

Extreme Fabric is a networking solution developed by Extreme Networks. It's designed to provide organizations with an automated, secure, and simplified networking environment. With its architecture, Extreme Fabric addresses the complexities of modern network systems, making it easier to manage and scale. Key features include:

• Automation: Reduces manual network configurations, speeding up deployments, and minimizing human errors.
• Simplified Architecture: Offers an intuitive network design that removes traditional networking complexities.
• Agility: Enables rapid adaptability to changing organizational and technical requirements.
• Enhanced Security: Provides robust protection against modern cybersecurity threats, ensuring data and resources are safeguarded.

In essence, Extreme Fabric provides a streamlined, efficient, and secure foundation for modern digital enterprises.

I know who Cisco are, I know Aruba, but Extreme? Who are they?

Extreme Networks were founded in 1996 and have been at the forefront of networking technology for decades. From its inception, the company focused on providing ethernet switching solutions that would later become fundamental in shaping the networking industry. As the digital landscape evolved, so did Extreme Networks. They've consistently expanded their portfolio and services, aiming to cater to the diverse needs of modern enterprises.

Extreme Networks has been a pioneer in the networking industry, with several first-to-market advances.

• Ethernet Switching Solutions: From their early days, Extreme Networks was one of the first to focus on providing advanced ethernet switching solutions for high-performance needs.
• Layer 3 Switching: Extreme Networks was at the forefront of introducing Layer 3 switching, which combines the speed of Layer 2 switching with the reliability and scalability of Layer 3 routing.
• Network Analytics: They pioneered in-depth network analytics and visibility tools, giving network managers unparalleled insights into network performance, user behavior, and potential threats.
• 10 Gigabit Ethernet: Extreme Networks was among the first to recognize the need for higher-speed connections and introduce 10 Gigabit Ethernet products for enhanced connectivity.
• Fabric Automation: With the introduction of Extreme Fabric, they were at the forefront of delivering automated, secure, and simplified network solutions to address the complexities of modern digital environments.
• Integrated Security Features: Prioritizing cybersecurity, Extreme Networks was one of the first in the industry to embed integrated security features directly within their networking solutions, ensuring that potential cyber threats are effectively mitigated.
• Cloud-Driven Networking: Recognizing the shift towards cloud, Extreme Networks was among the pioneers to develop cloud-driven networking solutions, allowing seamless integration of cloud resources and on-premises infrastructure.

Our Collaboration with Fabric by Extreme Networks: Elevating Fastcom's Efficiency and Growth

As a leading managed services provider at Fastcom, we pride ourselves on delivering unparalleled IT and telecommunication services across New Zealand and Australia. The foundation of our success is our vast network that seamlessly supports everything from networking and security to cloud services and business continuity. However, even with our track record, we encountered challenges that demanded advanced solutions.

Challenges We Faced:

• Network Automation: Handling our multifaceted, flexible, and scalable IP network, while always ensuring top-notch reliability and security.
• Business Rule Integration: The pressing need to weave in and automate business rules smoothly with zero-touch provisioning.
• Swift Onboarding: The task of quickly and efficiently integrating new capacities and capabilities to keep up with our burgeoning customer demands.

Our Founder and CTO, Daniel Kinross, emphasizes, "Our entire approach is centered around efficiency and time. We constantly strive to accelerate our processes and engage more effectively with our customers while minimizing risks associated with technical changes." Thus, our objective was crystal clear: to uphold Fastcom's integrity and simultaneously boost our efficiency.

The Role of Fabric by Extreme Networks in Our Journey

Recognizing the importance of collaborating with the right technological partners, we teamed up with Extreme Networks. Through this partnership, we embraced solutions like Extreme Switching? and Extreme Fabric?. It was less about adopting a new technology and more about aligning with the ideal vendor.

The Remarkable Transformations

1. Crafting Agile Networks to Support Business Expansion:

• We managed to cut down our customer onboarding time from prolonged weeks to just a few days.
• With the support of Extreme Fabric Connect, we realized a significant expansion without the stress of increasing network management resources.
• A project that stood out was integrating all of Sietec's customers. What would usually take us a year was accomplished in a mere 4 months, thanks to Fabric.

2. Resource Optimization for Better Efficiency:

• Fabric's automation feature negated the need for our team to be entrenched in tedious network management and configurations.
• This transformation meant our focused team could pivot their attention to intensifying business value and customer service, instead of being overwhelmed by network maintenance.

3. Taking Control of Changes:

• We now proudly possess an enhanced ability to swiftly introduce new services, giving us an edge in the competitive landscape.
• Thanks to the robust architecture provided by Fabric, our team moves forward with confidence. We undertake critical projects faster, all the while being assured of our impenetrable security.

In Retrospect

Our journey with Fabric by Extreme Networks underscores its vast potential. As Dan rightly states, when we display confidence, our clients resonate with it. It's more than just integrating technology; it's about collaborating with the perfect technological ally. With Extreme Networks by our side, we haven’t just addressed our challenges but transformed them into remarkable growth opportunities.

Getting in touch

If you're interested in seeing how Fabric, or even Extreme Networks in general might fit into your workplace, please do get in touch. You can message me on linkedin, or get in touch with us on 0800 306 318.

Fastcom | Extreme Networks | Fabric