Force10

Force10, also known as Force10 Networks and later Dell Force10, was a United States technology company specializing in high-performance computer-networking equipment. Its principal business was the development and marketing of Ethernet switches and switch-routers for enterprise data centers, campus networks, service providers, Internet exchanges, telecommunications operators, educational institutions, and government customers. The company became particularly associated with 10 Gigabit Ethernet and, later, 40 Gigabit Ethernet switching, at a time when organizations were moving from conventional gigabit networks toward higher-capacity data-center architectures. The company was founded by PK Dubey, Naresh Nigam, and Som Sikdar. Sikdar, an enthusiastic sailor, supplied the Force10 name, drawing on Beaufort Force 10, a severe wind condition. The name also reflected the company's early emphasis on 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Force10 developed a portfolio that included chassis-based core switches, modular aggregation platforms, edge switches, security appliances, and operating-system software. Its product strategy focused on high throughput, low latency, scalable backplanes, and the ability to combine Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching in large network fabrics. Force10's major Ethernet families included the E Series, C Series, S Series, and Z Series. The E Series provided modular, high-capacity core and aggregation switching, including the E1200 switch-router. The C Series offered chassis-based data-center and core switching. The S Series covered fixed-form-factor access, distribution, and data-center switches, with models supporting combinations of 1, 10, and 40 Gigabit Ethernet. The Z9000 formed the principal Z Series product and was designed as a high-density distributed data-center core platform with 40 Gigabit ports and the ability to break out those connections into multiple 10 Gigabit links. Force10 also developed blade-enclosure networking products, including the MXL switch and an I/O Aggregator for Dell's PowerEdge M1000e platform. A distinctive element of the portfolio was the Force10 Operating System, commonly called FTOS. The software ran across many Force10 switches and supplied routing, switching, management, and data-center networking functions. Force10 based FTOS on NetBSD and made a donation to the NetBSD Foundation in 2007. The company also promoted a passive-backplane architecture for its modular systems, arguing that it improved energy efficiency and provided a path to higher interface speeds without replacing the chassis backplane. Force10 expanded beyond enterprise Ethernet through transport and metropolitan-networking products inherited through corporate transactions. In January 2009, Turin Networks acquired Force10. Turin had previously acquired Carrier Access and White Rock Networks, bringing additional telecommunications transport and access products into the broader business. These lines included Traverse, Master, Axxius, Adit, TransAccess, TransNav, and related platforms serving cellular backhaul, SONET/SDH transport, carrier Ethernet, digital cross-connect, and network-access applications. Dell announced its planned acquisition of Force10 in July 2011 and completed the transaction in August of that year. The business was renamed Dell Force10, and its products were integrated into Dell's data-center networking portfolio. During the integration period, products were sold with Dell branding while retaining the Force10 identity and FTOS software. In 2013, Dell dropped the Force10 designation from newly branded Ethernet products and adopted Dell Networking as the broader product identity. FTOS was correspondingly renamed Dell Networking Operating System, or DNOS, for the Dell networking portfolio. Some of the inherited Turin transport product lines were sold to Telmar Network Technology in 2013, while Telmar and its aftermarket-services activities later became part of transactions involving Jabil and iQor. Force10 therefore survives primarily as a historical technology and product lineage within Dell Networking rather than as an independent active brand.

Force10 originated as an independent networking-equipment company established by PK Dubey, Naresh Nigam, and Som Sikdar. Its name was chosen by Sikdar after Beaufort Force 10, a strong maritime wind condition, while also alluding to the company's focus on 10 Gigabit Ethernet. The business entered the market as high-speed Ethernet became increasingly important for data centers, large campuses, Internet exchanges, and service-provider networks. The company's early portfolio centered on switch-routers and modular systems. In 2002 it introduced the E1200, a platform promoted for line-rate 10 Gigabit Ethernet switching and routing. Force10 subsequently developed E-Series, C-Series, S-Series, and Z-Series products. The E and C families were modular chassis systems for core and aggregation roles, while the S family addressed fixed-form-factor access, distribution, and data-center deployments. The Z9000 was designed as a high-density distributed data-center core switch supporting 40 Gigabit interfaces and the subdivision of those interfaces into four 10 Gigabit links. The company also offered security appliances, blade switches, and management software. Force10's technical identity was closely associated with FTOS, its network operating system. FTOS ran across much of the switching portfolio and was built on NetBSD. Force10 contributed to the NetBSD Foundation in 2007, linking its commercial platform to an open-development software community. The company also emphasized a passive-backplane design in its chassis systems. It argued that the architecture reduced energy consumption and allowed successive generations of switching modules to operate on the same backplane as interface speeds increased. The business expanded into telecommunications transport and metropolitan access through corporate consolidation. Turin Networks acquired Force10 in January 2009. Turin had itself assembled a broader communications-equipment portfolio through earlier acquisitions, including Carrier Access and White Rock Networks. As a result, the combined business supported both data-center Ethernet and carrier-oriented platforms such as Traverse, Master, Axxius, Adit, and TransNav. These products served mobile backhaul, SONET/SDH, carrier Ethernet, digital cross-connect, and metropolitan-network management requirements. Dell announced its intention to acquire Force10 on July 20, 2011, and completed the transaction in August. Dell renamed the business Dell Force10 and used it to broaden its data-center infrastructure offering beyond servers and storage. For a period, products were sold with Dell branding while the Force10 name and FTOS software identity remained visible. The Dell Force10 portfolio included fixed and modular switches, 40 Gigabit products, and the MXL blade switch for the PowerEdge M1000e enclosure. The Force10 identity was gradually retired during Dell's portfolio integration. In 2013, Dell adopted Dell Networking as the general brand for the former Force10 Ethernet portfolio and renamed FTOS as Dell Networking Operating System, or DNOS. Separately, Dell transferred several inherited Turin transport product lines to Telmar Network Technology. Telmar later became involved in transactions with Jabil and iQor concerning the continued support and development of extended-life telecommunications products. Consequently, Force10 is no longer an independent operating brand, but its technology, operating-system lineage, and product designs became part of Dell's networking history.

• 2013

  Force10 identity retired within Dell Networking

  [1]Force10en.wikipedia.org

  Dell replaced the Force10 designation with Dell Networking and renamed FTOS as Dell Networking Operating System.

• 2012

  Dell-branded product transition

  [1]Force10en.wikipedia.org

  Newly ordered Force10 products began shipping with Dell branding and colors during the integration period.

• 2011

  Acquired by Dell

  [1]Force10en.wikipedia.org

  Dell announced and completed the acquisition of Force10, subsequently operating the business as Dell Force10.

• 2009

  Acquired by Turin Networks

  [1]Force10en.wikipedia.org

  Turin Networks acquired Force10, adding its Ethernet switching business to Turin's carrier-access and transport portfolio.

• 2007

  NetBSD contribution and 100 Gigabit Ethernet patent announcement

  [1]Force10en.wikipedia.org

  Force10 donated to the NetBSD Foundation and announced a patent it considered relevant to 100 Gigabit Ethernet switching.

• 2002

  E1200 switch-router introduced

  [1]Force10en.wikipedia.org

  Force10 introduced the E-Series E1200, targeting high-capacity enterprise, campus, and data-center switching and routing.

Force10 positioned itself as a high-performance, scalable, and comparatively energy-efficient networking specialist for data centers, enterprise cores, service-provider networks, and metropolitan telecommunications infrastructure.

• Modular core switch-router · 2002

  E Series

  The E Series was Force10's high-capacity modular switching and routing family for enterprise cores, data centers, and campus aggregation. The E1200 was introduced as a line-rate 10 Gigabit Ethernet platform. E-Series systems used a proprietary switching architecture and a passive backplane intended to support high throughput and successive generations of interface modules.

• Chassis-based data-center switch

  C Series

  The C Series comprised chassis-based core and data-center switches, including the C150 and C300. These systems were designed for high-density 1 Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet deployments and supported aggregation and core roles in enterprise and service-provider networks.

• Fixed-form-factor Ethernet switch

  S Series

  The S Series covered edge, distribution, and data-center switching in compact 1U and 2U form factors. The family included 1 Gigabit access models, 10 Gigabit uplink and aggregation products, and higher-end S4810 and S4820 switches with 40 Gigabit uplink capability. Models varied by latency, buffering, media type, and support for stacking.

• Distributed data-center core switch

  Z9000

  The Z9000 was a compact distributed-core platform for data centers. It offered 40 Gigabit QSFP+ connectivity and could provide multiple 10 Gigabit links through breakout configurations. The product was intended for spine, core, and high-density inter-switch applications.

• Blade-server Ethernet switch · 2012

  MXL

  The MXL was a Force10 operating-system-based blade switch for Dell's PowerEdge M1000e enclosure. It supplied internal 10 Gigabit server connectivity, external 40 Gigabit uplinks, and expansion options for additional optical or copper interfaces.

• Network operating system

  Force10 Operating System (FTOS)

  FTOS was the software platform used across many Force10 Ethernet switches. Built on NetBSD, it provided switching, routing, management, and data-center networking functions. Following Dell's integration of Force10, FTOS was renamed Dell Networking Operating System, or DNOS.

• Multiservice transport platform

  Traverse

  Traverse was a chassis-based multiservice transport system supporting combinations of SONET/SDH, carrier Ethernet, digital cross-connect, and cellular-service applications. The product line belonged to the transport portfolio associated with the Turin Networks acquisition and was later transferred to Telmar.

• Metropolitan network management software

  TransNav

  TransNav was software for managing metropolitan and transport networks. It was part of the inherited Turin transport portfolio and continued under subsequent owners after Dell sold the associated product lines.

• 2013

  Retirement of the Force10 brandStrategy

  Background

  Dell was consolidating the acquired switching products into a unified networking portfolio.

  Action taken

  Dell replaced the Force10 designation with Dell Networking and changed the FTOS name to Dell Networking Operating System, or DNOS.

  Aftermath

  Force10 ceased to function as a standalone customer-facing Ethernet brand, although its products and software lineage continued within Dell Networking.

  Source

• 2013

  Transfer of Turin transport product lines to TelmarM&A

  Background

  Dell retained the Ethernet networking business while rationalizing the non-Ethernet transport and metropolitan-access portfolio inherited through Turin Networks.

  Action taken

  Telmar Network Technology acquired the Traverse, TraverseEdge, TransAccess, TransNav, MasterSeries, Adit, Wide Bank, and Broadmore product lines.

  Aftermath

  Telmar resumed support and development for the transferred products, which later entered further aftermarket-services transactions involving Jabil and iQor.

  Source

• 2011

  Dell acquisition of Force10M&A

  Background

  Dell sought to expand its data-center infrastructure portfolio with enterprise and service-provider Ethernet switching capabilities.

  Action taken

  Dell announced the planned acquisition in July 2011 and completed it in August, operating the business as Dell Force10.

  Aftermath

  Force10 products were integrated into Dell's networking portfolio, initially retaining the Force10 identity before transitioning to Dell Networking.

  Source

1. 1Force10en.wikipedia.org