Avaya's Data Networking Solutions Integrated into Westcon's LEAP

Westcon Group (News - Alert) has announced the integration of Avaya's data networking solutions into its LEAP – Learn, Experience, Architect, and Plan – Centers of Excellence.

LEAP Centers are engineered to replicate real-world scenarios faced in deploying virtualization and private cloud infrastructures, according to company officials.

“While competitors claim to have training facilities and not one comes close to the technology access and broad-based functionality offered by our LEAP Centers,” said Dean Douglas (News - Alert), president and CEO at Westcon Group.

The company’s aim is to go beyond product demonstrations to offer a hands-on data center experience that mirrors real-world data center environments, Douglas said, adding that with the ability to configure each center to replicate an end-user's environment, new functionality can easily be viewed and tested as it would appear in their current infrastructure.

“The newest announcement is a testament to the power of LEAP and the strength of our relationship with Avaya,” Douglas said.

Westcon now plans to fully integrate the range of Avaya (News - Alert) data networking solutions into the LEAP data center – including the company's Ethernet switching solutions, the Avaya Virtual Services Platform (VSP) 7000 and 9000. The two solutions are considered key elements of the Avaya Virtual Enterprise Network Architecture (VENA) networking strategy that enables enterprises to effectively reap the benefits of virtualization.

With Avaya VENA, uninterrupted VM mobility within and between data centers can be ensued along with the ability to fully leverage the hyper-scale delivered by next-generation products such as the Avaya VSP 7000 and 9000. “Westcon’s LEAP Centers provide resellers with a unique way to experience Avaya's next-generation data networking solutions,” said Steve Bandrowczak, vice president and general manager for networking at Avaya.

The centers offer hands-on access to the company’s full networking portfolio, including the Avaya VSP 7000 and 9000, to help resellers increase value, capture high-growth opportunities and close deals with Avaya's solutions, he said, adding that Westcon has consistently proven itself to be one of Avaya's most valued distribution partners and their centers are a unique value-add for customers.

By Anshu Shrivastava, TMCnet Contributor