VMware is buying Arkin Net, which develops tools that speed NSX deployments -- potentially helping VARs and MSPs to more rapidly roll out software-defined data centers (SDDCs) and software-defined networking (SDN). Financial terms were not disclosed.
According to the VMware announcement:
"The Arkin platform provides insights into the datacenter traffic flows via a pre-assessment tool that enables faster NSX deployments via micro-segmentation planning. Post deployment, Arkin significantly lowers time to resolution, leveraging constructs such as time-machine, plain English search and contextual analytics across virtual and physical layers."
The Arkin Net acquisition, expected to close in Q2 2016, comes at a critical time for VMware and its channel partners. At the CXO and investor level, VMware needs to prove that it remains focused on the business even as Dell acquires parent company EMC Corp. And within the channel partner ecosystem, VMware needs to help VARs and MSPs to drive SDDC (software defined data center) transitions.
The Arkin Net acquisition potentially address each of those issues. VMware is expected to integrate Arkin with VMware vRealize Suite, which will give partners and customers a "planning, troubleshooting and automation platform that provide visibility and control across the entire data center environment."
Admittedly, competition lurks around every corner in the SDN and SDDC markets. But VMware's NSX and VSAN sales have accelerated in recent months. Eager to further prime the pumps, Channel Chief Ross Brown is preparing channel partner program incentives to help partners further profit from the emerging technologies.
