Brocade is pushing further into software-defined networking (SDN) territory with an update to its VCS fabric portfolio that includes a new high-density switch which can be deployed automatically in less than a minute. In addition, it’s also adding support for its Vyatta Controller as well as third-party controllers based on OpenDaylight standards, and Puppet and Python scripting.

According to Brocade, its VDX line is now the highest density fixed form factor switch on the market. The new VDX 6940 switch, which will be offered in 1U or 2U varieties, is designed for scale-out Spine data center architectures and packs additional SDN features.

The release is part of a broader push by Brocade to deliver SDN and network-functions virtualization (NFV) in the enterprise. Brocade waded into the network virtualization fray when it acquired Vyatta back in 2012, and spent the best part of two years piecing its strategy together before releasing its Vyatta Platform last year. The platform leverages not only Brocade’s technologies, but also those of open-source projects like OpenStack and OpenDaylight, which enterprises will need to adopt if they’re to adapt to the rapid changes taking place in business IT, said the company.

“As the rise of the third platform — including cloud, mobile, social, and Big Data — accelerates, organizations are encountering new requirements and challenges that cannot be addressed with legacy network architectures that were designed for client-server environments,” Jason Nolet, senior vice president of Data Center Switching, Routing, and Analytics Products Group at Brocade, said in a statement. “Networks must transform from a siloed, static design to an agile, on-demand infrastructure that is automated via data center orchestration frameworks and programmability.”

Brocade’s 6940 versatility is such that it can be deployed in multiple modes, including as a leaf or spine switch. Rapid deployment is enabled via zero-touch provisioning, and it’s also possible to manage up to 48 of them using a single logical switch via Brocade’s VCS Logical Chassis. Moreover, it allows for far easier integration of VDX infrastructures into the data center thanks to its support for third-party SDN controllers such as those offered by VMware and OpenStack.

With the upcoming release of Brocade’s Network OS (NOS) 6.0, it will also be possible to integrate its VDX switches with its Vyatta controller, as well as third-party controllers thanks to its support for OpenFlow 1.3. This comes just a month after Brocade said it was offering the Vyatta Controller as a free download for one year in a bid to boost adoption of the technology.

In addition, NOS 6.0 will also add support for Puppet and Python scripting in its VDX switches, while the VCS Gateway for VMware’s NSX network virtualization platform is given the option of using the VCS fabric as a VXLAN gateway, which should deliver greater performance and reliability.

Finally, Brocade says it will contribute VCS Layer 3 functionality to the upcoming OpenStack Kilo release, while its IP Analytics and Content Pack will be made available for VMware’s vRealize Operations.

The new VDX switch and the enhancements will all be rolled out in March.