Pentair and Radisys collaborate on open source rack-level hardware systems for carrier-grade data centers

Pentair plc with its Schroff brand, and Radisys® Corporation, the services acceleration company, announced the development of open source rack-level hardware systems specifically designed to meet the next-generation requirements of the telecom industry. The resulting open source hardware design leverages Open Compute Project (OCP) principles, with optimizations for Telco Central Offices and service provider-oriented data centers. The joint design innovations are being contributed to OCP as the CG-OpenRack-19 specification. 

Communications service providers are transitioning their networks from traditional Central Offices to virtualized data centers in order to meet demand for real-time service delivery while saving capital and operating expense. This migration from purpose-built systems to software-based applications running on commercially available infrastructure is driving a broader ecosystem that is increasingly using open source software and open hardware solutions. The Radisys and Pentair collaboration has resulted in Radisys’ DCEngine product offering, which integrates Schroff’s ServCite open rack-scale hardware solution, enabling service providers with the infrastructure to deliver an agile software-driven approach to deploying new services quickly.

“Radisys’ strategy is to enable the telecom industry to deploy software-centric networks that leverage open source hardware and software and we look to work with partners that share our vision,” said Brian Bronson, president and CEO, Radisys. “Pentair shares our commitment to agile hardware development and our teams worked closely together to provide Radisys’ customers with our new open rack-scale infrastructure systems rapidly. Our strategic collaboration with Pentair for our open hardware design, combined with our open software integration experience and professional service capabilities, we believe that Radisys is uniquely positioned to offer open rack-scale platform solutions for next-generation telecom data centers.” 

“There is a robust open source ecosystem developing that will drive the future of next-gen networks, and Schroff is embracing this new model,” said Daniel Stirpe, vice president and general manager, Schroff. “Radisys is an agile and flexible partner, and our collaboration together highlights what a model partner relationship should look like with the resulting delivery of a new open source rack-level solution that meets the specific needs of communications service providers. We’re pleased to collaborate with Radisys to contribute this innovative technology to the open source community.”