Arista swaps Exclusive Networks for Computerlinks

Networking vendor changes distribution horses

Arista Networks has signed Computerlinks as its sole distributor after the software-defined networking (SDN) vendor's distribution agreement with Exclusive Networks came to an end in 2012.

Computerlinks, which takes over UK and Ireland distribution rights from today, claims Arista's technology will help its resellers' customers meet stringent power and cooling requirements in their datacentres.

According to IDC, the SDN market will be worth $3.7bn (£2.28bn) by 2016, and David Ellis, Computerlinks' director of new technology and services, said the distributor was impressed with Arista's high-performance SDN technology as well as its channel-centric approach.

Later on in Q1, Computerlinks will launch a number of technical workshops and seminars on Arista's technology for its partners, as well as roll out an authorised Arista training programme.

Ellis stressed that the signing is not designed to plug the gap left by Juniper, which axed Computerlinks from its line-up last summer.

"Arista seemed to be leading the way in the SDN space and had a different proposition," he said.

"There is good synergy for Juniper partners, as well as technology benefits, but we were talking to Arista way before [Juniper ended the contract with Computerlinks]."

Barrie Desmond, group market director at Exclusive Networks, described the distributor's parting with Arista at the end of 2012 as amicable.

"Its hybrid channel model did not suit us. It has this direct VAR and indirect VAR approach that really was not for us and created confusion in the marketplace," he added.

"If Computerlinks wants to have a go at it, great."