Cloud Networking Services Comparison: Arista vs. Dell Cloud

Enterprise cloud networking is a type of information technology (IT) infrastructure in which some or all of an enterprise’s network resources and capabilities are hosted in a public or private cloud platform on a pay-per-use basis. 

An enterprise can make use of on-premises cloud networking resources to build a private cloud network, cloud networking resources in a public cloud platform, or a hybrid cloud solution. 

Some of these resources include firewalls, virtual routers, and bandwidth and network management software. Cloud networking automates and simplifies functions while reducing costs, improving service, and increasing uptime. 

In this guide, we will delve into what you should know about two of the best cloud networking services on the market: Arista Networks and Dell Technologies Cloud.   

Also read: Best Network Mapping Tools & Software for 2021

Arista Networks Overview

Arista Networks’ cognitive cloud networking solution, Universal Cloud Network (UCN), offers network designs that serve several use cases, including public cloud, private cloud, hybrid cloud, enterprise and high-performance network infrastructure. 

These include the use of cloud automation features, open APIs and self-service deployment and provisioning, along with customer programmability, an open approach to network integration, and straightforward standard-based deployment architectures. 

The software-driven cloud networking (SDCN) solution simplifies the cloud networking model for customers and provides a consistent operational experience. The cloud networking service provider’s clients include Big Switch Networks, Cloudera, Corvil, and ExtraHop Networks. 

Arista Networks Features

Here are the key features of Arista’s UCN:

1. Isolated Places-In-the-Network (PINs) are normalized to become standardized Places-In-the-Cloud (PICs). 
2. The software-driven cloud networking solution helps deliver seamless, highly efficient, scalable, and effective cloud IT infrastructures at a low total cost of ownership (TCO).  
3. Arista Networks’ SDCN approach incorporates the software capabilities of its Extensible Operating System (EOS) and CloudVision software in the quest to provide workflow integration across any cloud infrastructure, enable customers to isolate and correct problems in a faster and more efficient manner and gain improved visibility.
4. Automated, rapid deployment and provisioning with single-OS consistency and open APIs/SDK.
5. Pricing: contact Arista Networks to determine how much you will have to pay to integrate the cloud solution.   

Dell Technologies Cloud Overview

Given the fact that an increasing number of enterprises are turning to cloud solutions, managing cloud networking resources is growing more complicated. This complexity leads to slower migrations, innovative limitations, and added costs. 

This is where Dell Technologies Cloud, which was jointly engineered with VMware, comes into the picture. The cloud networking service offers a set of cloud networking solutions for hybrid cloud environments that simplify the job of managing multiple cloud resources. 

Dell Technologies Cloud’s hybrid cloud solution offers the flexibility, economics, and simplicity of public cloud infrastructure along with the reliability, control and security of private cloud infrastructure.  

With the help of Dell Technologies Cloud, you can unify hybrid cloud operations, modernize your data center, scale or migrate cloud workloads, and build modern cloud applications. The cloud networking solution’s clientele includes Woolworths Group and GraceKennedy Financial Group. 

Dell Technologies Cloud Features

Here are the primary features of Dell Technologies Cloud:

1. You can scale on-demand, migrate without disruption, modernize your data center, and leverage multiple clouds. 
2. The service provider offers VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) on VxRail for managing, automating, securing, and running an application portfolio across multiple cloud deployments. 
3. Deep integration between VCF and VxRail offers a seamless experience, intrinsic security and allows you to securely patch and update from one good known state to another, in a quick manner. 
4. Includes an infrastructure that has been pre-tested for interoperability with VCF. This allows you to build a hybrid cloud infrastructure to meet the demands of next-generation workloads and legacy applications.  
5. Includes a subscription-based, fully managed Data Center-as-a-Service (DCaaS) solution that brings vigorous on-premises Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) capabilities to edge and core data center locations. 
6. VCF combines vSphere, NSX and vSAN along with the SDDC Manager to enable consistent and secure infrastructure and operations. 
7. The solution offers support for several partner clouds, including Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Platform.   
8. The turnkey Dell Technologies Cloud Platform (DTCP) Hybrid Cloud with VCF on VxRail is available for $47 per instance, per month (starting price). We recommend obtaining the Enterprise license if you are a large-scale enterprise. 

Arista Networks vs. Dell Technologies Cloud

Here is how the cloud networking solutions fare when compared on a head-to-head basis: 

Choosing a Cloud Networking Service

While Dell Technologies Cloud offers a hybrid cloud solution, Arista Networks offers network designs serving a myriad of use cases. Overall, Arista Networks offers a larger set of features, but Dell Technologies Cloud is an equally viable cloud networking solution. 

Review the features of each service provider and choose the one which best suits the needs of your enterprise. 

Read next: Best Cloud Networking Services and Solutions of 2021