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Wikipedia

Arista Networks

Arista Networks, Inc. (formerly Arastra)[3] is an American computer networking company headquartered in Santa Clara, California. The company designs and sells multilayer network switches to deliver software-defined networking (SDN) for large datacenter, cloud computing, high-performance computing, and high-frequency trading environments. These products include 10/25/40/50/100/200/400/800 gigabit low-latency cut-through Ethernet switches. Arista's Linux-based network operating system, Extensible Operating System (EOS), runs on all Arista products.

Arista Networks, Inc.
FormerlyArastra (2004–2008)
Company typePublic company
IndustryNetworking hardware
FoundedOctober 2004; 20 years ago (2004-10)
Founders
Headquarters
Santa Clara, California
,
U.S.
Key people
Products
RevenueIncrease US$5.86 billion (2023)
Increase US$2.26 billion (2023)
Increase US$2.09 billion (2023)
Total assetsIncrease US$9.95 billion (2023)
Total equityIncrease US$7.22 billion (2023)
Owners
Number of employees
4,023 (December 2023)
Websitearista.com
Footnotes / references
[1][2]

Corporate history

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In 2004, Andy Bechtolsheim, Kenneth Duda and David Cheriton founded Arastra (later renamed Arista[3]). Bechtolsheim and Cheriton were able to fund the company themselves.[4] In May 2008, Jayshree Ullal left Cisco after 15 years at the firm. She was appointed CEO of Arista in October 2008.[5]

In June 2014, Arista Networks had its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ANET.[6]

In December 2014, Cisco filed two lawsuits against Arista alleging intellectual property infringement.,[7] and the United States International Trade Commission issued limited exclusion and cease-and-desist orders concerning two of the features patented by Cisco[8] and upheld an import ban on infringing products.[9] In 2016, on appeal, the ban was reversed following product changes and two overturned Cisco patents, and Cisco's claim was dismissed.[10][11] In August 2018, Arista agreed to pay Cisco US$400 million as part of a settlement that included a release for all claims of infringement by Cisco, dismissal of Arista's antitrust claims against Cisco, and a 5-year stand-down between the companies.[12]

In August 2018, Arista Networks acquired Mojo Networks.[13] In September 2018, Arista Networks acquired Metamako and integrated their low latency product line as the 7130 series.[14] In February 2020, Arista acquired Big Switch Networks.[15] In October 2020, Arista acquired Awake Security.[16]

Arista's CEO, Jayshree Ullal, was named to Barron's list of World's Best CEOs in 2018 and 2019.[17]

In August 2022, Arista Networks acquired Pluribus Networks, a unified cloud network company, for an undisclosed sum.[18]

Products

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Extensible Operating System

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Extensible Operating System (EOS)
DeveloperArista Networks
Written inC, C++, Python, Assembly, Go
OS familyNetwork operating system
Working stateCurrent
Source modelOpen source and closed-source
Initial release2004; 20 years ago (2004)
Marketing targetComputer networks
Available inEnglish
PlatformsIA-32, x86-64
Kernel typeMonolithic
Default
user interface		Command-line
LicenseOpen source and Proprietary
Official websitewww.arista.com/en/products/eos

EOS is Arista's network operating system, and comes as one image that runs across all Arista devices[19] or in a virtual machine (VM).[20] EOS runs on an unmodified Linux kernel with a userland that is initially Fedora-based.[21] The userland has since been rebased on CentOS and later, AlmaLinux.[22] There are more than 100 independent regular processes, called agents, responsible for different aspects and features of the switch, including drivers that manage the switching application-specific integrated circuit (ASICs), the command-line interface (CLI), Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), Spanning Tree Protocol, and various routing protocols. All the state of the switch and its various protocols is centralized in another process, called Sysdb. Separating processing (carried by the agents) from the state (in Sysdb) gives EOS two important properties. The first is software fault containment, which means that if a software fault occurs, any damage is limited to one agent.[23][24] The second is stateful restarts, since the state is stored in Sysdb, when an agent restarts it picks up where it left off.[24] Since agents are independent processes, they can also be upgraded while the switch is running (a feature called ISSU – In-Service Software Upgrade).

The fact that EOS runs on Linux allows the usage of common Linux tools on the switch itself, such as tcpdump or configuration management systems. EOS provides extensive application programming interfaces (APIs) to communicate with and control all aspects of the switch. To showcase EOS' extensibility, Arista developed a module named CloudVision[25] that extends the CLI to use Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) as a shared message bus to manage and configure switches.[26] This was implemented simply by integrating an existing open-source XMPP Python library with the CLI.

Programmability

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In addition to all the standard programming and scripting abilities traditionally available in a Linux environment, EOS can be programmed using different mechanisms:

Ethernet switches

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Arista's product line can be separated into different product families:

  • 7500R series: Modular chassis with a virtual output queueing (VOQ) fabric supporting from 4 to 16 store and forward line cards delivering line-rate non-blocking 10GbE, 40GbE, and 100GbE[30] performance in a 150 Tbit/s fabric supporting a maximum of 576 100GbE ports with 384 GB of packet buffer.[31] Each 100GbE ports can also operate as 40GbE or 4x10GbE ports,[32] thus effectively providing 2304 line-rate 10GbE ports with large routing tables.
  • 7300X, 7300X3 and 7320X series: Modular chassis with 4 or 8 line cards in a choice of 10G, 40G and 100G options with 6.4 Tbit/s of capacity per line card, for a fabric totaling up to 50 Tbit/s of capacity for up to 1024 10GbE ports.[33] Unlike the 7500 series, 10GBASE-T is available on 7300 series line cards.
  • 7280R series: 1U and 2U systems with a common architecture[34] to the 7500R Series,[35] deep buffer VOQ and large routing tables. Many different speed and port combinations from 10GbE to 100GbE.[36]
  • 7200X series: 2U low-latency high-density line-rate 100GbE and 40GbE switches, with up to 12.8 Tbit/s of forwarding capacity.[37][38][39]
  • 7170 Series: High Performance Multi-function Programmable Platforms,[40] a set of fixed 100G platforms based on Barefoot[41] Tofino[42] packet processor enabling the data plane to be customized using EOS and P4 profiles.
  • 7160 series: 1U programmable high performance range of 10 GbE, 25 GbE and 100 GbE with the support for AlgoMatch[43] technology and a software upgradeable packet processor
  • 7150S series: 1U ultra-low latency cut-through line-rate 10 Gb switches. Port-to-port latency is sub-380ns, regardless of the frame size.[44] Unlike the earlier 7100 series, the switch silicon can be re-programmed[45] to add new features that work at wire-speed, such as Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) or network address translation (NAT/PAT).
  • 7130 series (7130, 7130L, 7130E): 1U and 2U ultra-low latency Layer 1 switch and programmable switches.[46] Layer 1 switching enables mirroring and software-defined port routing with port-to-port latency starting from 4ns, depending on physical distance. The E and L variants allow running custom FPGA applications directly on the switch with a port-to-FPGA latency as low as 3ns. This series comes from the original Metamako product line acquired by Arista Networks in 2018 and runs a combination of MOS and Arista EOS operating systems.
  • 7050X and 7060X series: 1U and 2U low-latency cut-through line-rate 10GbE/25GbE, 40GbE and 100GbE switches. This product line offers higher port density than the 7150 series, in a wider choice of port options and interface speeds at the expense of slightly increased latency (1µs or less). The 7050X and 7060X Series are based on Broadcom Trident and Tomahawk merchant silicon.[47]
  • 7020R series: 1U store and forward line-rate with a choice of either a 1 Gb top-of-rack switch, with 6x10 Gb uplinks or a 10G with 100G uplinks. These switches use a Deep Buffer architecture, with 3 GB of packet memory.[48]
  • 7010 series: 1U low power (52W) line-rate 1 Gb top-of-rack switch, with 4x10 Gb uplinks.[49]

The low-latency of Arista switches has made them prevalent in high-frequency trading environments, such as the Chicago Board Options Exchange[50] (largest U.S. options exchange) and RBC Capital Markets.[51] As of October 2009, one third of its customers were big Wall Street firms.[52]

Arista's devices are multilayer switches, which support a range of layer 3 protocols,[53] including IGMP, Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP), Routing Information Protocol (RIP), Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), IS-IS, and OpenFlow. The switches are also capable of layer 3 or layer 4 equal-cost multi-path routing (ECMP), and applying per-port L3/L4 access-control lists (ACLs) entirely in hardware.

In November 2013, Arista Networks introduced the Spline network, combining leaf and spine architectures into a single-tier network, aiming to cut operating costs.[54]

Arista Community Central

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Arista Community Central is a centralized resource created by Arista Networks for customers, partners, and technical professionals. The community serves as a platform for sharing knowledge, engaging in discussions, and accessing various technical resources related to Arista’s networking technologies.

The community utilizes a search engine powered by AI to provide the most relevant results and to enhance user experience.

What the Community Offers

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  • Knowledge Base: A comprehensive Knowledge Base that includes technical articles, guides, and best practices for Arista products and solutions. It covers topics such as troubleshooting, tech tips, and configuration articles organized by technology, aiding users in managing and supporting their Arista products.
  • Community Forum: The forum allows users to ask questions and participate in discussions related to Arista’s products. While the forum is publicly available, participation is limited to registered users, ensuring focused and expert-driven dialogue.
  • Videos & Webinars: Arista Community Central also provides access to recorded webinarsand technology-related videos hosted on the Community YouTube channelaimed at deepening users’ understanding of Arista’s technology offerings.

Major competitors

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References

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  1. ^ "Arista Networks 2023 Annual Report Form (10-K)". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Arista Networks 2022 Proxy statement". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 20 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Arastra Starts with a Name Changer, Aims for a Game Changer". HPCwire. 23 October 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  4. ^ "10 start-ups to watch in '09". Network World. 5 January 2009. Archived from the original on 21 January 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2011. Funding: Undisclosed amount from Bechtolsheim and David Cheriton
  5. ^ "Arista Networks Names Jayshree Ullal President and CEO, Andreas Bechtolsheim CDO and Chairman" (Press release). Arista Networks. 23 October 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Arista Networks crushes IPO targets, soars after raising $226M". Silicon Valley Business Journal. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  7. ^ "Cisco Sues Arista, a Rival Run by Former Cisco Employees". Business Insider. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  8. ^ "ITC Issues Split Determination in Arista/Cisco Patent Dispute". The Wall Street Journal. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  9. ^ "U.S. Trade Rep Approves Import Ban on Arista Devices, Says Rival Cisco". Fortune. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  10. ^ "Jury rejects Cisco's damages claim against Arista". 14 December 2016.
  11. ^ "PTAB overturns two Cisco patents, clearing way for Arista to overturn ITC exclusion order". 5 June 2017.
  12. ^ "Arista Networks, Inc. SEC Filing" (PDF).
  13. ^ "Arista Acquires Mojo Networks". Arista Networks. 4 February 2019.
  14. ^ "Arista Acquires Metamako". 6 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Arista Networks Announces Acquisition of Big Switch Networks - Arista". Arista Networks. 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  16. ^ "Arista Announces Acquisition of Awake Security - Arista". Arista Networks. 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  17. ^ "Blackstone's Stephen Schwarzman and Other Visionary Founders on Our List of the World's Best CEOs". Barron's. Dow Jones & Company.
  18. ^ Cohen, Peter (2022-08-03). "Arista acquires Pluribus Networks in telco cloud play". RCR Wireless News. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  19. ^ "Arista EOS: Key Features". Retrieved 12 June 2014. EOS provides a single binary image across all Arista networking platforms
  20. ^ "vEOS – Running EOS in a VM". Arista Networks. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  21. ^ "Using tcpdump for troubleshooting". 16 June 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2014. Linux Fedora 12 as the foundation upon which the Arista EOS is built
  22. ^ "EOS on AlmaLinux 9". 30 May 2024. Retrieved 24 Sep 2024.
  23. ^ "The Joy of an Open Switch Operating System". 1 May 2011. Archived from the original on 12 November 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011. Kill agents and watch them restart to see if EOS is as resilient as we say it is.
  24. ^ a b "Extensible Modular Operating System". Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  25. ^ "CloudVision – Topology Agnostic Management for Cloud Data Centers". Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  26. ^ "CloudVision Multi-Switch CLI – Network Management over XMPP". 23 August 2011. Archived from the original on 17 October 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  27. ^ "Advanced Event Management (AEM)". Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  28. ^ Donahue, Gary (24 October 2012). "Chapter 27: Event Monitor". Arista Warrior. O'Reilly Media. ISBN 978-1-4493-1453-8. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  29. ^ "eAPI: Learning the basics". Archived from the original on 10 April 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  30. ^ "Arista 7500R Series". Retrieved 12 June 2014. Line Rate 10GbE/40GbE/100GbE interfaces
  31. ^ Kerravala, Zeus. "Arista's new solutions sets the standard for cloud scale". Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  32. ^ "Arista Introduces The Industry's Fastest Data Center Switch" (Press release). Arista Networks. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2014. triple-speed 10/40/100G line card with integrated MXP (multi-speed-port) optics that can be software configured on a per port basis
  33. ^ "Arista 7300 Technical Architecture". Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  34. ^ "7280R Switch Architecture" (PDF).
  35. ^ Prickett Morgan, Timothy (10 June 2016). "Leaving Fixed Function Switches Behind For Universal Leafs".
  36. ^ "Arista 7280R Series Universal Leaf and IP Storage Networks". Arista Networks. 18 April 2019.
  37. ^ "Arista 7200 Series". Archived from the original on 13 June 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  38. ^ "Arista 7260X Series Datasheet" (PDF). Arista Networks.
  39. ^ "Arista 7060X and 7260X Performance" (PDF).
  40. ^ Networks, Arista. "Arista 7170 Series". Arista Networks. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
  41. ^ "Barefoot Networks: An Intel Company". Barefoot Networks. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  42. ^ "Tofino: World's fastest P4-programmable Ethernet switch ASICs". Barefoot Networks. Retrieved 2020-01-26.
  43. ^ Kerravala, Zeus (5 December 2016). "Arista brings network flexibility to the network switch".
  44. ^ "7150 Series 1/10 GbE SFP Ultra-Low Latency Switch". Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  45. ^ "Arista 7150S Series: Q&A" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2014. a flexible programmable pipeline that enables new features like VXLAN to be rapidly released
  46. ^ "Arista 7130 Hardware". June 2022.
  47. ^ "Arista expands its portfolio with 25, 50, and 100-Gig data center switches".
  48. ^ "Arista 7020R Series". 18 March 2019.
  49. ^ "High Performance and Power Efficient Data Center Gigabit Ethernet Switch". Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  50. ^ "Arista Networks Celebrates 1000 Customers Worldwide" (Press release). Arista Networks. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  51. ^ "RBC Capital Markets bets on Solace and Arista". 14 December 2010. Archived from the original on 26 October 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  52. ^ "Gunning for an Elephant in Silicon Valley". Bloomberg. 19 October 2009. Archived from the original on 14 October 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2011. A third of its customers are big Wall Street firms looking for faster computing systems and speedier execution of trades.
  53. ^ "Supported Features in EOS". Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  54. ^ "Arista Unveils Single-Tier Ethernet Switches". Network Computing. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2013. Arista calls the new devices "spline" switches, meaning they can be deployed in a single-tier network of up to 2,000 servers
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  • Official website  
  • Arista Community Central
  • Arista Community Central YouTube Channel
  • Business data for Arista Networks, Inc.:
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