Blade software stacks, virtualizes

Santa Clara, Calif.-based Blade Network Technologies Inc. has released its SmartConnect software for the manageent of blade server networks. Switches stacked across multiple chassis or racks can be operated as a single virtual switch. Switches can be managed from a single node, with automatic failover to a designated substitute node. According to the company, the Web-based interface is designed for server administrators rather than network administrators, so server admins can trace and correct problems without involving the network operations team. The software’s ServerMobility feature handles address assignment and reassignment when servers are added or moved across slots or chassis. The software also groups servers with similar functions to apply service-specific policies, according to the company.