MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Launched today, the CloudEthernet Forum addresses the specific issues of scaling and applying suitable Ethernet services to meet the stringent demands of delivering cloud services.

With virtual machine populations running into the millions across geographically dispersed datacenters plus the migration of storage networks to Ethernet, the Forum provides a unique framework for industry stakeholders to collectively develop solutions that address technical challenges such as VLAN scaling, layer 2 performance and resilience across very large domains and consolidating storage network technologies onto Ethernet.

James Walker, president of the CloudEthernet Forum and vice president of Managed Network Services, Tata Communications, explains how the Forum is addressing real concerns, “Four years ago we migrated our Ethernet services over SDH to native Ethernet over PBB and it is proving highly popular with our datacenter customers. They love Ethernet’s simplicity and scalability and want more. However, as datacenter networks become larger and more sophisticated, they are coming up against challenges, and the CloudEthernet Forum is committed to resolving those issues.”

Ultimately, the work of the CloudEthernet Forum enables cloud service providers, carriers and enterprises to quickly and simply build and manage very large amounts of computing and storage capacity to meet the rapidly changing localized performance, scalability and regulatory requirements of cloud services, all while optimizing operational costs. Just as the MEF has enhanced and standardized Carrier Ethernet to create services suitable for geographically-dispersed enterprises and mobile operators worldwide, the CloudEthernet Forum will work to develop Ethernet to enable collections of millions of virtual servers and storage devices to perform reliably and efficiently across both regional and global networks.

"Establishment of the CloudEthernet Forum is a reflection of Ethernet's critical position in the future of the communications industry," says Ihab Tarazi, chairman of the board of the MEF and vice president of product technology at Verizon. "Ethernet is ideal for delivering dynamic high speed bandwidth for public and private clouds with reliability, scalability and high performance."

“Solutions from the CloudEthernet Forum will increase demand for Carrier Ethernet services –aligning it closely with the MEF’s objectives and mission to accelerate the adoption of carrier-class Ethernet globally,” says Nan Chen, president of the MEF.

The founding members of the CloudEthernet Forum include: Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya, Equinix, HP, Juniper Networks, PCCW Global, Spirent Communications, Tata Communications and Verizon. The CloudEthernet Forum is an MEF organization but will operate independently. New members such as systems integrators, NEMs and service providers, including leading cloud providers, are encouraged to join.

For more information, the latest CloudEthernet Forum news and membership details, see www.CloudEthernet.org.

About The CloudEthernet Forum:

The CloudEthernet Forum is a global industry alliance founded in May 2013 to address the need for scaling and enhancing Ethernet technology to meet the stringent demands of delivering cloud services. The membership will include systems integrators, NEMs and service providers including leading cloud providers – the eleven founder members being: Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya, Citrix, Equinix, Huawei, HP, Juniper, PCCW Global, Spirent Communications, Tata Communications and Verizon. The Forum’s mission is to help cloud service providers, carriers and enterprises to support cloud services more easily, quickly and economically.

The CloudEthernet Forum is an independent MEF organization. For more information, please visit www.CloudEthernet.org

About The MEF:

The MEF is a global industry alliance comprising more than 210 organizations including telecommunications service providers, cable MSOs, network equipment/software manufacturers, semiconductors vendors and testing organizations. The MEF’s mission is to accelerate the worldwide adoption of Carrier-class Ethernet networks and services. The MEF develops Carrier Ethernet technical specifications and implementation agreements to promote interoperability and deployment of Carrier Ethernet worldwide.

For more information about the Forum, including a complete listing of all current MEF members, please visit the MEF web site at http://www.MetroEthernetForum.org/