In an about-face, Cisco is joining the trend of disaggregation in data center networks, saying it will now allow data center customers to run its Nexus operating system (NX-OS) on third-party switches and to use any network operating system on its Nexus switches.
Cisco executives say they are separating NX-OS from Cisco switches to meet the demands of hyper-scalers and large service providers. “The shift is that they are looking at different ways to consume our products.