Arista updated its routing portfolio to now support edge use cases for multi cloud, edge, and 5G radio access network (RAN) applications.

Cloud-Grade Routing, which is built into Arista’s Extensible Operating System (EOS), includes segment routing and Ethernet VPN, and supports Arista’s R3-series switches spanning from 10 Gb/s to 400 Gb/s.

The vendor describes this update as the third phase of its routing portfolio, which targets migration from legacy routers to software-based architecture. The new features are available today in the latest EOS release.

“The new profiles are part of carriers and cloud operators upgrading the edge infrastructure worldwide,” Shyam Kota, director of software product management, wrote in response to questions. 

“Customers, both carriers and cloud operators, are looking to upgrade the routing infrastructure, especially at edge due to new applications that are latency sensitive as well as generating large amounts of data that needs real-time analysis,” Kota explained. “The aggregate demand from the new applications is driving the connectivity and bandwidth needs for the cloud operators and carriers.”

Executives at Comcast, CDLAN, Connecticut Education Network, and Zenlayer lauded the updates in prepared statements, and some are already using the new features, according to Arista.

The vendor highlighted key attributes driving growth in cloud-based routing, including multi-cloud edge with software provisioning and programmatic traffic steering, and a push to upgrade metro ethernet edge networks with high-density, silicon-based routing platforms. 5G edge use cases also require repeatable routing designs to address bandwidth demand from distributed nodes, according to Arista, which also claims EOS reduces opex by providing customers with a single software stack 

“Arista’s approach is unique as we are building modern routing into our universal spine and leaf platforms. We are not building a separate series of products categorized as routers,” Kota explained.

“Arista’s key difference is simplification, scale-out, software-first versus Arista’s main competitors — large legacy router incumbents — who have silo’d offerings with overlapping platforms with multiple OS and automation frameworks,” he concluded.