Dell unveiled a new switch for data center networks, built to support modern architectures where workloads like Hadoop, web, cloud and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) require a high volume of server-to-server traffic.

In addition to offering twice the port density and throughput of Dell's previous-generation top-of-rack switches, the S6000 supports a number of virtualization and software-defined-networking features, including Layer 2 gateway functionality, which means it can be used with NSX, the network controller that came out of VMware's acquisition of Nicira.

NSX is a network and security virtualization platform that creates virtual networks for virtual machines, deployed on any IP network hardware.

Arpit Joshipura, VP of product management and marketing at Dell, said this feature gave virtual-environment administrators visibility into the physical network, something they do not typically have. The admins can use this feature to build and automate physical and virtual servers.

Dell also previewed another major VMware integration – Active Fabric Manager 2.0, designed specifically for VMware environments.

Once out, the manager will give administrators command-line interface functionality for VMware's vSphere Distributed Switch. This means users will be able to configure both physical and virtual fabric switches with common design templates and standard command-line syntax.

Later this year, the switch will support OpenFlow, the popular open-source SDN protocol, Joshipura said.

With this model, the company managed to double density and throughput from its previous-generation top-of-rack switches while cutting the unit's power consumption in half. The one-rack-unit (RU) switch can be deployed as 32 40GbE ports or 96 10GbE ports plus eight 40GbE ports.

It can be used connectivity within a rack or between multiple racks in either end-of-row or middle-of-row configurations. Users can install them as top-of-rack switches or create an entire network fabric out of them, Joshipura said.

Its 2.56Tbps throughput enables customers to invest in 10GbE for in-rack server and storage connectivity.

The unit is Fresh Air compatible. Fresh Air is a line of Dell products validated to run at higher temperatures and humidity, which lowers air-conditioning requirements and increases data center operators' ability to use free outside-air cooling. The S6000 can operate at 45C and 90% humidity, Joshipura said.