Intequus today announced it was selected as the systems integrator for the Netflix Inc. Open Connect Appliance Hardware initiative. The Open Connect initiative is a Netflix-sponsored open hardware standard for designing and building optimal content delivery network appliances.
Intequus led the hardware design and manufacturing process of data center appliances for Netflix to stream its most popular movies and television content to its more than 23 million subscribers. The appliances will cache the most popular content and Netflix will place them close to subscribers in Internet service provider (ISP) data centers across the country.
Intequus specializes in providing custom-configured data center infrastructure for the cloud and hosting market and hardware appliances for independent software vendors (ISVs). The company believes that unlike traditional enterprise IT, public cloud service providers and data center solutions providers do not want to pay for branded and more proprietary hardware solutions from traditional tier-one original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Instead, Intequus provides industry-standard Intel-based servers, storage and network appliances configured to customers' exacting standards, priced aggressively, and supported by exceptional customer service and great logistics.
Netflix needed a high-density appliance with fast throughput and low maintenance. Intequus responded with appliances that each feature more than100 terabytes of storage, 10 gigabytes of network throughput and a Quad Core Intel Sandy Bridge CPU with low cooling requirements. The appliances are built around a high density custom rack-mount 4U server chassis to minimize the physical footprint in the data center.
"Intequus believes it will be industry-standard hardware that will form the foundation of the cloud," said Dave Guzzi, general manager, Intequus. "Customers like Netflix know exactly what they want and it's our job to get our hands dirty and apply our hardware design and integration skills to consistently deliver on those requirements."
Each appliance will be further tailored to fit in different server rack variations within Netflix's ISP partners' data centers. Intequus has provided Netflix access to its factory floor for imaging so systems are pre-loaded with Netflix software and entertainment content before installation in the field.
The Netflix Open Connect initiative will enable Netflix to provide improved service to its subscribers by improving the efficiency of streaming content to its customers.
