Forward Networks

Forward Networks, Inc. is an American company headquartered in Palo Alto, California.[1] The company develops enterprise software for network management and software-defined networking.[2]

Forward Networks
IndustryComputer software
FoundedJuly 23, 2013
FounderDavid Erickson, Nikhil Handigol, Brandon Heller, Peyman Kazemian
Headquarters
Palo Alto, California
Websitehttps://www.forwardnetworks.com/

History

Forward Networks was founded by David Erickson, Nikhil Handigol, Brandon Heller, and Peyman Kazemian, who met as Ph.D researchers at Stanford University. While operating software-defined networking deployments running OpenFlow[3] at the university,[4] Erickson, Handigol, Heller, and Kazemian built a software platform based on Kazemian's research at Stanford for his electrical engineering dissertation.[5] Kazemian's research enabled the use of configuration data and operational state information from devices on a network to create a virtual copy of that network.[6]

Until November 2016, the company operated in stealth mode[7] and raised $16 million in funding by DFJ,[8] with participation from Andreesen Horowitz.[9]

In October 2019 the company raised $35 million in Series C funding led by Goldman Sachs, also a customer of the company.[10]

Forward Networks' other customers include PayPal, Ubisoft, and Telstra.[11]

Intent-based networking

Intent-based networking (IBN), a term coined by Gartner in 2017 describes a system designed to automate a network lifecycle from design and implementation to deployment and validation.[12]

Forward Networks' technology focuses on verification with regards to intent-based networking. The platform generates a mathematical model of the network to perform functions such as composing timestamped collections of network configurations and state information of a network infrastructure.[13] The product is marketed as a network assurance platform[14] called Forward Enterprise.[15]

See also

References
  1. "Forward Networks". Crunchbase.
  2. "Forward Networks Inc - Company Profile and News". Bloomberg.
  3. "Startup Aims To Simplify Network Management". IT Infrastructure Advice, Discussion, Community - Network Computing. 2016-11-14. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
  4. Butler, Brandon (2016-11-14). "Startup Forward Networks helps search, protect and predict network behavior". Network World. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
  5. "Accelerating and De-Risking Network Operations | Forward Networks | David Erickson". Business Magazine. 2018-01-16. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  6. "Forward Networks creates digital twins to assure network performance". FierceTelecom. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  7. "Forward Networks nets $16M to help prevent network outages". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  8. DFJ (2017-08-23). "Fast Forward with Forward Networks". Medium. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
  9. Krause, Bill (2016-11-14). "Déjà Vu All Over Again with Forward Networks". Andreessen Horowitz. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
  10. "The Wave of Digital Media Consolidation Isn't Over Yet". Fortune. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  11. "Network Verification Software". Forward Networks. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  12. "Intent-based network: the next big thing?". Network Middle East. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  13. Arcilla, Alex. "ESG Technical Review: Verifying Network Intent with Forward Enterprise". www.esg-global.com. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
  14. "NFD13: Forward Networks Comes Out of Stealth to Impress". NetCraftsmen. 2016-12-22. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
  15. Inc, Gartner. "Forward Networks Network Automation Software Reviews". Gartner. Retrieved 2019-10-18.
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