Juniper Networks and Ruckus Wireless announce an alliance in networking, one promising a "unified wired and wireless solution" through the combination of Juniper switches and Ruckus wireless networking hardware.

Specifically, Juniper EX-series switches will be combined with Ruckus ZoneFlex access points and the SmartZone (SZ) wifi management platform. Another combination the the reduction of logical wired and wireless devices through Ruckus 3+1 SmartZone clustering and Juniper Virtual Chassis technology.

As for security, Ruckus offers "simple, secure BYOD provisioning and onboarding" together with Juniper SRX-series services gateway firewalls. The alliance also promises open, standards-based products by building on Juniper's Open Converged Framework.

IDC reports a positive Q1 2015 for the EMEA server market, as revenues reach $3 billion with 6.3% Y-o-Y growth and shipments growing by 3.5% Y-o-Y to 557182 units in a 4th consecutive quarter of positive unit growth.

Vendor revenues see higher growth thanks to increased ASPs caused by the market moving towards richer configurations, even if larger US-based European vendors continue to feel the impact of the fluctuating euro.

In fact, the analyst says Q1 2015 revenues see stronger growth (29.2% Y-o-Y) in euro, but the weakening currency forced some vendors to adopt new European pricing structures.

Non-x86 servers report a "good" EMEA Q1 2015, building on a positive Q4 2014 with the first Y-o-Y revenue growth in over 15 quarters (2%) as CISC and traditional RISC machines show low-single-digit growth. The main contributor to Q1 2015 volume growth (up 102.4% Y-o-Y) was the second shipment of ARM-based servers, even if such systems make less than 1% of non-x86 servers.

Dell announces a boost to its software-defined networking (SDN) capabilities through an agreement with Pluribus Networks bringing the Pluribus Open Netvisor Linux OS to Dell Open Networking switches.

ONIE-compatible Dell switches getting a version of the OS include the 10G/40G S6000-ON and S4048-ON.

Open Netvisor Linux is an open source OS that "combines the benefits of Linux with a plug-and-play, application-aware fabric, advanced network flow programming and embedded analytics and visibility capabilities." It provides scalable distributed SDN controller architecture, with complete interoperability with Layer 2 and IP/BGP infrastructure already in place.

Nordic reseller Dustin Group acquires Resolute ISMS, a Finnish network solution supplier, in an effort to improve its position in the Finnish market and its offering throughout the Nordic region.

The financial details of the acquisition are not available.

“The acquisition of Resolute strengthens our position in more advanced services and products by adding new competence to the entire Group," Dustin says. "In addition, we are reinforcing our position in Finland and creating the conditions for growth with new customers and a broader offering in all of our markets.”