Cumulus Networks
Cumulus Networks, a subsidiary of NVIDIA, develops Cumulus Linux, a Linux-based open network operating system for data center Ethernet switches, serving AI factory and cloud-scale data center operators through NVIDIA's direct enterprise sales channel.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersMountain View, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Cumulus Networks does
Cumulus Networks is a software company that designs and develops Linux-based network operating systems for data center networking hardware. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, the company's flagship product, Cumulus Linux, is an open networking operating system built on Linux that provides operational efficiency and flexibility at all tiers of the networking stack. It supports features such as zero-touch accelerated RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE) and is designed for scale in modern data center environments, with interoperability alongside alternative open-source NOS options such as Pure SONiC.
Following its acquisition by NVIDIA Corporation in 2020, Cumulus Networks operates as a subsidiary within NVIDIA's networking division, with its product rebranded as NVIDIA Cumulus Linux. The operating system is integrated with NVIDIA's Spectrum Ethernet switch portfolio and complementary offerings including NetQ (network observability), DSX Air (data center simulation), Pure SONiC (alternative open-source NOS), and BlueField DPUs. The company's primary customer segment is AI and cloud data center operators deploying large-scale GPU compute clusters and high-performance computing workloads, serving use cases such as AI factory networking and cloud-scale GPU compute connectivity.
Cumulus Networks generates revenue through software licensing as part of NVIDIA's bundled networking solutions, distributed globally via NVIDIA's direct enterprise sales organization and regional websites. Prior to its acquisition, the company had raised approximately $134 million across five funding rounds between 2012 and 2018 from investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Battery Ventures, Sequoia Capital, and Titanium Ventures. Current headcount is in the 101-250 range, consistent with an embedded engineering organization within a much larger parent.
Cumulus Networks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cumulus Networks
- Website
- https://cumulusnetworks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Cumulus Networks, a subsidiary of NVIDIA, develops Cumulus Linux, a Linux-based open network operating system for data center Ethernet switches, serving AI factory and cloud-scale data center operators through NVIDIA's direct enterprise sales channel.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cumulus Networks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Network Operating Systems
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821)
- SIC
- Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Data Center Ethernet Switching (ToR/Leaf-Spine) (HDABAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Routing Software, Network OS & Control Plane (NOS/BGP/OSPF/IS-IS stacks) (HDAFABAG), Cloud Networking & Virtual Networking (VPC/VNet) (HDABAFAG)
Keywords
Where Cumulus Networks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mountain View
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Cumulus Networks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Software Licensing: Cumulus Linux is sold as a network operating system bundled with NVIDIA Spectrum Ethernet switches, representing a software licensing component within NVIDIA's broader networking portfolio.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Cumulus Networks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cumulus Networks designs and sells Cumulus Linux, a Linux-based data center network operating system built for scale with advanced modern networking features. The software is sold as part of NVIDIA's Spectrum Ethernet switches portfolio, providing open networking choice and flexibility across all tiers of the stack for AI factories and cloud-scale GPU compute environments.
Product overview
Cumulus Networks, now part of NVIDIA's networking portfolio, offers Cumulus Linux as its core network operating system product. Cumulus Linux is a Linux-based data center network OS that provides operational efficiency and open networking flexibility. It is part of NVIDIA's broader Ethernet switching ecosystem which includes NVIDIA NetQ for network observability, NVIDIA DSX Air for data center simulation, and NVIDIA Pure SONiC as an alternative open-source NOS option. The products work together to enable accelerated AI cloud networking alongside NVIDIA Spectrum Ethernet switches.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Cumulus Linux: Linux-based data center network operating system
Products and services
- Cumulus Linux Cumulus Linux is a Linux-based data center network operating system built for scale with advanced modern networking features. It provides open networking choice and flexibility at all tiers of the stack, supporting zero-touch accelerated RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE), and is sold as part of NVIDIA's Spectrum Ethernet switch portfolio to organizations deploying AI infrastructure and cloud-scale GPU compute environments.
Quantifiable outcome
- Spectrum-X Ethernet platform improves AI performance by 1.6x while increasing predictability and power efficiency
Companies that use Cumulus Networks
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Cumulus Networks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Cumulus Networks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Cumulus Networks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cisco Systems: Cisco is a broad incumbent in enterprise and data center networking, offering Nexus switches with NX-OS and Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI). It overlaps with Cumulus Linux in the data center switching layer and competes indirectly for the same enterprise and cloud Ethernet fabric budgets.
- Juniper Networks: Juniper offers the Apstra AOS and QFX/PTX switching portfolio, targeting data center fabrics and cloud operators. Its open-programmable NOS philosophy and Mist AIOps overlap with Cumulus Linux's positioning as an automated, open networking platform.
- Huawei: Huawei is a broad incumbent in data center switching with its CloudEngine portfolio and VRP operating system, competing globally (outside US regulatory constraints) in the same AI/cloud data center switching market addressed by Cumulus Linux on NVIDIA Spectrum.
- Nokia (Data Center Fabrics): Nokia's SR Linux and data center fabric portfolio targets hyperscale and webscale operators with an open, programmable NOS — directly comparable to Cumulus Linux's positioning in modern data center and AI fabrics.
- Dell Technologies (PowerSwitch): Dell's PowerSwitch line ships with multiple NOS options, historically including Cumulus Linux, SONiC, and Dell OS10. It is a broad incumbent OEM competitor in the data center switching market where Cumulus Linux was once sold as a standalone product.
Regional players
- Extreme Networks: Extreme Networks offers a portfolio of data center and campus switches with its own ExtremeXOS/Switch Engine. It competes with Cumulus-Linux-enabled Spectrum switches, particularly in mid-market and enterprise segments, and is a meaningful adjacent peer.
Emerging players
- Edgecore Networks: Edgecore is a white-box switching OEM that ships hardware pre-loaded with Cumulus Linux and SONiC. As a key hardware partner in the open networking ecosystem, it is a direct ecosystem peer that commercializes disaggregated NOS offerings including Cumulus.
- Pluribus Networks: Pluribus Networks offers an open, Linux-based network operating system (Netvisor) for data center and edge fabrics. It is an emerging peer that shares Cumulus Linux's open NOS, Linux-native philosophy but with a focus on adaptive fabric and edge use cases.
Direct peers
- DriveNets: DriveNets is a direct peer in the disaggregated networking space, offering Network Cloud software that runs on white-box hardware — a similar open NOS model to Cumulus Linux. Both target Tier-1 service providers and large cloud/AI operators with software-defined routing and switching.
- Arista Networks: Arista Networks is a direct peer in the data center Ethernet switching and network operating system (EOS) space, competing head-to-head with Cumulus Linux-powered NVIDIA Spectrum switches in hyperscale and cloud data centers. Both target the AI/cloud fabric market with high-performance, programmable NOS offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cumulus Networks social profiles
Digital presenceCumulus Networks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cumulus Networks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Cumulus Networks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cumulus Networks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cumulus Networks
What does Cumulus Networks do?
Cumulus Networks designs and sells Cumulus Linux, a Linux-based data center network operating system built for scale with advanced modern networking features. The software is sold as part of NVIDIA's Spectrum Ethernet switches portfolio, providing open networking choice and flexibility across all tiers of the stack for AI factories and cloud-scale GPU compute environments.
Is Cumulus Networks a public or private company?
Cumulus Networks is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Cumulus Networks founded?
Cumulus Networks was founded in 2010. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Cumulus Networks based?
Cumulus Networks is headquartered in Mountain View, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cumulus Networks make money?
One revenue line is on record: software Licensing.
Who are Cumulus Networks's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cisco Systems, Juniper Networks, Huawei, Nokia (Data Center Fabrics) and Dell Technologies (PowerSwitch). Extreme Networks is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Edgecore Networks and Pluribus Networks. Direct peers are DriveNets and Arista Networks.
Does Cumulus Networks have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cumulus Networks.
What industry is Cumulus Networks in?
Cumulus Networks's product category is Network Operating Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDABAFAA, Data Center Ethernet Switching (ToR/Leaf-Spine), with a secondary code of HDAFABAG, Routing Software, Network OS & Control Plane (NOS/BGP/OSPF/IS-IS stacks). Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 3576.