Force10 Networks
Force10 Networks was a San Jose-based vendor of high-performance data center networking switches and routers, acquired by Dell in 2011 and integrated into Dell's enterprise infrastructure portfolio.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersSan Jose, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Force10 Networks does
Force10 Networks was a San Jose, California-based networking infrastructure vendor founded in 1999 that built high-performance switches, routers, and data center networking equipment for enterprise and service provider deployments. The company raised approximately $305 million across seven venture financings between 2000 and 2009 from a syndicate that consistently included New Enterprise Associates, U.S. Venture Partners, Morgenthaler Ventures, Crosslink Capital, Meritech Capital Partners, and Worldview Technology Partners, reflecting sustained tier-1 investor conviction in its data center thesis. Force10 broadened its platform through the 2005 acquisition of Metanetworks Technologies and the 2009 acquisition of Turin Networks, extending into network management and carrier-grade infrastructure. In 2011 the company was acquired by Dell, after which its networking IP and product lines were integrated into Dell's broader enterprise infrastructure portfolio spanning servers, storage, cyber resilience, private cloud, AIOps, and end-user computing; Force10 does not appear to operate as an independent reporting entity in the input data.
Force10 Networks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Force10 Networks
- Website
- https://force10networks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Force10 Networks was a San Jose-based vendor of high-performance data center networking switches and routers, acquired by Dell in 2011 and integrated into Dell's enterprise infrastructure portfolio.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Force10 Networks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Enterprise Networking Hardware
- NAICS
- Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (33429)
- SIC
- Computer Communications Equipment (3576)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Data Center Ethernet Switching (ToR/Leaf-Spine) (HDABAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Industrial Network Redundancy & Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN/PRP/HSR/ERPS) (HDAFAJAH)
Keywords
Where Force10 Networks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Jose
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Force10 Networks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Force10 Networks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Force10 Networks designed, manufactured, and sold high-performance Ethernet switches, routers, and networking infrastructure equipment for data centers, cloud, and service provider environments. The company built reliable, low-latency networking platforms used to construct intelligent services networks for enterprise and carrier customers. Following Dell's 2011 acquisition, Force10's networking technology became part of Dell's enterprise networking product line.
Product overview
Dell Technologies offers a comprehensive enterprise IT portfolio. Force10 Networks (acquired by Dell in 2011) contributed its high-performance networking expertise to Dell's infrastructure solutions. The product lineup includes networking products (switches, routers, network infrastructure), servers (PowerEdge), data storage solutions, cyber resilience, private cloud and HCI, AIOps & IT observability, and disaggregated infrastructure. Additionally, the company offers end-user computing products including laptops (XPS, Latitude, Dell Pro, Alienware), desktops (OptiPlex, Alienware), monitors, and workstations (Precision). The portfolio is complemented by thin client solutions, Dell APEX subscription services, and the Dell Automation Platform. Services include Professional Services (AI, Multicloud, Modern Workforce, Security), Lifecycle Services (Deployment, Managed, Support, Recovery), Training & Certification, and Technology & Tools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Enterprise Networking Products Enterprise networking hardware and solutions including high-performance switches, routers, and network infrastructure equipment for business and data center environments, sold by Dell using Force10-derived technology.
Companies that use Force10 Networks
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Force10 Networks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Force10 Networks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Dell TechnologiescoreForce10 Networks was acquired by Dell in 2011. The acquisition integrated Force10's high-performance networking capabilities into Dell's enterprise solutions portfolio, combining Force10's data center networking technology with Dell's broader IT infrastructure offerings.
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Force10 Networks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Arista Networks: Arista is a direct peer to Force10, specializing in high-performance data-center Ethernet switches and leaf-spine architectures with its EOS operating system. Both target hyperscale, cloud, and financial-services customers requiring low-latency, high-bandwidth switching.
Broad incumbents
- Cisco Systems: Cisco is the dominant incumbent in enterprise and data-center networking with its Nexus and Catalyst switch families. Force10 competed directly with Cisco's data-center Ethernet switching portfolio and now sits in Dell's portfolio as a counter to Cisco in converged infrastructure deals.
- Juniper Networks: Juniper's QFX and EX switches target the same enterprise and data-center switching market as Force10/Dell Networking. Both compete for leaf-spine deployments in cloud, telco, and large-enterprise environments.
- Extreme Networks: Extreme Networks provides enterprise Ethernet switching, including data-center switches, competing with Dell/Force10 for campus and data-center LAN refresh deals. Its portfolio overlaps with Force10's switching focus, particularly in mid-market and large-enterprise segments.
- HPE Aruba Networking: HPE Aruba's CX switching portfolio targets enterprise campus and data-center networking, overlapping with Dell/Force10 in fabric and leaf-spine architectures. HPE bundles networking with its compute and storage lines in a manner directly comparable to Dell's Force10-enabled stack.
- Broadcom (Brocade legacy): Broadcom acquired Brocade's networking business and supplies both merchant switching silicon and storage/networking platforms used by data centers. As a silicon supplier and rival systems vendor, Broadcom both enables and competes with Force10-origin Dell switches.
- Lenovo ThinkSystem Networking: Lenovo offers Ethernet switches bundled with ThinkSystem servers — a converged infrastructure approach directly parallel to Dell's bundling of Force10-origin networking with PowerEdge. Both vendors compete in mainstream enterprise and HPC data-center deals.
Emerging players
- Nvidia Networking (Mellanox): Mellanox, now part of Nvidia, supplies high-performance Ethernet and InfiniBand switches and adapters for hyperscale and AI data centers — overlapping with Force10's high-performance Ethernet heritage. The combination of merchant silicon and AI-driven demand makes Nvidia Networking a key adjacent competitor.
- Edgecore Networks: Edgecore is a leading white-box ODM producing open networking switches running SONiC and other disaggregated NOS options. It competes on price-performance in the same data-center switching tier as Dell/Force10, especially in hyperscale and open-fabric deployments.
Regional players
- Huawei Enterprise: Huawei's CloudEngine switches compete globally in data-center Ethernet, with strong APAC presence and growing international footprint. Geopolitical restrictions limit overlap with Force10/Dell in North America but they compete in EMEA, Latin America, and Asia.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Force10 Networks social profiles
Digital presenceForce10 Networks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Force10 Networks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Force10 Networks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds7 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Force10 Networks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Force10 Networks
What does Force10 Networks do?
Force10 Networks designed, manufactured, and sold high-performance Ethernet switches, routers, and networking infrastructure equipment for data centers, cloud, and service provider environments. The company built reliable, low-latency networking platforms used to construct intelligent services networks for enterprise and carrier customers. Following Dell's 2011 acquisition, Force10's networking technology became part of Dell's enterprise networking product line.
When was Force10 Networks founded?
Force10 Networks was founded in 1999. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Force10 Networks based?
Force10 Networks is headquartered in San Jose, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Force10 Networks's main competitors?
Arista Networks is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Cisco Systems, Juniper Networks, Extreme Networks, HPE Aruba Networking, Broadcom (Brocade legacy) and Lenovo ThinkSystem Networking. Emerging players are Nvidia Networking (Mellanox) and Edgecore Networks. Huawei Enterprise is listed as a regional player.
Does Force10 Networks have an API?
No public API is recorded for Force10 Networks.
What industry is Force10 Networks in?
Force10 Networks's product category is Enterprise Networking Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDABAFAA, Data Center Ethernet Switching (ToR/Leaf-Spine), with a secondary code of HDAFAJAH, Industrial Network Redundancy & Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN/PRP/HSR/ERPS). Its NAICS code is 33429 and its SIC code is 3576.