Arista Networks

Arista Networks builds switching, routing and network software for cloud providers and enterprises operating AI infrastructure, data centers and campus networks. Its Extensible Operating System (EOS) provides a common software architecture across data center and campus environments. CloudVision lets operators automate provisioning, monitor network workflows and manage changes and rollbacks across networks of switches. Its Etherlink platforms provide network fabrics for AI clusters.

The company’s roots date to 2004, when David Cheriton, Andreas Bechtolsheim and Kenneth Duda co-founded the business. Jayshree Ullal is its chairperson and CEO. A lasting engineering contribution is EOS’s use of Linux APIs and a shared-state architecture: its System Database, SysDB, supports programming throughout the switch, down to the forwarding plane. CloudVision extends this approach from individual switches to centralized control of network state.

Arista completed its acquisition of VeloCloud from Broadcom in June 2025 for $300 million in cash consideration. VeloCloud adds cloud wide-area networking that connects customer sites, complementing Arista’s data center and campus wired and wireless portfolio. Switching and routing platforms generate most of Arista’s product revenue, placing network infrastructure at the center of its business.