Anchored by high reliability Ethernet switches optimised for data centre deployment, Blade describes the UFA as the glue that connects devices such as servers, storage and back up systems in the data centre. The company also signaled that the current generation of 10 GB Ethernet switches would eventually be replaced by 40 GB, then 100 GB switches, although it did not lay out any timeframe.

In October last year the company joined forces with Juniper Networks, which took a stake in, and partnered with, Blade in order to be able to better compete with Cisco's unified computing strategy. According to Blade chief executive officer Vikram Mehta, Blade Networks is already second only to Cisco in the data centre.

After partnering with Juniper Blade became the first licensee of the Junos operating system. It also became the exclusive global supplier of Junos based Ethernet switches for server manufacturers.

Releasing Blade's annual results for the year to the end of October in a webcast today Mehta said that 'Our revenues grew a handsome 15 per cent despite a terrible economy.' Shipments for the 12 months to October 31 were $US79 million.

For the year ahead the company has even higher hopes, predicting a 27 per cent revenue surge to over $US100 million.