9. Extreme Networks Buys Brocade's Data Center Networking Business

Purchase Price: $55 million

Extreme Networks is purchasing Brocade Communications' data center networking business from Broadcom for $55 million. San Jose, Calif.-based Extreme will gain Brocade's data center switching, routing and analytics businesses once Broadcom finishes its acquisition of Brocade. Extreme CEO Ed Meyercord told CRN that Brocade's portfolio will bring high-end data center working along with visibility and automation.

"When we look at the edge, people want low-cost, simple, secure solutions and then as you move up into the data center, this is where people start looking more at network automation – and we're getting great technology from Brocade on the network automation side with the fabric technologies we're picking up," said Meyercord. "We're going to have a very compelling story to tell in the data center."