Upstarts and Start-Ups: Bivio Networks

Start-up Bivio Networks hopes to revolutionize the networking hardware industry with a single device that replaces myriad components. Bivio's product, a combination server and networking device, uses software acceleration to run networking applications such as firewalls, routing, quality of service, VPNs and storage at Gigabit line rates, said CEO Junaid Islam. Most networking hardware is ASIC-based because the applications would run too slowly otherwise, he said.

Bivio plans to release the routing bundle, which will be marketed through partners later this month. Access and storage bundles will follow later in the year. "Now that speed isn't a problem, [solution providers can customize our device for their clients with applications," Islam said. "If their needs change, they don't need a new piece of hardware."