The channel has no shortage of interesting emerging vendors, fascinating upstarts and well-regarded newcomers. But here are 15 alternative vendors in particular, specific to networking, data center and infrastructure, that have made their channel ambitions known and are making moves to back those ambitious up.

Are any of these 15 companies going to be major North America channel players down the road? It will be worth checking back in a year to see how much progress they've made with partners and market traction.