Cisco to buy network tool maker Cariden

IDG News Service - Cisco is planning to acquire network planning tools vendor Cariden Technologies for $141 million, in its third announced acquisition this month.

Cariden makes capacity planning and management tools for IP/MPLS, or multi-protocol label switching, networks, and its products will also improve Cisco's nLight technology, according to a statement on the deal released Thursday by Cisco.

In addition, the Cariden acquisition will bolster Cisco's Open Network Environment push "by providing sophisticated wide area networking (WAN) orchestration capabilities," Cisco said.

"Given the widespread convergence of IP and optical networks, Cariden's technology will help carriers more efficiently manage bandwidth, network traffic and intelligence," said Surya Panditi, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco's Service Provider Networking Group, in a statement.

Cariden's staff will be rolled into Panditi's division after the deal's close, which is expected to happen within a few months

Earlier in November, Cisco announced its intentions to buy cloud networking vendor Meraki for $1.2 billion, as well as cloud automation software vendor Cloupia for $125 million.