Arista Networks, originally named Arastra, was founded in 2004 by Andy Bechtolsheim & David Cheriton. This pair has occupied executive positions at Cisco Systems, Inc., leading the development of the Catalyst product line, along with Kenneth Duda who had been Granite Systems’ first employee. This trio developed Arastra (now Arista Networks).
Cheriton and Bechtolsheim financed the company themselves, after selling several other start-up companies in previous years. 
The company provides cloud networking solutions in the US, Mexico, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. Arista’s cloud networking solutions consist of its extensible operating systems, a set of network applications, as well as gigabit Ethernet switching and routing platforms, including universal leaf, spline, and universal spine products. 
In May 2008, Jayshree Ullal left Cisco after 15 years at the company and was appointed CEO of Arista in October 2008.
In June 2014, the company went public on the NYSE under the ticker symbol: ANET. 
In December 2014, Cisco filed two lawsuits against Arista alleging extensive intellectual property infringement. The decision was appealed to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. A ban on certain Arista products was reversed in 2016 following product changes. Two Cisco patents were overturned, and Cisco’s claim of damages was ruled against.
In 20147, the company had annual revenue of $1.6 billion and employed 1800 persons. Company headquarters are located in Santa Clara, California.
