HP today expanded its networking portfolio with new HP ProCurve offerings integrated with HP BladeSystem infrastructure solutions that enable customers to increase performance, security and management of both physical and virtual environments.
The new offerings include the HP ProCurve 6120 series, designed to leverage the award-winning HP BladeSystem infrastructure, and an expansion of the HP ProCurve 8200zl and 5400zl Ethernet switch portfolio. Also included in the announcement is a firmware upgrade to HP Virtual Connect that allows users to change bandwidth on the fly to respond to fluctuations in application requirements.
“These innovative HP solutions continue to position HP as a leader in the networking market. This integration of HP ProCurve Networking blade switches with the HP BladeSystem infrastructure provides our customers with proven and reliable standards-based computing; in addition to lowering maintenance and operational costs,” says Lorna Hardie, Business Unit Manager, HP ProCurve, HP South Africa.
Increased network flexibility
To further strengthen the business benefits delivered by HP BladeSystem, HP ProCurve is offering two new standards-based blade switches that increase service quality, lower costs and reduce risks in the data centre.
* To reduce complexity and deliver investment protection, the 10Gb HP ProCurve 6120XG Blade Switch is designed to meet the demands of virtual machines and high-performance applications. When combined with the HP ProCurve Data Centre Connection Manager, the switch delivers automated network connection management and provisioning. Engineered with emerging network standards in mind, the HP ProCurve 6120XG Blade Switch is Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE) ready, enabling integration of Ethernet and fibre channel networks in the future.
* To simplify the transition from 1Gb to 10Gb, the new HP ProCurve 6120G/XG Blade Switch seamlessly integrates a mix of legacy network equipment in the data centre. This allows customers to maximise return on investment for their existing environments.
To address mission-critical local area network (LAN) access, midsize LAN and data centre networking, HP ProCurve extended the connectivity and design options for the 8200zl and 5400zl switch families. Customers with unified communications and video surveillance can use high-capacity Power over Ethernet (POE+) to reduce costs while lowering power consumption. The new offerings also expand HP ProCurve's unified networking approach by using common architecture, security and management tools across the portfolio.
These new switches offer customers more affordable networking options over competing solutions and are backed by the HP ProCurve's Lifetime Warranty. (1)
Improved virtualisation management with simplified connectivity
To reduce network complexity, lower connectivity costs and offer flexibility for deploying a data centre technology infrastructure, HP enhanced its innovative Virtual Connect portfolio. HP Virtual Connect with HP BladeSystems reduces acquisition costs up to 66%. (2)
New customer benefits include:
* Twice the fibre channel bandwidth at a lower cost per 8Gb port than competitive offerings with HP Virtual Connect 8Gb 20-Port Fibre Channel Module. The solution is ideal for virtualisation and other high-performance applications.
* Increased network flexibility from the new Virtual Connect Firmware Update with Virtual Connect Flex-10. This allows users to dynamically change network connections and adjust bandwidth without rebooting the server. It also provides expanded support for up to 128 virtual local area networks (VLANs) to improve delivery of infrastructure as a service deployments, as well as enhanced network diagnostics to simplify management.
HP channel partners also will benefit from an enhanced portfolio of networking options to offer customers. Additionally, they can leverage the extensive an installed base of more than 1.5 million blade units to drive new HP ProCurve sales opportunities. (3)
“Virtual sprawl has been an ongoing challenge for customers, adding unnecessary complexity and management costs that take valuable resources away from business innovation,” said Andrew McNiven, Industry Standard Server Product Manager at HP South Africa. “By delivering a converged solution that is easier to manage, higher performing and reduces costs, HP is eliminating these challenges, allowing customers to focus their efforts on growing the business, today and in the future.”
Reduced risk with proven methodology, investment advice
HP also announced enhancements to its HP Adaptive Infrastructure Maturity Model (AIMM) for both end-users and channel partners. The maturity model includes new tools that help customers improve return on investment by providing the information needed to make informed technology purchase and operational decisions.
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