HP introduces OpenFlow-enabled switches

software-defined networking technology, which could eventually allow businesses to reconfigure their networks more easily and provide higher security, ZDNet reports.

The free updates, posted for download on Friday, apply to switches in HP's 3500, 5400 and 8200 series. The company hopes the move will spur developers and academic researchers into creating OpenFlow-based applications for its switches, to improve operations and resiliency. It also plans to extend OpenFlow to more products.

OpenFlow is a network virtualisation technology that provides customers with the flexibility and control to configure their networking environments to their specifications, CBR writes.

By deploying OpenFlow standard, enterprises can reduce the complexity of network devices and automate tasks using simplified network management.

According to Datacenter Dynamics, all major network vendors, Internet companies and other high-tech firms are members of the Open Networking Foundation (ONF), which developed OpenFlow. Members include Cisco, Juniper, Dell, IBM and Brocade, as well as Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Yahoo, among many others.

Organisations that have deployed HP's OpenFlow-enabled switches include Indiana University, Stanford University and the Global Environment for Network Innovations Project (GENI Project).