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    HP Expands SDN Portfolio

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    Top Trends Driving the Data Center in 2015

    At the Interop 2015 conference today, Hewlett-Packard unveiled a module that for its switches that offloads processing for software-defined networking (SDN) software from the server alongside a new and enhanced SDN application that makes it simpler to visualize and secure those networks.

    Dominic Wilde, vice president of global product line management at HP Networking, says the HP 5400R zl2 Switch Series v3 Modules make use of a proprietary ASIC processor that HP claims improves SDN performance by a factor of four, while reducing network latency by a factor of three.

    Rather than relying on servers to process SDN software, Wilde says the line card in an HP switch offloads that processing task. The end result is not only a reduction of application overhead on the server, but the processing of the SDN software takes place much closer to the OpenFlow-compatible campus network switch.

    In addition to the faster line card modules, HP is releasing an HP Network Visualizer SDN application that Wilde says provides detailed views of traffic moving across the network in real time. Wilde says administrators can easily identify user complaints without having to identify physical location or IP address or deploy overlay appliances or other types of network probes.

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    HP also enhanced its HP Network Protector SDN application to include intrusion prevention software that can be invoked as a service and upgraded its HP Network Optimizer SDN application to include support for media path optimization and dynamic adjustments to traffic patterns based on user or device. Other applications can also now invoke HP Network Optimizer through an open application programming interface (API).

    Wilde notes that one of the things that has been holding back SDN adoption is the ability to run these environments at scale. By removing much of the processing overhead associated with SDN environments from the server, Wilde says that HP switches now make it possible to deploy an SDN that can scale to meet the requirements of modern enterprise IT environments.

    Obviously, HP sees SDN as a way to usurp more entrenched networking rivals at a time when most organizations are just beginning to make the shift to an SDN environment. The degree to which IT organizations will be willing to switch networking vendors as they make that shift remains to be seen. But in terms of making sure that it at least makes the short list of SDN vendors that will be considered, HP is making it clear that it is highly committed to all things SDN.

    Mike Vizard
    Mike Vizard
    Michael Vizard is a seasoned IT journalist, with nearly 30 years of experience writing and editing about enterprise IT issues. He is a contributor to publications including Programmableweb, IT Business Edge, CIOinsight and UBM Tech. He formerly was editorial director for Ziff-Davis Enterprise, where he launched the company’s custom content division, and has also served as editor in chief for CRN and InfoWorld. He also has held editorial positions at PC Week, Computerworld and Digital Review.

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