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    HP Outlines Open Approach to Network Virtualization

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    What Business Leaders Need to Know About Virtualization

    While the VMworld 2013 conference was clearly a celebration of all things VMware, IT organizations usually live in heterogeneous environments with multiple types of both physical and virtual networks.

    During the conference, HP announced its intention to support the new VMware NSX network virtualization platform within the HP Virtual Application Networks SDN Controller. As part of HP’s commitment to open computing, Kash Shaikh, senior director of product and technical marketing for HP Networking, says that in addition to VMware NSX, HP will soon support multiple flavors of virtual machines and networks.

    While virtual networks represent a significant advance in terms of reducing network complexity, organization will need a management layer that sits above the network that can be applied to multiple physical and virtual networks.

    Shaikh says support for emerging standards, such as OpenFlow, is a core element for providing the interoperability that will prove critical in the enterprise.

    The ongoing debate within the networking community, of course, has been about trying to find a balance between the merits of openness and the practical desire to have one common approach to managing enterprise networks on an end-to-end basis. Network virtualization doesn’t put an end to that debate; it simply moves up the stack a few levels higher.

    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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