HP expands networking portfolio

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 8200 and 5400 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.

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 center.

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 Center Connection Manager, the switch delivers automated network connection management and provisioning while ensuring consistency of services throughout the data center. Engineered with emerging network standards in mind, the HP ProCurve 6120XG Blade Switch is Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE) ready, which will enable the 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 center. This allows customers to maximize return on investment for their existing environment. These new switches offer customers more affordable networking options over competing solutions and are backed by the ProCurve Lifetime Warranty.

"Customers need to reduce the complexity in their environments caused by virtual sprawl, as well as the associated networking and management costs that take valuable resources from business innovation," said Alaa AlShimy, General Manager of HP ProCurve Middle East.

"Integrating market-leading HP ProCurve and HP BladeSystem technologies fundamentally changes the economics of networking by delivering easier-to-manage and higher-performing converged solutions. The new offerings also expand HP ProCurve's unified networking approach, utilizing common architecture, security and management tools across the portfolio,"

he added.

To reduce network complexity, lower connectivity costs and offer flexibility for deploying a data center technology infrastructure, HP enhanced its innovative Virtual Connect portfolio. HP Virtual Connect with HP BladeSystems reduces acquisition costs up to 66%.

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 1.5m blade units to drive new HP ProCurve sales opportunities.

HP also announced enhancements to its data center maturity model 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.