HP ProCurve Networking extends Gigabit Ethernet to network edge with unrivalled affordability

HP ProCurve Networking will be showcasing the latest new line of Gigabit Ethernet solutions at Gitex Dubai 2003. These are priced to increase adoption of Gigabit Ethernet in the enterprise. The products extend the reach of the HP ProCurve Adaptive EDGE Architecture to deliver affordable, intelligent control to the edge of the network.

Customers can immediately benefit from the speed and productivity improvements that Gigabit performance provides for large file transfers. As the use of high-resolution images and rich media in basic presentations increases, the average file size for e-mail and most other user files has grown dramatically. In addition, Gigabit performance is essential for customers who use high-bandwidth applications including converged voice, video and data technologies, digital imaging and rich media applications.

HP ProCurve's new Gigabit offerings include the HP ProCurve Switch 2800 series of managed stackable Gigabit Ethernet products. The series includes:


•Switch 2824, with 20 10/100/1000 ports and four dual-personality ports for 10/100/1000 or mini-GBIC connectivity; and

•Switch 2848, with 44 10/100/1000 ports plus four dual-personality ports for 10/100/1000 or mini-GBIC connectivity.

Both switches auto-negotiate the best possible speed for each machine accessing them, ensuring Gigabit-capable clients receive maximum bandwidth.

'The HP ProCurve Switch 2824 is now a key part of my network. With its addition we have seen an excellent decrease in backup times, with throughput growing from 20 gigabits per hour to 140 gigabits per hour,' said Richard Lee, director of operations, Media General. 'In addition, the HP ProCurve Switch 2824, as part of HP ProCurve's EDGE architecture, ensures that core network applications like security, mobility and convergence can function correctly and concurrently without interference.'

With Layer 3 IP static routes, the Switch 2824 and Switch 2848 offer VLAN to VLAN connectivity across a routed network for secure group communication. The Switch 2800 series also offers industry-leading security with standards such as SSL, SSHv2, SNMPv3, 802.1X, TACACS+ and RADIUS server support.

In addition to stackable switches, HP ProCurve Networking today announced Gigabit Ethernet modules for the Switch 4100gl series and the Switch 5300xl series. These modules add affordable Gigabit capabilities to existing ProCurve products, increasing value, scalability and flexibility for current and future customers. The HP ProCurve Switch 5300 series offers high functionality at affordable prices and is the cornerstone of the HP ProCurve Adaptive EDGE Architecture.

HP also announced new capabilities for the Switch 5300 series. These upgrades give customers the ability to improve their network without expensive hardware upgrades.

Capabilities include: IP multicast routing using the PIM Dense routing protocol; 802.1s Multi-Instance Spanning Tree for high link availability in multiple VLAN environments; and Web-based authentication providing client authentication in a browser-based environment.

The new Gigabit technology allows customers to easily scale their networks for increased performance and productivity. HP ProCurve provides advanced technology and performance at affordable prices so customers can take full advantage of the already-present Gigabit connection capabilities of desktop and notebook PCs. Gigabit performance to the edge helps meet the growing performance and file transfer needs in imaging, CAD, video and film production, animation and many more current and emerging applications.

'HP ProCurve's ongoing commitment to drive intelligence and control to the network edge has taken a big step forward today,' said Ivan R. Kraemer, sales and marketing director for the Middle East, Africa and the Mediterranean, HP ProCurve Networking Business. 'For the first time, Gigabit Ethernet performance at the network edge is an affordable option for enterprises of any size, giving them an unprecedented opportunity to take advantage of the existing Gigabit connection capabilities of today's desktop and notebook PCs.'

HP is already shipping desktop PCs with built-in Gigabit connections and plans to include this functionality in all desktop and notebook PCs shipped in the near future.

To help customers get the best return on their information technology investments, HP offers the HP ProCurve family of products, services and solutions - including Ethernet switches, routing switches and network-management applications - which allows customers to build networks based on open standards that meet current and future needs for security, performance and reliability.