Converged blade and networking technologies increase virtualization performance and network flexibility

PALO ALTO, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — September 16, 2009 — HP (NYSE: HPQ) today expanded its networking portfolio with new HP ProCurve offerings integrated with HP BladeSystem infrastructure solutions that enable customers to increase performance, security and management of both physical and virtual environments.

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.

“The integration of HP ProCurve Networking blade switches with the HP BladeSystem infrastructure is a pivotal change for HP as the company aggressively diverges itself from the competition,” said Nick Lippis, president of analyst firm Lippis Enterprises. “These new HP solutions provide customers the proven reliability of standards-based computing, in addition to lowering maintenance and operational costs.”

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. Engineered with emerging network standards in mind, the HP ProCurve 6120XG Blade Switch is Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE) ready, enabling 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 environments.

To address mission-critical local area network (LAN) access, midsize LAN and data center networking, HP ProCurve extended the connectivity and design options for the 8200 and 5400 switch families. Customers with unified communications and video surveillance can use high-capacity Power over Ethernet (PoE+) to reduce costs while lowering power consumption. The new offerings also expand HP ProCurve’s unified networking approach by using common architecture, security and management tools across the portfolio.

These new switches offer customers more affordable networking options over competing solutions and are backed by the ProCurve Lifetime Warranty.⁽¹⁾

Improved virtualization management with simplified connectivity

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 percent.⁽²⁾ New customer benefits include:

• Twice the Fibre Channel bandwidth at a lower cost per 8Gb port than competitive offerings with HP Virtual Connect 8Gb 20-Port Fibre Channel Module. The solution is ideal for virtualization and other high-performance applications.
• Increased network flexibility from the new Virtual Connect Firmware Update with Virtual Connect Flex-10. This allows users to dynamically change network connections and adjust bandwidth without rebooting the server. It also provides expanded support for up to 128 virtual local area networks (VLANs) to improve delivery of infrastructure-as-a-service deployments, as well as enhanced network diagnostics to simplify management.

HP channel partners also will benefit from an enhanced portfolio of networking options to offer customers. Additionally, they can leverage the extensive installed base of more than 1.5 million blade units to drive new HP ProCurve sales opportunities.⁽³⁾

“Virtual sprawl has been an ongoing challenge for customers, adding unnecessary complexity and management costs that take valuable resources away from business innovation,” said Marius Haas, senior vice president and general manager, HP ProCurve. “By delivering a converged solution that is easier to manage, higher performing and reduces costs, HP is eliminating these challenges, allowing customers to focus their efforts on growing the business, today and in the future.”

Reduced risk with proven methodology and investment advice

HP also announced enhancements to its HP Adaptive Infrastructure Maturity Model (AIMM) 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.

About HP

HP, the world’s largest technology company, simplifies the technology experience for consumers and businesses with a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com/.

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⁽¹⁾ Details are available in the ProCurve Software License, Warranty and Support booklet at www.procurve.com/warranty .