HP FlexFabric Networks: Enabling next-generation data centers

The traditional, inflexible, and hierarchical model of separately provisioned and maintained server, storage, and network resources constrains organizations from cost-effectively providing on-demand support for applications and meeting unprecedented service levels. Conducting business with the agility required by the more dynamic nature of highly virtualized data center environments necessitates adopting new networking technologies that streamline delivery methods and contain costs.

The HP approach to networking is focused on driving innovation that reduces complexity, delivers breakthrough economic benefits, and empowers customers to deploy the network as a business enabler. The HP Converged Infrastructure blueprint and FlexFabric technology enable the predictable performance, high availability, and comprehensive management needed to support large-scale virtualization and convergence implementations, and a spectrum of IT deployment models–including cloud computing, web hosting, and managed services.



Flatten the network with Intelligent Resilient Framework
Intelligent Resilient Framework (IRF) overcomes the limitations of legacy spanning tree designs by providing rapid failover for delay-sensitive, mission-critical applications and dramatically improving network utilization and performance in the network core.

By deploying IRF in conjunction with highly-scalable 12500 switches in the core and 5830 GbE and 5820 10 GbE series switches in the access layer - IT can completely eliminate the requirement for a dedicated aggregation layer as they scale-out data centers, and enjoy the benefits of large Layer 2 domains with increased network uptime and simplified management.

IRF is an innovative HP switch platform virtualization technology that allows customers to dramatically simplify the design and operations of their data center and campus Ethernet networks.

• IRF extends network control over multiple active switches. Management of a group of IRF enabled switches is consolidated around a single management IP address, which vastly simplifies network configuration and operations
• Up to 9 HP access layer switches can be combined into a single, ultra-resilient virtual switching fabric supporting hundreds GbE or 10-GbE switching ports
• IRF can also be used to virtualize the network core to deliver the highest levels of business continuity and network resiliency by ensuring rapid network recovery from link or device failures to keep applications and services running uninterrupted

5 Generations of simplicity

HP Virtual Connect, the industry's leading interconnect solution for virtualization/VM, celebrates exceeding 5 million ports shipped, and announces availability of Virtual Connect Firmware v3.30 with new innovations to further simplify customers' transition to Cloud computing. Virtual Connect is one of the cornerstones of the HP FlexFabric Architecture.

Since its introduction, HP Virtual Connect, the world's first wire-once technology, has revolutionized the way virtualized servers are connected to networks. HP appreciates the tremendous customer enthusiasm for Virtual Connect, as we pass the important milestone of 5 million ports. The rapid adoption of Virtual Connect shows how customers are embracing the exceptional value.

As customers' needs change with transition to Cloud Computing, Virtual Connect continues to innovate more customer value into our product. We're announcing general availability of Virtual Connectv3.30, delivering improved management and core networking capabilities that simplifies, integrates and provides a unique foundation for automating server and network connectivity.

HP Virtual Connect simplifies connectivity to your networking and storage:

• Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager can manage network connections in up to 1,000 BladeSystem enclosures while the built-in Virtual Connect Manager allows administrators to manage connections in up to four BladeSystem enclosures via a central console.
• HP FlexFabric adapters are built into HP ProLiant G7 server blades so there are no additional adapters to buy.
• Virtual Connect, with Flex-10 technology, allows IT administrators to allocate a single network port on a server into four separate network and storage connections. Administrators can dynamically adjust bandwidth of each to match application workloads.
• HP Virtual Connect can be used to manage network connections in remote data centers

HP TippingPoint Secure Virtualization Framework (SVF)

Security for Virtual and Cloud Environments The HP TippingPoint Secure Virtualization Framework (SVF) is designed to provide IT personnel a single consolidated, yet flexible solution for extending the HP TippingPoint N-Series Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), powered by DVLabs Security Threat Intelligence and Research, into the virtualized data center.

HP TippingPoint SVF provides purpose-built solutions that are integrated with VMware and designed to enable the HP TippingPoint N-Series IPS to enforce full data center firewall segmentation and IPS inspection between trust zones for physical hosts of trust zones for physical hosts, virtual machines (VMs), and even mobile VMs. SVF also provides network/security teams with real-time visibility and control of virtual environments by:

• Mapping out virtual/physical network paths
• Providing configuration of security policies by VM and/or zone
• Assigning of automatic trust zone for new or un-trusted workloads
• Automatic security policy configuration for VMs in motion

HP TippingPoint Secure Virtualization Framework provides industry-leading network security solutions for securing physical, virtual and cloud data centers.

• DVLabs performs security research around the world. It looks for the latest threats and delivers protection across your physical and virtual environments.
• Threats to your business continue to increase. It's often hard to distinguish between good network traffic and bad network traffic.
• Virtual machines are often moved between hosts and even data centers. It's critical that the security policy remains intact when VMs move. With HP TippingPoint vController, you're protected.

Intelligent Management Center (IMC)

End Swivel Chair Management The HP FlexNetwork architecture unifies the network with a common management layer. This eliminates the complexity of multiple management systems with single-pane-of-glass management across the HP FlexNetwork architecture.

HP Intelligent Management Center (IMC) unifies physical and virtual network management and helps IT overcome the challenges of administering the new virtual server edge.

The solution provides a unified view into the virtual and physical network infrastructure to help accelerate application and service delivery, simplify operations and boosts network availability.

The HP Intelligent Management Center (IMC) unifies physical and virtual network management and helps IT overcome the challenges of administering increasingly virtualized data centers.

• IMC provides a unified view into the virtual and physical network infrastructures, correlating their relationships.
• IMC helps boost network availability and simplify operations while accelerating the delivery of new applications and services by automating configuration of virtual and physical network infrastructure.
• IMC automates the reconfiguration of network policies that move with virtual machines/workloads as they move within or across the data center.

Datacenter networking solutions

HP provides data center networking solutions that improve service levels, ensure business continuity, enable service agility, and reduce capital & operating costs. HP data center networking solutions are built from the ground up to meet the demanding needs of today's highly-virtualized, large-scale application environments.

With the FlexFabric Network architecture as a blueprint for an interconnect integrated and aligned with servers, storage, software, and power & management in an end-to-end Converged Infrastructure, HP data center networking solutions are built to empower IT to deliver better business outcomes.

HP FlexFabric Networks: Virtualized, wired-one, network fabric

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