Catching the cloud and virtualization buzz at Interop Fall 2011
By John P. Gray, Global Solution Manager, HP Networking
My ears are ringing this week in NYC with all the buzz around virtualization and cloud at Interop Fall 2011. . . as I'm sure they for many other customers attending the event.
Few will dispute that fact that cloud computing holds tremendous promise of on-demand IT and dramatically lowering IT cost.
Much of the attention around cloud is focused on software and delivery of "X" as a Service (and rightly so). But it is also critical for customers to realize that emerging capabilities place huge demands on today’s physical network infrastructure.
Is your network "cloud ready?"
The cloud fundamentally changes the ways in which applications are deployed, administered and consumed. Cloud computing relies heavily on server virtualization technology which reshapes data center traffic flows, increases bandwidth demands at the server edge and drives requirements for higher performance/scalable switching (1/10 GbE) equipment and more efficient network designs.
Bottom line: the wider adoption of virtualization, increasingly powerful compute platforms and the trend toward cloud computing are forcing data center managers to rethink your current data center architectures.
Changing the rules of networking – with FlexNetwork
This week at Interop Fall 2011 in New York, HP continues to Change the Rules of Networking by delivering on HP FlexNetwork architecture strategy with continuous stream of innovations that addresses network infrastructures challenges head on. Read the news release here.
So what's new in New York? More network innovation.
We are doubling the scaling and resiliency of our flagship HP 12500 core data center switch by enabling up to 4 core switches to operate as a single logical L2/L3 Intelligent Resilient Framework (IRF) switching fabric that scales to support thousands of 10 GbE access ports - delivering the scaling, performance and business continuity requirements that emerging virtualized applications and cloud demand.
With HP, you can have dual-redundant systems in one location, and another pair of fully redundant systems in the other, interconnected over fiber to ensure business continuity and disaster recovery.
These 2- and 4-box virtualized IRF switches designs also overcome legacy STP protocol limitations by seamlessly enabling VM mobility across a L2 domain. For example - HP IRF designs significantly reduce VMware vMotion transit time, doubles VM application performance, and improve disaster recovery by up to 500x.
In fact, Network Test recently publicly tested these HP IRF advantage using our core 2-chassis configuration. Read the test results now.
Raising the bar for Data Center Top-of-Rack 10 GbE switches
Another game-changing innovation announced this week: the new HP 5900AF and 5920AF Enterprise Top-of-Rack(ToR) Switches that supports 64-port 10 GbE or 48-port 10 GbE + 4-port 40 GbE.
The HP 5900AF series delivers high 10GbE port density coupled with ultra low latency (~ 1 microsecond) and leverages the same innovative IRF switch virtualization capabilities that we support in the network core. The 5900AF also delivers I/O convergence by supporting DCB and FCoE in the future.
The HP 5900AF competes head-to-head with the Cisco Nexus 3064 & Nexus 5548 providing a single converged device alternative to the two-box solution offered by Cisco. The converged single device solution offers a simpler, fully (IRF) virtualized 10 GbE access layer design capable of up to 300% higher scaling. It’s optimized for virtualized data center and cloud computing environments.
Managing this new virtual reality – Intelligent Management Center 5.1
It’s clear that managing your ever-increasing virtual environment can be a daunting task.
Managing the assignment and allocation of highly dynamic and mobile virtual workloads across physical and virtual networks has added tremendous complexity to overall data center network operations and administration.
The configuration of servers, virtual machines, physical and virtual networks (vSwitches) is complex and difficult to coordinate across IT staff. Here’s where intelligent management steps in: The HP Intelligent Management Center (IMC) 5.1 helps eliminate service interruptions caused by virtual/physical network configuration errors, reduces administration and troubleshooting by providing unified management of physical and virtual network infrastructure through single pane of glass. IMC 5.1 supports the automatic synchronization of network policies with VMware vMotion to ensure business continuity and data center data recovery best practices.
Learn more while attending Interop
Mike Nielsen: Changing The Rules of Networking with the HP FlexNetwork Architecture
Media-rich collaboration, mobility and cloud services are crushing the legacy network. With over 75% of data center traffic now server-to-server, nearly 25% of enterprise network traffic dominated by video, and the explosion of mobile devices, it’s more important than ever that Enterprises rethink their network architecture. Learn how a HP FlexNetwork Architecture can help simplify, accelerate, and secure enterprises from the virtualized cloud to the virtual workplace
>> Follow the HP Buzz at Interop 2011.
>> Follow us on Twitter: @HP_Networking #Interop #HP
>> Blog: It’s time for Interop Fall 2011. Let the networking buzz begin.
>> News: Bethany Mayer appointed HP Networking SVP & GM to oversee WW operations for HP’s networking business...
>> Read FlexNetwork brochure.
