HP Networking

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By Steve Brar, Product Marketing Manager, HP Networking

Enterprise-ready OpenFlow is here—fully supported and backed by a Tier-one networking vendor offering the broadest portfolio support. This makes it easier for our enterprise customers to implement software-defined networking solutions.

As you may have read in the news today, HP is reiterating its leadership and commitment to developing enterprise-ready software-defined networking and OpenFlow-based solutions. We are announcing the general availability of OpenFlow-enabled software for a broad range of products in our switching portfolio.  The OpenFlow protocol, a key enabler for software-defined networking (SDN), is now available in products that span the HP FlexNetwork Architecture, the industry’s only converged architecture for the campus, branch and data center.

With this announcement, HP has enabled the broadest OpenFlow portfolio support of any Tier-one networking vendor on commercially shipping hardware that includes both fixed-configuration and modular platforms. Specifically, we have enabled OpenFlow support on our 3500, 5400, 6200, 6600, and 8200 series switches.

HP is the leading Tier-one networking vendor with OpenFlow support

While I have read about other networking vendors that are implementing OpenFlow on point products primarily for research projects, HP is rapidly expanding enterprise-ready OpenFlow protocol support across its product line. With more than 10 million ports now OpenFlow-enabled, HP has the largest install base of OpenFlow-ready ports of any networking vendor. We are making it very easy for our customers to get started with this exciting technology.

What do you need to get started? It’s simple: Get your FREE software update downloadable here.

I know I have discussed HP’s long history of leadership in software-defined networking and OpenFlow technology in the past, and with today’s announcement we are taking the next step with commercially available OpenFlow support. We did not get here overnight-- the progress to date has been made due to the hard-work and ingenuity of our HP R&D team as well as collaboration on the OpenFlow standard between HP and members of the Open Networking Foundation, including the academic community.

Timeline: HP’s OpenFlow technology leadership

I am a strong believer in OpenFlow technology and the potential it has for extending virtualization to networking infrastructure. I know that HP will continue to be an innovator in the field of software-defined networking with a commitment to deliver OpenFlow-based solutions for enterprise customers. By extending OpenFlow support across the HP FlexNetwork Architecture, we will be able to find new ways to solve the challenges of the future.

I hope everyone has had a chance to go out and download the OpenFlow firmware available online here. Simply search for your supported product.

Learn more

For more information about SDN and OpenFlow, here are some must-reads:

• Virtualized Networking, enabled by OpenFlow business whitepaper
• Does SDN represent the evolution of networking? By Alvaro Retana, Distinguished Technologist, Advanced Technology Group, HP Networking
• Take control of the network: OpenFlow – a new tool for building and deploying enterprise networks By Dan Montesanto, HP Networking Strategy and Business Planning
• Virtual Service Networks: a path to simpler, more secure enterprise campus and branch networks By Dan Montesanto, HP Networking Strategy and Business Planning

>> Read my blog post: OpenFlow in the wild! Software-defined networking fully implemented and deployed with HP Networking

>> Read more: OpenFlow enables virtual networking

>> Learn more about HP Networking products and solutions.

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