Under the Hood: 3 innovations make HP Polycom Rich Media Communications solution unique
The question on the table today: What makes the HP Polycom Rich Media Communications solution unique?
To get the discussion started, here I will cover the 3 innovations that deliver superior user experience and make it easy for IT to deploy video.
First, I suggest taking a quick detour on building an understanding of HP FlexNetwork if you are not already familiar. And I encourage you to quickly come up to speed on Polycom RealPresence platform.
3 innovations that make HP Polycom Rich Media Communications solution unique
1. Intelligent Resilient Framework (IRF) for fast convergence with no jitter video experience. This is a switch virtualization technology that enables active-active links. In a typical network, layer-2 redundancy is implemented with spanning tree protocol (STP). To avoid infinite loops, the redundant links are blocked in a STP environment. With IRF, there are no wasted links. Because it is an active-active configuration, IRF can converge at sub 50msec (see video). This means that a user will get far superior video experience with no jitters or frozen video frame in case of link failures.
2. Two-tier architecture for superior low-latency real-time collaboration. Advances in products that deliver high density and high performance has reduced the need for traditional 3-tier architecture. HP 10500 switches can support up to 128-10G ports with 2.6 Tbps switching speeds as well as readily support 100G when you need it. The advanced switching fabric can provide sub 3-microsecond port-to-port latency, even cases across switches in some cases. With this kind of performance and density, FlexNetwork eliminates the need for a third tier and stranded capital. Low-latency, high-performance networks deliver a smooth video experience. For the technologists who want to learn more about IRF, download the white paper or watch this white-boarding video (7:35 min) by Senior Solutions Architect Jeffery Lim.
Traditional 3-Tier architecture HP FlexNetwork 2-Tier architecture
3. 3x3 MIMO 802.11n WLAN for smooth high-bandwidth video collaboration on the go. Most of us are on electronic leash with smart phones capable of doing video conferencing. Tablet sales are going through the roof. I was at Houston airport a few weeks back and happen to see a fellow traveler having a video chat with his business associate on his tablet. HP Multi Service Mobility (MSM) 46x WLAN APs delivers high-bandwidth connectivity for such mobile user, to do video collaboration on the go. The MSMs have the latest technology with 3x3 Multiple In Multiple Out (MIMO) technology with 3-spatial stream that can give up to 450Mbps connectivity on each radio (see video). With a 2-radio AP, the MSM APs can deliver near-gigabit high-bandwidth connectivity for mobile devices.
The HP and Polycom® Rich Media Communications solution combines HP Networking products based on HP FlexNetwork Architecture with Polycom RealPresence Platform that provides a comprehensive software infrastructure for universal video collaboration (see video). The solution is integrated with Microsoft® Lync, which makes it easy to access and use as part of your users’ day-to-day work function.
Stay tuned for two more blogs in my “Under the Hood” series.
Comments or questions on these technology innovations? Please post your thoughts here. And what do you see as other competing technologies? Please share your insights as well.
>>Read more blogs on this topic:
Make it more personable: IRS explores rich media communications
2 new solutions to help you simplify unified communications deployments
>>Download this HP Polycom solution configuration guide for video.
>> Learn more about HP rich media communications solutions.
>> Learn more about HP Networking products and solutions.
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