By Daniel Montesanto, Global Product Strategy, HP Networking
Hot on the trail of network virtualization
Most of the customers I come across who are interested in “software-defined networks” or OpenFlow technology are either universities doing cutting-edge network research or large service providers looking to wire up mega-scale data centers. I find that the second bunch seems to have one goal in mind: to build networks that can technically do much more than what is possible using “traditional” tools. In this HP Networking blog post, How virtual service networks lay the foundation for an agile, secure data center network, my colleague Ben Van Kerkwyk described HP’s spin on software-defined networks (VSN architecture) and its powerful application in these environments.
While software-defined networking holds the promise of delivering better networking at the ‘”server edge” it turns out that these approaches have interesting application on the client side of the network. Beyond making campus and branch networks more capable it turns out that virtualization can also make them just plain easier to deploy and manage—while helping to meet a new set of client-side challenges at the same time.
The realities of the new enterprise client edge – complexity and risk
Campus/branch networks used to be pretty simple: connect up employees using corporate-provided desktop computers to the company-premise LAN via wired connections. Clunky as they were, most of the time good old device CLIs were all that was needed to get the network up and running.
Along came wireless and all those mobile devices and now folks want fast, flexible access from within and outside the firewall. Coupled with the unique demands that voice and video now place on the network it’s clear that the client edge has fundamentally changed. A static, set-and-forget network did the trick before. Now that model is too complex, constrained and vulnerable to cut it in the new reality.
Virtual Service Networks: the path to a better campus/branch network operating model
In my earlier blog post, What’s the right path to a better network solution across the entire enterprise?, I described how HP’s VSN architecture reflects a fundamentally new approach to building networks across the enterprise.
On the client side of the network, this new architecture means administrators can use controllers and a new set of service-oriented provisioning tools to configure logical network services (VSNs) to define connections between end-users and the applications to which they need access. No tweaking of device-level CLIs needed. Instead, the controllers do the dirty work by translating those logical connections to corresponding device-level settings and pushing them down to the physical network infrastructure.
When users want access, the VSN provides a reliable and consistent way to authenticate them based on centrally managed client directories. Because we have a consolidated control plane, we can consistently enforce security policies as those users go about their business, whether they are accessing the network via wired or wireless connections.
Could this be “goodbye to CLI” in the campus and branch?
It’s refreshing to know that these new technologies have application across the entire network. While an HP VSN architecture can deliver a better data center network it can also make things a lot simpler on the client side.
With virtualized networking for campus and branch networks could we soon be saying “goodbye to CLI?” I’d like to think. Whether you’re a large or small customer managing client-edge networks that would seem like a farewell that’s long overdue.
I’d love to hear from you: Are you ready for this goodbye? What are your branch and campus networking plans?
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