ProCurve Networking by HP brings experienced innovation across wired and
wireless LAN and WAN networking products, services and solutions. Quality and
reliability backed by an industry leader ensure customers get the most from their
network investments. HP ProCurve has gained the number-two spot in Ethernet
switching and increased their product portfolio in the areas of mobility, security
and convergence catapulting it to the second largest enterprise network
infrastructure company; second only to Cisco.
HP ProCurve’s network solutions use a unified infrastructure
approach to network architecture, and they are built to support:
•Security
•Mobility
•Convergence
These three factors – security, mobility and convergence – necessitate a new set
of capabilities for enterprise networking customers. Ubiquitous access implies that
the network infrastructure must be inherently secure and able to be cost-effectively
managed in this secure mode.
HP ProCurve’s strategy is to have an infrastructure that supports customer
demands. For instance, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a big part of the
convergence boom, and our Adaptive EDGE Architecture infrastructure can be used
with any phone product and VoIP service. In addition to standards leadership,
ProCurve also invests in software and management tools that support convergence.
The intelligent edge strategy takes the approach that a network needs to understand
what kind of device is connecting to it and behave accordingly.
For example, if it’s a phone for VoIP, the network needs to automatically provide QoS.
Through ProCurve Manager and Identity Driven Management software, ProCurve provide
easy-to-use management tools to make it simple to manage and ultimately get the most
from converged networks.
Security must be assured at traditional points such as WAN access and WLAN access,
and it also must be consistently deployed at wired points throughout the network.
Similarly, mobility must be an easily accommodated overlay to the network so that
everything from convenience mobility to mission-critical comprehensive mobility is
equally easy to deploy.
Finally, all of these constructs must support the diversity of traffic that IP
Networks will be dealing with, including voice, video, storage, bulk data and industrial
automation. The only way yet introduced to achieve these lofty objectives in a
cost-effective manner is ProCurve’s Adaptive EDGE Architecture.
ProCurve offers an unparalleled value proposition, providing advanced technology at
affordable prices and delivering industry standards-based solutions, reduced complexity
and industry-leading warranties. The ProCurve Networking Adaptive EDGE Architecture
delivers comprehensive solutions to deliver secure, mobile, converged networks.
What is Unified infrastructure approach to network architecture and why is it important
to our customers?
This approach, known as ProCurve’s Networking Adaptive Edge Architecture relates to the
design, deployment, and management of secure, mobile, multi-service networks providing
control to the edge of the network.
As information and resources become more public, more converged and more mobile,
enterprises must understand and support new security methods, advanced applications and
new connection management solutions for their existing local area networks (LANs). In
addition, with data volumes increasing, technologies becoming more complex and new
constituencies – employees, partners and customers – requiring varying levels of
access and service, a fully integrated and adaptive network is necessary.
Companies must transition their infrastructure to facilitate a converged, mobile,
highly secure network. These three driving forces are related, interactive and
interdependent. As a result, enterprises need a dynamic, intelligent infrastructure
that is able to fully integrate and leverage all three. Unfortunately, traditional
network design strategies have placed all network intelligence and decision-making
abilities in the core devices. These devices – typically core routing switches – have
acted as the brains, brawn and traffic police for the entire network. They are asked to
handle all client and user identification, access and security enforcement as well as
bandwidth and quality of service (QoS) allocation.
With all intelligence residing at the network core, the network edge has been unable
to assist in the identification, authentication, traffic prioritization and service
allocation tasks. The hubs and switches located at the network edge are generally
unintelligent and only capable of passing packets to the core devices.
This traditional, core-centric model of network design creates several roadblocks
to implementing a secure, mobile, multi-service network. Challenges associated with
network performance, scalability, security and QoS are only the beginning; overall
business efficiency suffers as well.
HP ProCurve’s approach to network design is to move intelligence to the network EDGE.
An alternative to the traditional network design model is to extend critical
intelligence and functionality beyond the core devices and fully integrate the
infrastructure. Pioneered by ProCurve, this new architectural approach places
intelligence at the edge of the network where users connect, enabling command from the
center with control to the edge.
With intelligence at the edge – using intelligent edge devices – security is enhanced,
traffic prioritization is improved and users can connect anytime, anywhere with a
singular view of the network. With command from the center – using network management
software with dynamic policy control and modules for security, mobility and convergence
– companies have centralized control of network configuration, making it easier to
implement new applications and support new traffic types across the enterprise. Not
only does this approach enable companies to improve security, enable mobility and
capitalize on new technologies, it also helps reduce costs and safeguard IT
investments.
The ProCurve Adaptive EDGE Architecture is the only network design approach that
recognizes the necessary migration of intelligence and functionality to the network
edge and gives companies a cost-effective, easy-to-manage solution to achieve command
from the center with control to the edge. The architecture enables organizations to
preserve networking investments while readying their networks to support future
business needs and priorities. With the Adaptive EDGE Architecture, a company's
network can truly become an anywhere, anytime resource.
Security:
HP ProCurve solutions provide for security policies, detection, and management for every kind of user on your network:
- Efficient core management policies define security only when and where it’s needed
- Appropriate network edge control and functionality ensures user productivity without unreasonable complexity
- Cost-effective investment requirements safeguard scalability for future requirements
ProCurve_Identity_Driven_Manager_2.0 is a plug-in to ProCurve Manager Plus that dynamically applies user access policies that enable organizations to facilitate and control their users' access to critical online applications and resources — all the while protecting confidential personal and business information from unauthorized users. It applies security, access, and performance settings to network infrastructure devices based on user, device, location, time, and client system state. Access and rights are granted automatically to the approved users, no matter when or from where they connect to the network.
Identity Driven Manager allows administrators to define and manage policies from a central location, eliminating the need to configure each network element separately. By automatically managing intelligent network access in this way, Identity Driven Manager gives network administrators more control over their networks, more productivity from their IT staff, and more adaptability in an increasingly competitive business environment.
Mobility:
Secure, robust, persistent wired and wireless connectivity—anytime, anywhere
- Reliable connectivity whether wired or wireless, local or remote
- Risk-free, enterprise-class security
- Flexibility and choice of deployment approach
- Ease of use and maintenance
- Accommodation of changes and growth
- Interoperable and leverages existing infrastructure
ProCurve_Mobility_Manager_1.0, a plug-in module for the ProCurve Manager Plus platform, provides a simple yet powerful management tool to centrally configure, update, monitor, and troubleshoot ProCurve access points. Advanced capabilities include rogue device detection, group-based access point configuration and firmware updates, and customizable quick-view screens. With Mobility Manager 1.0 and ProCurve Manager Plus, network administrators can easily master a dynamic network with an affordable, unified, industry-leading network management solution for ProCurve business networks.
Convergence:
HP ProCurve solutions provide converged network communications through single Ethernet/IP infrastructure. It offers:
- Cost effective voice, video and data applications over a simplified network infrastructure design
- Robust reliability with open standards technology
- Increased productivity through unified approach to application deployment
- Secure deployment of existing and emerging applications
For details of HP ProCurve Networking products, solutions, case studies and more, please click here:
|
