HP NG1 Bookmarked2

HP Solutions Series
HP FlexNetwork
Architecture Guide
Simplicity and performance
for tomorrow’s networks
Teresa Stover
HP FlexNetwork Architecture Guide
Simplicity and performance for tomorrow’s networks
© 2013 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
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HP Press
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Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction to HP Networking....................................1

The HP Networking tradition...............................................................1
HP Networking here and now..............................................................2
Chapter 2 Networking trends and solutions..............................5

Harnessing innovation for business advantage................................6
Cloud computing............................................................................... 6
Mobility.............................................................................................. 7
Rich media and unified communications
and collaboration......................................................................... 7
The HP Networking solutions portfolio..............................................8
Open.................................................................................................... 9
Scalable.............................................................................................. 9
Secure............................................................................................... 10
Agile.................................................................................................. 11
Consistent........................................................................................ 11
Chapter 3 Building on an HP Networking foundation..... 13

Building agility on an HP infrastructure.......................................... 14
Adapting networks to changing applications............................ 15
Segmenting the network into
functional building blocks........................................................ 16
Simplifying networks with switch
virtualization technologies...................................................... 18
Converging data center networks with HP FlexFabric................... 20
Unifying campus networks with HP FlexCampus........................... 21
Connecting branch networks with HP FlexBranch......................... 23
Consolidating branch infrastructure........................................... 24
Simplifying secure WAN connectivity......................................... 25
Orchestrating your network with
HP FlexManagement...................................................................... 26
Converging management from branch to data center............. 27
Unifying and integrating wired and wireless networks........... 27
Protecting your IT infrastructure from security threats............... 27
Interoperability through HP AllianceOne........................................ 29
Chapter 4 Cloud computing and virtualization..................... 33

Implementing a cloud computing infrastructure........................... 34
Automating virtualized data center management........................ 35
Implementing software-defined networking............................ 36
Simplifying data center interconnection.................................... 38
Virtualizing multi-tenancy in a cloud-ready data center......... 39
Automating virtual network management................................ 39
Scaling the virtual network.......................................................... 40
Securing the virtual environment.................................................... 41
Chapter 5 Mobility.......................................................................................... 43
Creating flexible wireless networks................................................. 44
Managing unified wired and wireless
security and policy..................................................................... 45
Optimizing wireless performance and
client density support............................................................... 46
Planning WLAN deployment......................................................... 47
Managing your BYOD solution.......................................................... 48
Controlling network access.......................................................... 48
Managing and securing mobile devices and users................... 48
vi Contents
Chapter 6 Rich media and UC&C......................................................... 51

Embracing rich media collaboration tools...................................... 51
Enabling rich media through HP FlexNetwork............................... 53
Implementing UC&C........................................................................... 54
Chapter 7 Key takeaways......................................................................... 55
Chapter 8 Resources and next steps.............................................. 57

Network infrastructure experts....................................................... 57
Services............................................................................................ 57
HP ExpertOne career certifications for IT professionals......... 58
More information................................................................................ 59
Chapter 1
Introduction to
HP Networking
In this chapter
99HP Networking tradition

99History of networking innovation
99HP Networking here and now
N etworking has long been an integral part of an enterprise’s infrastruc-

ture. However, only recently has networking become an area of tremendous
innovation, much like the development of the Internet. This new wave of net-
work innovation focuses on the orchestration of services involving cloud com-
puting, virtualization, mobility and bring your own device (BYOD), rich media,
and unified communications and collaboration (UC&C).
HP has been a central innovator in this new wave of enterprise networking,

which focuses on simplicity in architecture and orchestration of services, with
open, standards-based products and solutions.
The HP Networking tradition

In 1938, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard started the Hewlett-Packard Company,
known today as simply HP. Throughout its long history, HP has distinguished
itself as one of the most innovative and accomplished companies in the IT
industry. From electronic test instruments and calculators to large and small
computer systems, printers, and networking technologies, HP has led the
way.
2 Chapter 1: Introduction to HP Networking
In the early 1980s, HP opened the doors on its networking business in

Roseville, California. The HP Networking division focused on providing
advanced, competitive, and timely technology to give its customers reliable
and compelling value.
In 2010, HP acquired long-time networking innovator 3Com, solidifying HP’s

number two position in the Ethernet switch market. Founded by Ethernet co-
inventor Bob Metcalfe in 1979, 3Com was instrumental in the development
and standards acceptance of such crucial technologies as Ethernet, TCP/IP,
and UNIX.
With the combined portfolio of HP and 3Com, along with a rich history of
innovation (see the inside back cover for the HP networking timeline), HP now
offers a comprehensive core-to-edge portfolio of networking solutions for
the data center, campus, and branch.
HP Networking here and now

To help organizations respond to current and future networking trends and
challenges and simplify the networking environment, HP Networking offers
innovations in network design, performance, and management through a
robust portfolio of networking solutions, products, and services.
Through years of technology innovations and by delivering compelling busi-

ness value, HP Networking has experienced strong revenue growth. Since
2004, HP Networking has secured the number two global market share posi-
tion for total port shipments of Ethernet switches.
In fact, HP has continued to deliver innovative technology and exceed the

overall market share growth. Gartner, Inc. recognized HP as one of just three
leaders in its 2012 report, “Magic Quadrant for the Wired and Wireless LAN
Access Infrastructure.” In this report, Gartner evaluates networking vendors
based on the completeness of vision and the ability to execute within the
enterprise space.1
HP FlexNetwork Architecture Guide 3

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product, or service depicted in its research
publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors
with the highest ratings. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of
Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of
fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this
research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular
purpose.
In this book, you will get an overview of the HP FlexNetwork architecture and
portfolio with a focus on three key technology challenges facing organiza-
tions today:
zz Cloud computing, including virtualization
zz Mobility
zz Rich media collaboration
Reference
1 Zimmerman, Tim, and Mark Fabbi. “Magic Quadrant for the Wired and Wireless
LAN Access Infrastructure,” Gartner, Inc., June 13, 2012. www.gartner.com/
DisplayDocument?doc_cd=234282
Chapter 2
Networking trends
and solutions
In this chapter
99Current technology trends

99HP networking solutions to challenges
99Characteristics of HP networking solutions
T echnology innovations of recent years are driving unprecedented

change. Cloud computing, virtualization, mobility, and rich media communi-
cations and collaboration tools are reinventing how businesses and people
work. Even more dramatic changes are on the horizon.
Organizations that can harness these innovations are well positioned to

drive business advantage and capture rewarding opportunities in the global
marketplace.
Many businesses, however, continue to limp along with legacy networks that
cannot keep up with today’s technology challenges. In addition, these legacy
networks can actually create problems that hold enterprises back and cause
them to risk missing the next wave of opportunity—something no business
can afford. When legacy networks are pushed to the limit, they become frag-
ile, complex, difficult to manage, vulnerable to security threats, and expen-
sive to maintain.
To help organizations thrive and forge ahead with new opportunities, HP

Networking offers a portfolio of solutions that can be tailored to specific
customer requirements. With HP open, standards-based solutions, you can
smoothly migrate from your current environment to state-of-the-art.
6 Chapter 2: Networking trends and solutions
Harnessing innovation for business advantage

Enterprises and businesses of all sizes need a network that scales in con-
nectivity, functionality, and capacity, and that supports wired and wireless
infrastructures. They need high performance from the data center or cloud
to deliver applications to the users, no matter where those users are or which
devices they are connecting with (see Figure 2-1).

Figure 2-1 Networking trends, including cloud computing and mobile
devices
Cloud computing
The revolution of cloud computing, anything as a service (XaaS), and desktop
virtualization have provided businesses and their customers with unprec-
edented flexibility and cost efficiencies. Business applications and services,
including content, collaboration, and even networking infrastructure, are
increasingly being delivered from private, public, and hybrid clouds.
The network plays an all-important role in delivering secure and reliable cloud
services to all users. The cloud engenders a whole new set of technology
requirements across servers, storage, and networking domains. Geographic
dispersion of computing and storage environments demands greater resil-
iency, capacity, and control. The network must support the constantly increas-
ing bandwidth demands to support high performance and workload flexibility
associated with virtualization and cloud computing, while ensuring security
and maximizing energy efficiency.
Mobility
The consumerization of IT is driving an ever-increasing number of mobile
devices, such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets deployed throughout the
workplace, with each generation of device having more powerful processors
than before. Users expect instant access to the network and cloud-based
applications.
Therefore, IT departments are under constant pressure to support a grow-

ing assortment of mobile devices and applications. They need to maintain
an excellent user experience with simplified network access, while consis-
tently enforcing and strengthening security policies across wired and wireless
networks.
Rich media and unified communications and collaboration

Interactive video and voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), as well as other col-
laborative desktop sharing technologies, are essential to effective business
communications, and will only continue to grow in their use and adoption
rates.
Supporting rich media collaboration, however, creates complexity and risk

in the network. Increasing volumes of voice and multimedia traffic introduce
new challenges, such as the need for higher bandwidth, improved reliability,
and low latency. The IT department must design its network to enable seam-
less interoperability and provide users with a secure and high-quality UC&C
experience.
The HP Networking solutions portfolio

Networking is the fabric of business: connecting employees, customers, and
partners to vital applications. HP simplifies, integrates, and automates net-
working so that businesses can really focus on business. The HP FlexNetwork
architecture delivers simplicity with a unified and consistent standards-based
architecture. Services are provided from applications in the corporate data
center or the cloud to the user at headquarters or at a branch, using wired
or wireless devices. HP FlexNetwork architecture is based on HP Converged
Infrastructure, seamlessly connecting servers, storage, applications, and
users (see Figure 2-2).
Furthermore, Virtual Application Networks (VAN) automate network opera-

tions using HP’s industry-leading software-defined network (SDN) technol-
ogy to deliver the agility required for business to create or change cloud
functionality in minutes, rather than months.
With HP FlexNetwork architecture, HP is committed to providing value and

simplicity by delivering HP networking solutions that are:
zz Open
zz Scalable
zz Secure
zz Agile
zz Consistent

Figure 2-2 HP FlexNetwork architecture
Open
Businesses are no longer forced to settle for networks based on proprietary
protocols that are difficult to manage and expensive to maintain. Because of
the challenging global economy, businesses of all sizes are seeking innova-
tive new ways to limit and control investments in network infrastructure.
According to Gartner research, organizations are rapidly embracing a multi-
vendor, best-of-breed approach to building enterprise networks.1 In fact, add-
ing a second network vendor can significantly reduce capital costs, but if not
done properly, it can drive up operating costs due to interoperability issues
and increased management complexity. For these reasons, it is important to
choose a network vendor committed to open protocols, industry standards,
interoperability, and reduced complexity while providing functional and fea-
ture-rich solutions.
Open, industry-standard implementations mitigate the risk and cost of change

when the network needs to adapt to new business requirements, giving cus-
tomers the flexibility to leverage a variety of best-in-class vendor solutions.
The HP AllianceOne partner program takes open protocols and interoperability

a significant step forward. This program puts complementary partner prod-
ucts through a rigorous certification process to ensure interoperability and
effectiveness. This means whether you are deploying UC&C from Microsoft,
Avaya, or Aastra; WAN optimization from Riverbed; virtualization from Citrix
or VMWare; or mobility solutions from AeroScout, AirTight Networks, or
Ekahau, you know that HP stands behind these and many more AllianceOne
partner offerings.
With an open, standards-based solution, enterprises can migrate from legacy

architectures to advanced architectures to enable them to meet modern busi-
ness challenges.
Scalable
Large enterprises often have sophisticated needs in network connectivity
and capabilities in some locations, but require only basic connectivity in other
locations. Therefore, a one-size-fits-all solution throughout the enterprise
typically does not fit very well at all. They pay for functionality they do not
need and often do not achieve the scale they require.
By contrast, HP FlexNetwork architecture scales on three dimensions: secu-

rity, agility, and consistency. In addition, HP offers network solutions for large
enterprise, midsized, and small businesses that scale from:
zz The most basic functionality to the most feature-rich
zz Limited connectivity to multi-site large-scale connectivity
zz Megabit to terabit capacity
This flexibility lowers costs in bigger networks that require large numbers
of access switches with basic functionality, while smaller networks can use
feature-rich functionality to create a competitive advantage. Businesses can
continue to scale up in features, port count, and capacity without sacrificing
performance or wasting capital along the way.
Secure
The sophistication of attacks on operating system and application vulnerabilities
continues to rise. One seemingly small misstep can result in the theft of private
customer data, tarnish the corporate brand, and risk substantial regulatory
penalties and fines. Enterprises must secure more applications and operating
systems than ever before, not only within the data center and cloud, but also
across the entire network and even with individual users’ personal devices.
HP FlexNetwork architecture gives customers a consistent approach to secur-

ing all segments of the network: data center, campus, and branch. In the data
center, the network security architecture addresses the needs of physical and
virtual compute platforms, as well as public and private clouds.
In the campus and branch, HP FlexNetwork architecture delivers perimeter

security and interior protection. Network threats are mitigated with user
identity and network access controls. Security is assured from the data center
to the edge, through deep packet inspection of network traffic and compre-
hensive protection of the physical, virtual, and cloud infrastructure.
HP network security is based on industry-leading research from HP DVLabs.

HP DVLabs automatically delivers Digital Vaccine filters to customers without
requiring time-consuming human interaction.
In an SDN environment, the HP Sentinel Security Application stops threats

before they cause damage. HP Sentinel can be used in any network environ-
ment in which security is a concern, including the data center and cloud com-
puting environments.
HP FlexNetwork architecture minimizes downtime and disruption, and eases

management of security threats from the user to the data center and cloud.
Agile
With open standard protocols, businesses expand their solution choices.
Along with streamlined network management and orchestration tools, this
creates business agility that ultimately can lower IT costs.
An intelligent network that is more agile, flexible, and “smart” can support
new applications and services in a way that is responsive to network demands
by performing and adjusting to future business needs.
With software-defined networking (SDN), IT can orchestrate network services

and automate control of the network according to high-level policies, rather
than low-level network device configurations. By automating manual con-
figuration tasks across hardware, software, and applications, and from data
center to desktop through a single control plane, IT resources can be opti-
mized to reduce costs and increase competitiveness.
Through the VAN framework using the OpenFlow protocol, HP delivers SDN
solutions in which the network can accommodate the challenge of rapid
growth in the number of users, as well as with the number and types of
devices that must be supported.
Consistent
Finally, with HP FlexNetwork architecture, IT ends “swivel-chair management,”
in which staff is forced to use an array of tools to manage the entire network.
Instead, with the HP FlexManagement solution, a single-pane-of-glass man-

agement application facilitates a common operating environment that can be
used across all modular network building blocks: data center, campus, and
branch. With the same tool, IT can manage the breadth of HP Networking
products and protocols, as well as more than 6,000 network devices from
more than 220 manufacturers, including about 1,400 network resources from
Cisco.2 When enterprises migrate to HP FlexNetwork architecture, they have a
single control point for their HP and legacy networks.
Industry standards-based technologies enable consistent management and

administration, delivering application services in minutes rather than in days.
Traditional three-tiered network architectures (consisting of the core, dis-

tribution/aggregation, and access layers) are giving way to simpler one-
and two-tiered designs that are optimized for performance and rich media.
Simplifying data center and campus networks in this way increases perfor-
mance and resiliency, along with reducing latency and complexity. The result
is a significant reduction in capital and ongoing operational costs.
In fact, according to an International Data Corporation (IDC) white paper

sponsored by HP, businesses that deployed HP Networking solutions reduced
networking costs by 66 percent and achieved an average annual benefit of
$62,883 per 100 users.3
References
1 Fabbi, Mark, and Debra Curtis. “The Disaggregation of the Enterprise Network,”
Gartner Foundational, November 22, 2011. www.gartner.com/technology/reprints.
do?id=1-18437T1&ct=111129&st=sb
2 HP. “Extend and Simplify the Management of your Heterogeneous Network

Environment,” April 2012, Page 4. http://h17007.www1.hp.com/docs/van/API_
WhitePaper.pdf
3 IDC White Paper, sponsored by HP, “ROI of a Complete Networking Portfolio:

Delivering Value from the Network Edge to the Core,” September 2011.
http://h41112.www4.hp.com/rfg_files/idc.pdf
Chapter 3
Building on an
HP Networking foundation
In this chapter
99Optimized infrastructure with HP FlexNetwork

99Data center networks with HP FlexFabric
99Campus networks with HP FlexCampus
99Branch networks with HP FlexBranch
99Streamlined management with HP FlexManagement and IMC
99Interoperability with AllianceOne partners
W ith HP FlexNetwork architecture, your enterprise can now modular-

ize its networks in a way that provides flexibility. You can design networks
to meet your unique requirements while establishing consistency across the
data center, corporate campus, and branch offices.
This networking model ensures sufficient bandwidth and low enough latency
between server connections and users to support the new demands on net-
works in a way that is not viable for legacy client-server network architectures.
In this chapter, you will learn about the advantages of using the HP FlexNetwork
architecture framework to build your network. You will learn the building
blocks of this architecture, which includes the HP FlexFabric data center solu-
tion, HP FlexCampus campus networks solution, and HP FlexBranch branch
networks solution. You will also learn about network management through
14 Chapter 3: Building on an HP Networking foundation
HP FlexManagement and HP Intelligent Management Center (HP IMC), and get

an introduction to the AllianceOne partners that provide interoperability with
thousands of products from hundreds of vendors.
Building agility on an HP infrastructure

Legacy three-tier networks are at a breaking point as new applications and
key technology trends push these overly complex networks beyond their
operational limits.
HP FlexNetwork architecture, a cornerstone of HP Converged Infrastructure

(see Figure 3-1), is an open, standards-based modular network framework
that is scalable for large enterprise, midsized, and small businesses.

Figure 3-1 HP Converged Infrastructure
HP Converged Infrastructure
HP FlexNetwork Architecture is a key underpinning of the larger HP Converged
Infrastructure solutions that make the data center simpler, more flexible, more
efficient, and less expensive to operate.
HP Converged Infrastructure is achieved through a consolidation of manage-
ment tools, policies, and processes that brings together all server, storage, and
networking resources.
This model enables you to transform yesterday’s rigid technology silos into
adaptive pools of resources that can be shared by all deployed applications and
managed as a service. HP Converged Infrastructure helps IT organizations move
from a products-centric approach to a services-centric approach.
In this services-centric approach, you easily converge multiple network infra-
structure technologies—LAN, WAN, wireless, UC&C, and security—that can be
managed remotely. Such streamlining accelerates the ability to deliver efficient
and secure business services to its users.
Learn more at www.hp.com/convergedinfrastructure.
HP FlexNetwork architecture helps enterprises build cost-effective and effi-

cient network architectures, while taking advantage of cloud computing, vir-
tualization, and software-defined networking. Principles of HP FlexNetwork
architecture include adapting networks to changing applications, modulariz-
ing the network into functional building blocks, and simplifying networks with
switch virtualization technologies.
Adapting networks to changing applications

Cloud computing is yet another key trend that makes heavy use of server vir-
tualization, thereby reshaping data center traffic flows, introducing new secu-
rity challenges, and increasing bandwidth demands at the network edge. It’s
widely accepted that soon more than 80 percent of traffic in the data center’s
local-area network (LAN) will be between servers.
As business volumes rise, traffic levels are exploding. Virtualization has taken
root across businesses of all sizes. According to Gartner, by 2016, 71 percent
of server workloads will be virtualized, from 46 percent in 2011.1 Traffic within
the server rack is expected to grow by 25 times. Business workers, accus-
tomed to new technology at home, have quickly acclimated to a rich-media
experience and are rapidly adopting video and interactive collaboration tools.
Other research predicts that by 2013, more than 25 percent of the informa-
tion that workers see in a day will be rich media dominated by pictures, video,
or audio. New video applications push network capacity needs by 4 to 10
times above current levels.
In addition to the higher bandwidth requirements of these new rich-media

applications, voice and video traffic must now travel in IP packets over the
same network alongside standard data traffic. The time-critical nature of this
multimedia traffic poses new challenges on the network in terms of latency,
QoS, and reliability. A VoIP conversation can have brilliant audio quality, pro-
vided the network is ready.
Within the enterprise, the preferred way to connect to the network will soon
be via a wireless LAN (WLAN or Wi-Fi), rather than wired access ports. Workers
need to access applications and content from anywhere to stay productive,
and that means applications must be delivered seamlessly from virtual data
centers to virtual workplaces.
Driving strong demand for WLAN technology are performance improvements,

convenience, cost reductions, and BYOD trends requiring higher throughput
and client densities. Further driving overall demand are innovations to tradi-
tional WLAN challenges, such as seamless roaming, reliability, security, and
manageability.
Segmenting the network into functional building blocks

No longer can the network exist as a single, homogenous entity. Instead, net-
works must be designed by creating modular building blocks that can then
directly meet the requirements of the specific application or business.
By modularizing their networks, businesses achieve more flexibility by allow-

ing them to choose best-in-class solutions that fit their needs, rather than
being locked into a one-size-fits-all solution.
By using standard protocols at the boundaries, businesses can ensure interop-

erability across their network infrastructure. Such protocols also increase
agility and scale and deliver significant cost savings while allowing IT to better
align business initiatives with the underlying network requirements.
HP FlexNetwork architecture allows IT administrators to manage thousands

of HP and non-HP network resources from hundreds of vendors through a
single-pane-of-glass management application: the IMC. As shown in Figure
3-2, enterprises can segment their networks into the four interrelated modu-
lar building blocks of HP FlexNetwork architecture:
zz The HP FlexFabric solution converges and secures the data center net-
work with compute and storage in the physical and virtual worlds.
zz The HP FlexCampus solution unifies wired and wireless networks to

deliver rich media-optimized, secure, identity-based access.
zz The HP FlexBranch solution converges network functionality and services

for simplicity in the branch office.
zz The HP FlexManagement solution converges network management and

orchestration.
Figure 3-2 The modular network building blocks
This makes HP FlexNetwork architecture ideal to support the move to the

cloud. Enterprises deploying private clouds must implement flatter, simpler
data center networks to support the bandwidth-intensive, delay-sensitive,
server-to-server virtual machine and workload traffic flows that are associ-
ated with cloud computing. They must also be able to administer and secure
virtual resources, and orchestrate on-demand services. HP FlexNetwork
architecture helps enterprises securely deploy and centrally orchestrate col-
laboration, video, cloud, and mobile-optimized architectures that scale from
the data center to the network edge.
Simplifying networks with switch virtualization technologies

HP FlexNetwork architecture leverages switch virtualization technologies
that allow enterprises to dramatically simplify the design and operations of
their data center, campus, and branch office Ethernet networks. HP switch
virtualization technologies essentially “flatten” data center and campus net-
work architectures, helping to eliminate the need for a dedicated aggrega-
tion layer. Switch virtualization provides direct, higher capacity connections
between users and network resources. It also allows enterprises to overcome
the limitations of legacy design and inefficient protocols by delivering new
levels of network performance and resiliency.
HP switch virtualization technologies extend the performance and scalability

benefits of modular, chassis-based switches to both modular and stackable
switches. No longer do businesses need to compromise enterprise capabili-
ties for the convenience and cost of a stackable switch.
HP switch virtualization technologies, including HP Intelligent Resilient

Framework (IRF), HP Mesh Technology, and HP Stacking Technology, are
included in a variety of HP data center, campus, and branch office switches.
With HP switch virtualization technologies, one switch within a domain or

stack operates as the primary switch. The associated switches provide Layer
2 and Layer 3 functionality for directly connected users. Optimal routes are
calculated based on the entire logical domain, rather than the individual
switches that the domain represents.
All switches in a stack or domain are managed as a single entity using one IP
address by the primary managing logical switch. If the primary switch fails,
a new switch is instantly selected, which prevents service interruption and
helps ensure highly reliable application and network continuity.
Benefits of using HP switch virtualization technologies

zz Simplifies the network design―Simplifying the network from three
tiers to two tiers with HP switch virtualization results in higher perfor-
mance with less complexity. Eliminating network layers reduces the
latency that is inherent in multi-tier networks, enabling a better user
experience, whether for voice, video, or other highly sensitive and
demanding applications. With fewer network devices to purchase and
manage, capital and operational expenses are lower.
zz Provides ease of management―You no longer need to connect,

configure, and manage switches individually. HP switch virtualization
creates a single logical switch by grouping several physical switches
into a stack or domain with a single IP address. You can then control
multiple active switches via a single management interface, simplify-
ing configuration and operations.
zz Allows for growing capacity―Enterprises can add capacity on a pay-

as-you-grow basis by adding switches to the stack. Businesses can
achieve scalable performance necessary for today’s intensive appli-
cations, whether it is virtualized workload mobility in the data center
or video-on-demand at the branch office. Acquisition costs are lower,
because you buy only the capacity you need and there is no compro-
mise on scalability as needs grow.
zz Enables higher performance―While Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)

can waste half (or more) of the network bandwidth for resiliency, with
HP switch virtualization technologies, you can use all of the band-
width you are paying for. HP switch virtualization technologies keep
all links active and enable high-bandwidth connectivity throughout
the switching plane. This is true even for multicast data, often a major
consumer of network bandwidth.
zz Delivers greater resiliency―HP switch virtualization technologies

deliver faster failover than STP and its relatives, which means higher
availability. When a link or switch failure occurs, IRF can recover and
reconverge the network in less than 50 milliseconds. Likewise, HP
switches with Mesh Technology can reconverge the network with less
than 5 milliseconds of latency, representing up to 76 percent lower
stacking latency than competitive products.2
Implementing HP FlexNetwork architecture makes good business sense in

terms of capital and operating costs. HP Networking helped medium-to-large
businesses reduce their total cost of networking by 66 percent and achieve
a 466 percent return on investment, a three-year (discounted) benefit of
$147,250 per 100 users, and an 8.4 month payback period.3 Learn more about
HP FlexNetwork architecture at www.hp.com/networking/flexnetwork.
Converging data center networks with HP FlexFabric

The HP FlexFabric solution, a key building block of HP FlexNetwork archi-
tecture, converges and secures the data center network with compute and
storage, which enables the HP Converged Infrastructure with shared pools of
resources.
The HP FlexFabric solution is the only network solution that delivers optimized
one- and two-tier networks, as well as integration with legacy three-tier net-
works. The result is simplified and scalable switching, network security, and
network services.
The HP FlexFabric solution supports modular and top-of-rack switches for core
and access layers with switching speeds ranging from 1 gigabit Ethernet (GbE)
to 10 GbE and 40 GbE. It also leverages and supports the industry’s leading
blade servers interconnect module, the HP Virtual Connect technology along
with blade switches.
You can flatten your organization’s network from the legacy three-tier
architectures to an optimized two-tier or single-tier network using the HP
FlexFabric switching solution. By eliminating the need for an aggregation
layer, you improve the agility and performance of data center networks,
simplify virtual machine (VM) mobility, enable virtual domain security, and
improve performance of federating applications.
Eliminating the aggregation layer frees up stranded capital and reduces net-
work elements by up to 85 percent, saving more than $180,000 per rack in
networking equipment costs. An IDC report estimates that companies spend
more than $1 billion annually on the aggregation layer of the data center
network, and half the ports in a legacy three-tier network are used to inter-
connect switches.4 The three-tier architecture adds latency, which impedes
performance especially in environments where server-to-server or VM-to-VM

traffic dominates. In addition to saving on capital expenses, a flatter network
means fewer devices to power, cool, and manage, resulting in lower cost of
ownership and lower operating costs.
To support diverse customer requirements, HP FlexFabric supports one-tier

and two-tier network designs in addition to the legacy three-tier solutions. The
optimized three-tier solution supports a legacy core with an aggregation layer.
The simplified two-tier solution reduces complexity with aggregation on the HP
Server Edge. The one-tier system is ideal for cloud computing.
If you are setting up cloud computing and virtualization in your data center,
you can use the HP VAN to quickly transform a physical enterprise network
into an applicable-aware virtual network. Within this, you can use OpenFlow-
enabled switches to make the network programmable to support SDN.
Learn more about HP VAN and SDN in the section, “Automating virtualized data
center management,” in “Chapter 4: Cloud computing and virtualization.”
With the HP FlexFabric solution, organizations can segment and customize

their networks for different functional needs. The use of industry-standard
protocols and protocol implementations at the boundaries of these networks
ensures interoperability among these segments.
Learn more about HP FlexFabric networks at www.hp.com/networking/

flexfabric.
Unifying campus networks with HP FlexCampus

Campus networks must evolve to support user requirements for mobile,
BYOD, interactive, and on-demand rich media applications and services, such
as unified communications (UC) from Microsoft Lync or video streaming from
Polycom. Managing identity and security must be at the forefront and backed
by industry-leading vulnerability research. And campus networks must be
unified to easily support the delivery of applications and services to wired and
mobile workers alike.
The HP FlexCampus solution delivers a unified user experience, simplifies

network architecture and management, and ensures performance and agility
at the network edge to meet the business challenges of today and tomor-
row. Enterprises deploying an HP FlexCampus solution gain a secure, flexible,
and agile campus LAN infrastructure that can deliver interactive voice, video,
and other demanding applications, whether hosted in a corporate data center
or the cloud, to wired and wireless users anywhere on the corporate campus
(see Figure 3-3).

Figure 3-3 The HP FlexCampus solution for a secure and flexible campus LAN
The HP FlexCampus solution is based on a high-performance WAN and

advanced two-tier switching architecture that improves the performance
of rich media collaboration applications. With the HP FlexCampus solu-
tion, enterprises can simplify WAN and LAN architectures and eliminate or
reduce complexity with fewer devices and network layers. This simplification
improves network performance and reduces capital and operational cost.
Modular routers and switches provide scalable, high-throughput hosting for
an organization’s choice of applications by integrating them on modules with
direct backplane access to heighten performance.
Energy-use intelligence is also built into the switch to reduce power costs and
consumption, either by powering down or turning network ports on and off
manually or automatically.
For greater simplicity and savings, IT staff can manage the entire network
from IMC.
With the HP FlexCampus solution, organizations are free to build their campus
networks to support user requirements for flexibility and mobility.
Learn more about HP FlexCampus network solutions at www.hp.com/

networking/flexcampus.
Connecting branch networks with HP FlexBranch

The branch office plays an important role in an organization’s ability to
attract, service, and retain customers while increasing revenue. Branch office
employees—the “face of the corporation”—can significantly affect customer
satisfaction and loyalty, particularly if fast, accurate service is delivered by
accessing the corporate knowledge base and productivity tools.
In addition, with today’s increasing security vulnerabilities, enterprise secu-

rity is only as strong as the weakest link. With branch offices sharing office
buildings and data closets with other tenants, branch networks must be
protected by comprehensive security from perimeter security with firewalls.
Furthermore, internal security must be maintained with identity-based access
and consistent policies and enforcement to help ensure business continuity.
Despite the critical nature of the branch office, legacy infrastructures often
impede customer service with slow, unreliable access to information and
applications. Poor WAN performance can prompt employees to store data
locally, preventing the data from being backed up and therefore putting the
business and its regulatory compliance at risk if a local device fails.
With the HP FlexBranch solution enterprises can converge network ser-

vices and connectivity for greater simplicity and higher functionality. The HP
FlexBranch solution provides branch office employees with the same fast and
reliable access to data and applications as workers on the main campus (see
Figure 3-4).

Figure 3-4 HP FlexBranch for reliable access to the network from branch
offices
The HP FlexBranch solution allows enterprises to segment their branch net-

works to deliver the necessary services, while providing open, industry-stan-
dard protocols that enable interoperability with the campus and data center
networks.
Consolidating branch infrastructure

The HP FlexBranch solution delivers LAN-like performance with local surviv-
ability for applications and services in the branch, while at the same time sim-
plifying remote site management.
Using the HP FlexBranch solution, you can consolidate your network infra-
structure, including Ethernet switch, firewall, virtual private network (VPN),
wireless LAN, Session Border Controller (SBC), WAN optimization, Enterprise
IP Video, and virtualized application services in a single device resulting in an
all-in-one “branch in a box.”
Additional network services, like WAN router, 3G WAN, and voice gateway, are
also available.
In all of these ways, this HP FlexBranch consolidation reduces operating and

capital cost and simplifies complexity with fewer devices to manage and
deploy.
Simplifying secure WAN connectivity

By using HP FlexNetwork architecture, users are able to simplify and make
consistent the WAN connectivity in the HP VAN to securely interconnect data
centers, campuses, and branch offices, while significantly reducing manual
configuration.
This is accomplished with the HP Dynamic Virtual Private Network (DVPN)

solution, interconnecting data centers, campuses, and branches with stan-
dards-based Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) VPN encryption (see Figure 3-5).

Figure 3-5 The HP DVPN solution across branch offices, campus, and data
center
The DVPN solution is implemented with HP routers and the IMC. This solution
can scale to more than 3,000 sites on a single router on a DVPN domain and can
easily scale for very large networks with multiple DVPN domains. The IMC com-
ponents include HP Branch Intelligent Management System (BIMS) and IPSec
VPN Manager (IVM).
The DVPN solution is highly automated, scalable, and secure. By implementing

DVPN for the WAN, an enterprise can reduce manual configuration by up to 93
percent and simplify operations with automated VPN setup and provisioning.
Learn more about HP FlexBranch network solutions at www.hp.com/network-

ing/flexbranch. Get more information about DVPN at www.hp.com/networking/
dvpn.
Orchestrating your network with

HP FlexManagement
The HP FlexManagement solution allows IT to gain new efficiencies and higher
levels of control by converging network management and orchestration.
Instead of turning to a myriad of network management tools, IT staff can use
HP IMC for single-pane-of-glass management across the HP FlexNetwork and
other multi-vendor network infrastructure that requires in-depth control and
management of virtual environments.
HP IMC provides full fault, configuration, accounting, performance, and secu-

rity (FCAPS) management and scales easily from small to very large deploy-
ments. It is a modular platform that deepens the breadth and depth of
network management functions and other network services when needed.
By consolidating what traditionally would be deployed as a variety of sepa-
rate tools, IMC simplifies operations and management and boosts network
availability through improved mean time to repair (MTTR) afforded by a single
place for monitoring and remediation.
IT staff can use IMC to manage their HP and legacy networks. IMC integrates
with HP Software solutions, and its open and extensible APIs allows federa-
tion with other network management and orchestration tools.
IMC manages more than 6,000 network devices from more than 220 manufac-
turers, including about 1,400 network resources from Cisco.
Converging management from branch to data center

HP IMC provides converged management for wired and wireless LANs across
the campus. IT can enforce consistent, identity-based security controls with a
single system for network access control and identity management.
In the data center, IMC bridges the gap between managing physical and vir-
tual networks (a significant challenge) by providing a unified view with status
indicators for networks, workloads, and virtual machines. This allows IT to
simplify operations and accelerate application and service delivery. HP IMC
helps IT overcome the challenges of administering the new virtual server
edge through template policy-based provisioning and automated network
orchestration.
Unifying and integrating wired and wireless networks

You can unify campus and branch networks to improve the user experience,
strengthen security, and simplify management for wired and wireless net-
works through IMC. IT departments can use IMC as the single-pane-of-glass
management application for the campus network as well as the data center
and branch office networks.
Learn more about HP FlexManagement networking solutions at www.hp.com/

networking/flexmanagement.
Protecting your IT infrastructure from security

threats
Attacks against your applications, sensitive data, and critical networking
assets continue to rise as hackers find new and creative ways to infiltrate and
compromise your network. A defense-in-depth approach featuring external
and internal security solutions improves your threat profile and decreases
your overall attack window.
Four key trends affect security in today’s data center:
zz Consumerization―The explosive growth in consumer-driven technolo-

gies, such as web applications, recreational applications, and mobile
devices, are significantly impacting the network security profile, forcing
businesses to rapidly evolve their security practices and policies.
zz Compliance―Virtually all organizations today must comply with various

industry and government security regulations.
zz Consolidation―The physical consolidation of data center infrastructure

driven by virtualization tools, the growth of cloud computing models, and
other products greatly improve the efficiency of the data center but also
create new security challenges.
zz Convergence―Challenges are associated with the integration of mul-

tiple security products and functions and the corresponding policy man-
agement tools that control these products.
HP Networking provides a host of network security solutions including:
zz Firewalls
zz VPNs
zz HP Tipping Point Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)
zz Security intelligence services from DVLabs
zz Security management systems
zz Network access control (NAC) solutions
zz HP Sentinel Security Application
Network and security management under a single pane of glass simplifies

your network management and reduces your overall administrative costs
while helping to secure vulnerable applications, sensitive data, and valuable
network assets from attack.
Security management and visibility

The HP TippingPoint security portfolio offers complete network security solu-
tions for the data center, campus, and branch, including:
zz Inline, real-time threat protection by performing deep packet

inspection.
zz A broad and rich set of security filters that can serve as virtual patches
for your vulnerable software.
zz Protection from attacks against your vulnerable applications.
zz Granular application control and the ability to rate limit noncritical

applications.
zz Protection against access to known bad Internet hosts.
zz Protection for your web applications.
zz Security for proprietary applications.

In an SDN environment, the new HP Sentinel Security Application can be imple-
mented on any network device anywhere in the network for unprecedented
network visibility, event correlation accuracy, and security control.
For more information about TippingPoint, see h17007.www1.hp.com/us/en/
products/network-security/index.aspx.
Interoperability through HP AllianceOne

Businesses must deploy new technologies and applications to gain com-
petitive advantages, and yet are reluctant to add complexity to their IT infra-
structure. They can try to acquire applications from their existing networking
vendor; however, these are rarely best-in-class. The open, standards-based
HP FlexNetwork architecture strategy incorporates applications from a vari-
ety of vendors, allowing you to choose the applications that best meet your
needs. Through the HP AllianceOne partner program, selected applications
go through a rigorous certification process to ensure solution effectiveness.
Hardware, software, and solutions from HP AllianceOne partners can be

implemented as standalone products, or they can run on an HP Networking
services module directly embedded within the switch or WAN router.
With partners such as Microsoft, Avaya, Aastra, Riverbed, AeroScout, AirTight

Networks, Ekahau, Compumatica, and F5, the following are examples of the
types of applications available through HP AllianceOne partners:
zz Business applications enable your network to improve business out-

comes, whether distributed through the network or consolidated in a
central location.
zz Data-intensive applications, such as enterprise search or video distri-

bution, can be optimized with distributed processing or caching located
throughout your network.
zz Integrated collaboration applications, such as UC and VoIP, enable dis-

tributed teams to communicate across the IP network, regardless of the
location. Embedded Microsoft Lync solutions also ensure survivability of
enterprise voice services in a branch office.
zz Network applications and services can make your network easier to man-
age and control while offering additional services. They are integral to the
fabric, foundation, or workings of the network and may use information
embedded within the network—such as location and usage data. Load
balancing applications automatically adjust and optimize network per-
formance. Many aspects of security applications benefit from network
integration, protecting the network and users from threats and defend-
ing against attacks. Location-based systems allow you to track the loca-
tion of wirelessly connected end points, enabling business applications
such as asset management.
AllianceOne benefits
zz Choice―A choice of secure best-in-class solutions.
zz Support management―AllianceOne provides customers with a

single initial point of contact for network support escalations, while
maintaining the advantages of a multi-vendor model.
zz Environmental responsibility―When compared to standalone

appliances, integration into the HP network infrastructure helps
ensure optimal use of space, power, and cooling.
Learn more about AllianceOne at www.hp.com/networking/allianceone.

References
1 Hardcastle, Jonathon. “Forecast Analysis: Data Center, Worldwide, 2010-2016, 2Q12
Update,” Gartner, Inc., August 31, 2012. www.gartner.com/id=2143816
2 “HP 3800 Switch Series Competitive Performance, Power Consumption and TCO
Evaluation Versus Cisco Catalyst 3750-X and Juniper EX4200 Series,” Tolly Report,
September 27, 2011. tolly.com/DocDetail.aspx?DocNumber=211127
3 IDC White Paper, sponsored by HP, “ROI of a Complete Networking Portfolio:

Delivering Value from the Network Edge to the Core,” September 2011.
http://h41112.www4.hp.com/rfg_files/idc.pdf
4 IDC Analyst Connection: “Freeing Stranded Capital in Networking Layers,” January 2012.

http://h17007.www1.hp.com/docs/idc/idcnetworkinglayers.pdf
Chapter 4
Cloud computing
and virtualization
In this chapter
99An efficient cloud computing infrastructure

99The virtualized data center
99Software-defined networking
99Simple data center interconnection
99Secured virtual environment
C loud computing, a major trend in today’s world, is a vehicle for delivering

IT infrastructure as a service to an ever-increasing number of users. Driven by
service-oriented architectures (SOAs), cloud computing relies heavily on data
center virtualization to make all network, storage, and compute resources
available for dynamic allocation to applications. Given this, you need to
design the underlying network architecture for high performance and scale to
support thousands of users across a diverse set of applications with LAN-like
performance across the WAN.
Furthermore, geographic dispersion of computing and storage environments

demands greater resiliency, capacity, and control. Enterprises deploying pub-
lic, private, or hybrid clouds must simplify data center networks to support
the associated bandwidth-intensive, delay-sensitive, server-to-server virtual
machine and workload traffic flows. They must also be able to administer and
secure virtual resources, and orchestrate on-demand services.
34 Chapter 4: Cloud computing and virtualization
In this chapter, you will learn how HP FlexNetwork architecture is ideally

designed to facilitate your move to the cloud. You will see how HP FlexNetwork
architecture helps you build the cloud computing infrastructure, manage your
virtualized data center using the HP VANs and software-defined networking
technologies, simplify data center interconnection, and secure the virtual
environment.
Implementing a cloud computing infrastructure

HP FlexNetwork architecture helps enterprises securely deploy and centrally
orchestrate cloud, mobile, video, and collaboration-optimized architectures
that scale from the data center to the network edge.
The adoption of more virtualized, dynamic application environments affects

traditional enterprise and hosted multi-tenant data center designs, enabling
new cloud-based delivery models that drive a whole new set of technology
requirements across servers, storage, and networking domains. With these
increasingly popular use models, your enterprise can provision applications
more flexibly within a private or internal infrastructure, and enable hosted
application and service providers to build entire businesses based on deliv-
ering services via a public cloud model. Given the range of use cases and
options, you can consider deploying a combination of architectures to address
varied requirements and to optimize operations.
With an open, standards-based solution, you can help your enterprise migrate
from legacy architectures to advanced architectures to help it meet new busi-
ness challenges, including cloud computing, federated applications, and
virtual machine mobility. And using standards-based networks will make it
simpler for you to move your applications to public and private cloud services.
HP FlexNetwork architecture gives businesses a flexible way to adapt to new

business conditions and harness new ways to connect and collaborate. HP
FlexNetwork architecture delivers an application-optimized architecture that
scales in connectivity, functionality, and capacity, and supports wired and
wireless infrastructures. Users enjoy high performance from the data center
or cloud to the user, no matter where they are or which device they use.
Automating virtualized data center management

Virtualization was once seen as an efficiency tool and simply a way to save on
hardware expenses. However, today, virtualization plays a key role in a con-
verged infrastructure. Before virtualization, many data centers had servers
and storage running at 10 percent or less of total capacity. With virtualiza-
tion, you can begin to transform your data center by focusing resources when
and where they are needed most. It is estimated that virtualization can dra-
matically increase hardware utilization rates from 10 or 15 percent to 70 or
80 percent.
However, managing an increasingly virtualized data center has become a

daunting task for IT. The assignment and allocation of highly dynamic and
mobile virtual servers across physical and virtual networks add overwhelm-
ing complexity to data center network operations and administration in the
following ways:
zz Configuring servers, virtual machines, and physical and virtual switches

(vSwitches) is a complex and time-consuming prospect that requires
coordination between network and server teams.
zz Implementing additions, moves, and changes is a manual, time-consum-

ing, and error-prone process involving multiple applications and data
center teams.
zz Isolating and resolving problems in the virtual and physical network

infrastructure is an arduous process involving multiple management sys-
tems with overlapping functionalities.
With IMC, the HP FlexManagement solution combines single-pane-of-glass

multi-vendor management with automated virtual machine orchestration
and automatic synchronization of network connectivity information. While
the virtualized network environment was once considered a “black hole” for
many network administrators, IMC now helps to bridge the management and
operational divide between the physical and virtual worlds.
A typical data center with 500 servers, including approximately 20 virtual

machines per server, requires manual provisioning of more than 50,000 net-
working attributes on a port-by-port basis. Deploying a new application in
such an environment requires extensive time and coordination across the
server, network, and data center administrative teams, which can take up to
four weeks.
HP VANs provide a virtualized view of a network—abstracted from the physi-

cal equipment—that transforms a rigid physical enterprise network into a
programmable, multi-tenant, and application-aware virtual network. HP
VAN uses templates to characterize application-delivery requirements and
ensure optimal application performance and reliability. This enables IT staff
to deploy new cloud applications to users in minutes rather than weeks and
ensure service-level agreements (SLAs) are consistently met by using tem-
plates to automate network orchestration.
In this way, HP VAN provides cloud functionality that speeds application

deployment, simplifies management, and ensures network SLAs in cloud and
other dynamic computing models across the HP FlexNetwork architecture
framework.
Unique across HP Converged Infrastructure, HP VAN taps into the intelligence

found directly in server, storage, and network hardware to automate provi-
sioning and configuration tasks while optimizing performance.
VAN actively leverages elements of the following technologies and tools:
zz SDN technologies, including OpenFlow
zz Ethernet Virtual Interconnect (EVI)
zz Multi-tenant Device Context (MDC)
zz Virtual Application Networks Manager, an IMC module
zz HP Virtual Connect for scaling and sharing resources
Learn more at www.hp.com/networking/van.
Implementing software-defined networking

Many enterprises are unable to create business innovation because of aging
networking environments. Enterprise network design and architectures have
remained largely unchanged for more than a decade. While applications and
systems have evolved to meet the demands of a world in which mobility, rich
media, and real-time communications are the norm, the underlying network
infrastructure has not kept pace.
A new paradigm in networking is emerging. SDN represents an evolution of

networking that holds the promise of eliminating legacy human middleware
and paves the way for business innovation.
With SDN, IT can orchestrate network services and automate control of the
network according to high-level policies rather than low-level network device
configurations. By eliminating manual device-by-device configuration, IT
resources can be optimized to lower costs and increase competitiveness.
The basis of an open, standards-based SDN is the OpenFlow protocol. This

protocol allows direct access to and manipulation of the forwarding plane
of network devices, such as switches and routers, physical and virtual
(hypervisor-based).
OpenFlow also opens up networking devices for simplified programming via

a standard interface. This ease of programming allows for a robust control
layer that can be built to centralize the intelligence in the network and provide
the programmability that is the promise of SDN (see Figure 4-1).

Figure 4-1 SDN architecture applying business logic to network behavior
The HP SDN technologies based on the OpenFlow protocol span infrastruc-

ture, control software and application layers with a “single control plane.”
This enables enterprises and cloud providers to implement SDN to simplify
and maximize agility across data center, campus, and branch networks.
A leader in OpenFlow technology development

OpenFlow development started in 2007 and has been a collaborative effort
between the academic and commercial worlds. The standard now is being
defined by the Open Networking Foundation (ONF). HP has been a leader in
OpenFlow technology since its inception and is one of the initial members of
the ONF.1
Learn more at www.hp.com/networking/openflow.
Simplifying data center interconnection

As enterprises hurry to implement cloud computing and virtualized environ-
ments, they must deliver infrastructure as a service (IaaS). They also must
connect geographically dispersed data centers to meet rising customer
expectations. Unfortunately, many interconnect methods suffer from limi-
tations, including transport dependency, complexity, and lack of resiliency.
Transmission between data centers over dense wavelength division multi-
plexing (DWDM) or Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) can be complex to
manage and is often highly dependent upon the costly and rigid infrastructure
of a dedicated service provider.
Greatly simplifying data center interconnection is the HP Ethernet Virtual

Interconnect (EVI), an IP-based solution that enables cloud computing quickly,
securely, and reliably. EVI is a new HP Virtual Application Networks innovation
and a component of the HP Data Center Interconnect (DCI) solution.
EVI runs over the IP infrastructure so it can be deployed without changing the
existing infrastructure. Deployment is simplified, because Layer 2 connectiv-
ity is extended across the network without having to deal with Layer 3 net-
working dependencies.
By virtualizing and automating a Layer 2 domain across data centers, EVI

delivers the elements necessary to enable a cloud-ready data center infra-
structure. It enables several data centers to work as one that is more respon-
sive, with higher efficiency and solid high availability for business resiliency.
You can use EVI to simplify the interconnection of up to eight geographically

dispersed data centers. You can also quickly respond to changing market con-
ditions by easily moving virtual machines in minutes without network delay to
any interconnected data center.
With EVI, enterprises can accelerate delivery workload mobility with remote
vMotion, increase application performance with load balancing, and achieve
optimum degrees of high availability. When used with IRF switch virtualiza-
tion technology, EVI delivers greatly enhanced reliability, resilience, and faster
remote vMotion capabilities. When used with MDC, EVI brings multi-tenancy to
cloud-ready and remotely connected data centers, with an ability to scale to 128
EVI networks for different sites and applications. Learn more about DCI at www.
hp.com/networking/dci.
Virtualizing multi-tenancy in a cloud-ready data center

MDC is an innovative data center virtualization software solution that is part
of the HP VAN architecture. MDC enables multi-tenancy on networking plat-
forms for cloud-ready data center environments. With MDC, customers can
virtualize physical networking platforms and segment them into up to four
virtual switches.
In other words, MDC gives customers the ability to virtualize one physical switch
into up to four logical devices, with each logical switch having its own tenants.
MDC provides complete and secure separation of logical switches between the
multiple tenants residing on the same physical switching platform. With MDC,
there is complete separation of control planes, data planes, and forwarding
capabilities of logical tenants. In addition, each tenant can take advantage of
its own VLANs, its own IRF configurations, and its own EVI networks.
Automating virtual network management

The Virtual Application Networks Manager (VAN Manager) is an IMC mod-
ule which delivers a template-based approach for managing network con-
figuration policies and yielding consistency and reliability across network
infrastructure.
Administrators define the policies in a template, which is then applied as a

configuration policy to the edge switch associated with the virtual machine
of interest.
Virtual machine network connectivity is automated and orchestrated by the

IMC VAN Manager, which lends to the acceleration of application deployment
and service rollout and greatly reduces risk during virtual machine migration.
The module includes a plug-in into the VMware hypervisor manager, which
enables the connection policies defined in IMC to be applied to the virtual
machine.
Scaling the virtual network

Server virtualization provides flexible tools for migrating virtual machines
within the data center to optimize operations and improve availability. These
use models dictate very specific network design requirements. Networks
must be flat—designed to connect potentially hundreds of physical serv-
ers hosting thousands of virtual machines within a single Layer 2 network
domain. Network platforms and architectures not built to scale to these levels
can limit deployment flexibility and increase management complexity.
With hundreds or even thousands of virtualized applications across multiple

consolidated data centers, network resiliency and high availability assume
heightened importance. Network platforms and designs must be able to
recover quickly from hardware and software faults to maintain continuity of
service and business operations.
Enabling distributed workloads and replicating data and applications

across multiple geographically dispersed data centers can be a challenge.
Conventional Layer 3 WAN solutions cannot meet the stringent performance
and latency requirements, and server virtualization technologies require con-
tiguous network domains. Enterprises seeking to extend and connect Layer
2 networks across data centers require connectivity and technologies that
stretch those networks across multiple physical sites.
HP Virtual Connect is an innovative server edge solution that delivers direct

server-to-server connectivity within the rack, enabling wire-speed, machine-
to-machine communications for delay-sensitive, bandwidth-intensive traffic.
HP Virtual Connect Flex-10 and HP FlexFabric solution modules further allow
enterprises to dynamically fine-tune application-specific performance across
server and storage networks in order to make best use of shared connectivity
resources and improve scale.
To support inter-data center virtual machine mobility, HP Networking offers

options for flexibly and reliably extending large-scale Layer 2 domains across
geographically dispersed sites. Leveraging legacy approaches to multi-site
connectivity, HP Networking supports today’s most popular LAN exten-

sion technologies including Ethernet over MPLS, Virtual Private LAN Service
(VPLS), and Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) tunneling.
Delivering energy-efficient network infrastructures

HP partners with many non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as the
Climate Group, World Wildlife Fund, Green Grid, and Natural Resources Defense
Council, to address environmental issues with HP technologies, education pro-
grams, and public policy efforts.
HP has cut the energy use and associated emissions of its solutions to 40 per-
cent below 2005 levels. HP has more than 1,000 products that meet Energy
Star, EPEAT, and other eco-label guidelines, and uses 100 million pounds of
recycled plastic in its HP printing products.
HP Networking was the first vendor to introduce switches that supported IEEE
802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet, a set of physical layer protocol enhance-
ments to significantly reduce power consumption during periods of low traffic
by allowing networks to go into a standby or sleep mode, while retaining full
compatibility with existing equipment.
Securing the virtual environment

Server virtualization introduces a new virtual edge that significantly impacts
traditional network and server security systems and practices. Previously,
database, application, and web-hosting workloads were deployed on discrete
physical servers. Traffic flows between workloads were wholly contained
within a single physical server, allowing straightforward, physical network-
based threat management using traditional intrusion prevention tools.
However, server virtualization introduced the ability to host multiple work-

loads on a single physical server and initiated the concept of a virtual switch
(vSwitch) to facilitate intra-server communications. VMs can communicate
directly with each other and pass traffic in a manner that never traverses the
physical network fabric and is transparent to conventional security systems.
The virtualized nature of these intra-server communications makes applying
security policies or monitoring the network very difficult. Existing security
tools and practices built around physical servers and physical switches are
unaware of these traffic flows.
Specifically, virtualization introduces a wide variety of new security challenges:
zz Hypervisor security―New security procedures are needed to safeguard

the VM hypervisor.
zz VM-to-VM threats―Traffic moving from one virtual machine to another

inside the same physical host is not visible to the external network,
meaning the traffic cannot be subjected to security, QoS, management,
or mirroring policies.
zz VM mobility―Security policies must be preserved as VMs migrate from

host to host within the data center.
zz Host-to-host threats―Virtualization increases host-to-host commu-

nications. Cost-effective solutions are required to inspect and control
server-to-server traffic. Deploying an intrusion prevention system (IPS)
in front of every server is impractical.
The HP TippingPoint Secure Virtualization Framework (SVF) extends industry-

leading HP TippingPoint security capabilities to virtualized data centers. SVF
delivers consistent, unified security across virtualized and physical domains,
enabling enterprises to secure VM-to-VM as well as inter-server and inter-
network traffic from a common platform. In this way, SVF provides network
security managers with the ability to take security functionality that exists in
the physical environment and apply it in the virtual environment by using the
same policies, infrastructure, and devices.
The new HP Sentinel Security Application automates network access control

and intrusion prevention security for enterprise campus networks with exist-
ing OpenFlow-enabled switch hardware through the HP controller. As a result,
clients can eliminate the complexity and expense of dedicated network-
ing hardware appliances, while achieving scalable security needed for BYOD
initiatives.
Reference
1 Open Networking Foundation. “Open Networking Foundation Formed to Speed
Network Innovation,” March 21, 2011. www.opennetworking.org/media/press-
releases/63-open-networking-foundation-formed-to-speed-network-innovation
Chapter 5
Mobility
In this chapter
99Flexible wireless networks

99Mobile devices including BYOD
99Security and monitoring
W ith the popularity and proliferation of mobile devices and applications

come the demands from staff that the organization’s network support mobil-
ity in all forms to help increase productivity and foster business opportunity.
HP unified wired and wireless access and the HP BYOD mobility solutions
deliver a robust, simple, consistent, and secure way for your users to access
your network and applications from any corporate- or employee-owned lap-
top, tablet, smartphone, or other mobile device.
You can deploy HP mobility solutions as part of an integrated wired and wire-
less infrastructure for low cost of operation and strong, consistent security.
All HP Networking mobility solutions are based on industry standards, are
simple to implement, and easy to manage.
The HP BYOD solution fulfills organizational and user expectations, while

also maintaining IT requirements for controlling, managing, and monitoring
devices that access the network. It also provides for wireless network secu-
rity, enhances wireless network performance, and maximizes client perfor-
mance through RF optimization and client load-balancing.
In this chapter, you will learn about the three components of HP mobility solu-
tions: the wired and wireless network; mobile devices, including personally
owned devices; and security and monitoring.
44 Chapter 5: Mobility
Creating flexible wireless networks

Wireless LANs (WLAN or Wi-Fi) play an increasingly important role in enter-
prise networking. But many organizations still rely on legacy WLAN solutions
that were originally implemented only to facilitate wireless roaming across a
building or campus environment and cannot accommodate growing perfor-
mance, availability, and scalability demands. Legacy solutions are typically
built around inflexible system architectures with non-intelligent access points
(APs) and intelligent WLAN controllers. Traffic is backhauled across the wired
enterprise infrastructure to a central WLAN controller that is responsible for
all traffic forwarding decisions and policy enforcement. The AP’s sole function
is to provide wireless access.
Centralized WLAN architectures are appropriate for organizations that con-

solidate servers and IT resources into common data centers. However, they
are not well suited for distributed IT environments or for time-sensitive appli-
cations, such as voice, in which traffic forwarding decisions are best made
locally at the AP to allow optimized traffic to flow via the most direct path,
reducing latency and network congestion.
To respond to the growing demand for reliable and high-performance wire-

less networks, consider more flexible WLAN solutions that support central-
ized and distributed traffic forwarding models to accommodate diverse use
cases and business needs throughout your organization.
HP FlexNetwork mobility solutions are specifically designed to meet ever-

increasing requirements for WLAN scalability, performance, and reliability.
HP’s non-blocking optimized WLAN architecture supports flexible traffic dis-
tribution models and combines centralized management and control with
intelligent access points at the edge of the network for unparalleled scalabil-
ity, performance, and ease-of-deployment (see Figure 5-1).
Figure 5-1 Optimized WLAN architecture
HP mobility solutions
HP’s industry-leading and award-winning access points with dual radios and
three-spatial-stream Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) technology deliver
a 50 percent increase in user density and performance relative to 802.11n
access points with dual-spatial-stream MIMO. The extensible architecture
enables optimal application delivery, with low impact on the wired core, no sin-
gle point of failure or performance bottlenecks, cost-effective scalability, and
strong investment protection.
HP Mobility Traffic Manager helps customers optimize network performance
and service quality by tightly controlling the way WLAN traffic is managed and
distributed across the enterprise network for seamless user roaming across
subnets.
Managing unified wired and wireless security and policy

Mobility can drive new levels of business communication, but when wired and
wireless legacy networks are pushed to the limit, they become fragile, dif-
ficult to manage, vulnerable, and expensive to operate. If your organization’s
network is at this breaking point, you need to future-proof your infrastructure
to address today’s and tomorrow’s high-speed higher-density wired and wire-
less requirements.
Enterprises that deploy the HP FlexNetwork architecture framework—which

integrates both wired and wireless networks—benefit from an open and stan-
dards-based solution that scales in terms of security, agility, and consistency.
HP FlexManagement with IMC provides consistent wired and wireless security

and policy enforcement, as well as unified wired and wireless network man-
agement and troubleshooting.
Optimizing wireless performance and client density support

The optimized WLAN architecture removes performance bottlenecks and
delivers unparalleled scalability and application performance for your mobile
users. This provides higher wired aggregation bandwidth and significantly
more capacity, increased wireless client range, and density support.
You can further leverage HP radio frequency (RF) optimization features, such
as beam forming and band steering, to optimize client network connectivity
and performance by automatically connecting 5-GHz-capable clients to the
less-congested 5-GHz spectrum. This leaves the 2.4 GHz frequency band for
clients that are not 802.11n-capable, increasing your overall network capac-
ity and providing a better client connectivity experience. IT administrators
can also use channel bonding in the 5-GHz spectrum to double the effective
throughput for high-bandwidth applications and BYOD traffic.
The new HP Wi-Fi Clear Connect software uses advanced radio resource man-
agement (RRM) to automatically monitor and tune the performance of your
WLAN and adjust to the changing RF conditions present in your environment.
These capabilities make it easier for you to deliver the WLAN experience your
users need.
RRM automatically assigns and tunes the transmit power levels and RF chan-
nels on APs to optimize the systemwide performance and reliability of your
WLAN. With HP, your WLAN is self-healing, so you do not need to worry about
users encountering dead spots or unpredictable performance when RF inter-
ference is encountered or if an AP or radio fails.
Each AP simply scans all of its available radio channels to monitor and identify
RF interference from non-WLAN sources. If an AP detects persistent interfer-
ence, it chooses the best alternative channel after verifying that the interfer-
ence is not present on the alternative channel.
HP Wi-Fi Clear Connect also uses dynamic client load balancing and airtime
fairness to improve users’ WLAN experience. Dynamic client load balancing
is especially important in dense environments, such as classrooms or confer-
ence rooms, and is vital for supporting BYOD initiatives.
Planning WLAN deployment

You can use the HP RF Planner to help design your WLAN and mobility sys-
tems. HP RF Planner is built on a unique, patent-pending RF propagation
model, which allows you to model WLAN coverage accurately by factoring in
variables including:
zz RF characteristics for HP access points and sensors
zz Third-party equipment, including client cards, access points, and direc-

tional antennas
zz Building materials and other physical features
The RF Planner provides open-air modeling capabilities to facilitate the

design of outdoor campus and municipal networks. It provides security cov-
erage modeling and a graphical display of WLAN spillage. In addition, integra-
tion of RF Planner with RF Manager allows you to import device placement
information for easy deployment.
While RF Planner is not intended to take the place of actual “walk tests” through
the building, you can use it to estimate and plan WLAN coverage. With RF Planner,
your network architects can ensure that your 802.11n network is optimized for
the dense mobile environments that support your organization’s mobile work-
ers and their devices.
Learn more about HP unified wired and wireless access at www.hp.com/

networking/unified-access.
Managing your BYOD solution

The HP BYOD solution is implemented largely through the HP IMC. Leveraging
the IMC single-pane-of-glass management, IT can onboard, provision, and
monitor users, devices, and traffic on the network whether the user is an
employee, contractor, or guest, and whether the device is wired or wirelessly
connected.
Controlling network access

To support BYOD quickly and easily, you can deploy the IMC User Access
Manager, which provides secure access to the network. IMC User Access
Manager can identify the device and then authenticate the device and user
onto the network with the appropriate security policies.
HP IMC fully supports the IEEE 802.1X Network Access Control (NAC) stan-
dard and leverages HP advanced fingerprinting technologies for Apple iOS and
Android devices, as well as the IMC iNode client for MacOS, Linux, and Windows-
based clients.
Managing and securing mobile devices and users

A key concern for IT is how to effectively secure and manage the network and
application access for personally owned mobile devices. Such devices cannot
easily be identified and managed by your IT department. When employees,
customers, or visitors bring in their own devices, IT loses control, because
it does not know where the device has been, what applications the user has
downloaded, or what device has been introduced into the network. Beyond
that, the health of the device is unknown, which creates a big risk when the
mobile device connects to your business network and accesses vital applica-
tions and information.
Even company-issued mobile devices routinely travel outside the compa-

ny’s perimeter and are inevitably used for personal reasons. Rising Internet
threats, security attacks, and lost or stolen devices introduce new vulner-
abilities and potentially expose confidential business information. Security

breaches can harm your organization’s reputation and cost immeasurable
goodwill. It can also put your organization at risk of violating industry stan-
dards, as well as private and public regulations.
HP IMC moves beyond basic BYOD identity-based access by offering a com-

prehensive solution that includes single-policy enforcement and converged
network management across wired and wireless environments. Monitoring
of BYOD clients and their bandwidth usage further enables you to optimize
resource allocation and comply with regulatory requirements.
HP IMC supports user authentication based on identity, device location, time,

and endpoint security health. Users can be assigned automatically into the
appropriate virtual LAN (VLAN) based on their identity, device type, device
posture, time of day, application type, and other factors. Access to the net-
work can be granted based on a device’s IP or media access control (MAC)
address. If an endpoint is not compliant with the established policies, access
to the network can be isolated for remediation or blocked to protect your net-
work assets.
HP IMC further provides non-intrusive actions to secure your network edge

proactively, including endpoint monitoring and notification. This component
also supports security evaluation, security threat location, and security event
awareness. To ensure continued security, IMC continually monitors each end-
point’s traffic, installed software running processes, and registry changes.
These functions ensure that all endpoints connected to your network are
secure.
The HP RF Manager delivers a 24x7 wireless IPS solution with enhanced sup-
port for mobile device detection, classification, and automatic blocking of
unauthorized devices. The HP RF Manager works in unison with a network
security appliance and dedicated RF sensors.
Learn more about HP Mobility at www.hp.com/networking/mobility. Learn

more about HP BYOD at www.hp.com/networking/byod. Also see the HP Press
book BYOD and Beyond: Implementing a unified access solution, available at
www.hppress.com.
Chapter 6
Rich media and UC&C
In this chapter
99Network demands to support voice and video

99Enabling rich media through HP FlexNetwork
99Seamless user experience with HP AllianceOne partners
S ophisticated tools that enhance the ability for users to effectively com-
municate and collaborate on projects and tasks are essential for businesses
to stay ahead of the competitive curve. However, the additional bandwidth
needed for applications to support voice and video can place a heavy burden
on already overtaxed networks.
Through the HP FlexNetwork architecture and UC&C solutions from HP

AllianceOne partners, businesses are ensured the ability to easily implement
and support best-in-class third-party UC&C tools.
In this chapter, you will learn how your network can easily accommodate and
provide an excellent user experience for rich media communications and
collaboration.
Embracing rich media collaboration tools

Businesses are constantly seeking ways to deliver compelling and competi-
tive services to their customers while increasing revenue and profitability. IT
has transformed how businesses operate by delivering faster customer ser-
vice, enabling effective communication, and automating processes.
52 Chapter 6: Rich media and UC&C
Effective communication tools are critical for the success of businesses. With
the growing trend of replacing legacy IP private branch exchange (PBX) hard-
ware with software-powered applications and cloud-based architectures,
communication tools have recently undergone significant changes, evidenced
by the emergence of powerful and easy-to-use solutions such as Microsoft
Lync. Seamless desktop integration of email, instant messaging, audio, video,
web conferencing, and presence from “softphone” clients has become an
integral part of most UC&C solutions.
The richness of information shared through video makes it a compelling capa-

bility. Video conferencing improves collaboration of distributed teams, pro-
vides training, and helps executive management align the organization with
corporate priorities. Frost & Sullivan research shows that 76 percent of com-
panies use some sort of video conferencing today, and 38 percent of them say
it is used extensively throughout the organization.1
Legacy networks were designed to handle data communications. The conver-

gence of data, voice, video, and collaboration tools is pushing legacy networks
to their limits. Voice and video place significant demands on the network and
are one of the primary drivers of network edge refreshes. Support for Power
Over Ethernet (PoE) and PoE Plus, QoS, NAC/802.1X, resiliency, and surviv-
ability are required. The effect of enabling video is immediately felt on the
network. Careful consideration must be given to design networks capable of
supporting rich media communications.
Enabling rich media communications over the network requires an infrastruc-

ture that delivers low latency and high resiliency, and also ensures end-to-
end traffic prioritization. The solution stack for rich media communications
depicts the functionality from infrastructure to application layers. The net-
work layer supports functionality like wired and wireless connectivity, QoS,
and optimization. The session layer provides video call initiation, user reg-
istration, and interoperability, while the application layer provides access to
video application and integration with other UC&C applications. Security and
manageability span across each of these layers.
Enabling rich media through HP FlexNetwork

HP FlexNetwork architecture for rich media communications is a key compo-
nent of the HP Converged Infrastructure. HP FlexFabric converges and secures
the data center network with compute and storage of media servers, video
conference bridges, and video gateways. HP FlexCampus works to deliver rich
media-optimized access. HP FlexBranch provides for video content distribu-
tion services to branch offices. HP FlexManagement orchestrates the video-
ready network (see Figure 6-1).

Figure 6-1 Rich media communications and collaboration
Enterprises deploying video applications must implement flatter, simpler

networks to support the bandwidth-intensive, delay-sensitive rich media
traffic associated with video applications. HP FlexNetwork helps enterprises
securely deploy and centrally orchestrate video-optimized solution that scale
from the data center to the network edge.
Learn more about HP rich media communications at www.hp.com/networking/

richmedia.
54 Chapter 6: Rich media and UC&C
Implementing UC&C
The ability for an organization’s staff to communicate and collaborate across
a myriad of devices and geographical boundaries is essential for improv-
ing business productivity in this world that is driven by globalization and a
dynamic business climate.
Meeting these requirements brings a set of IT complexities and cost chal-

lenges. The HP Networking UC&C solutions help deliver a rich user experience
that meet these needs while simplifying IT. HP UC&C solutions are based on
HP FlexNetwork architecture and partner applications, including Microsoft
Lync, Avaya, Aastra, and Polycom.
With HP Networking UC&C, your organization gets innovation, experience,

and expertise in an end-to-end, fully integrated UC&C solution that encom-
passes people, process, and technology. This solution can help enhance the
way people communicate, collaborate, and work throughout your organiza-
tion. By delivering contextual communications and collaboration to employ-
ees where, when, and how they need it, your business can gain a competitive
edge. You can attract and retain top talent; enable efficiency and productiv-
ity gains through faster and better decision making; and benefit from cost
containment through redeployment or reduction in IT, real estate, and travel
expenses.
In conjunction with HP AllianceOne partners such as Microsoft, HP Networking

plus Microsoft Lync UC&C solutions combine calendaring, email, voicemail,
instant messaging, presence awareness, enterprise telephony, and confer-
encing—including audio, video, and web—within a streamlined collaboration
environment. This can be delivered on-premise, outsourced as a managed
service, through the cloud, or a combination of hybrid solutions.
Learn more at www.hp.com/networking/uc.
Reference
1 Frost & Sullivan. “Best Practices for Successful Video Collaboration—Services Make
All the Difference,” July 2010. www.frost.com
Chapter 7
Key takeaways
In this chapter
99Technical takeaways
99Summary of HP FlexNetwork architecture
T his chapter summarizes the key technical takeaways for HP FlexNetwork

architecture for your organization.
zz Simplified networks―Simplify data center networks from legacy three-

tiered to optimized one- and two-tiered LAN architectures to increase
performance and reduce latency, increase scale and functionality, and
lower costs. Implementation of the HP FlexFabric solution and IRF can
result in reduced complexity and cost. The HP SDN technologies further
simplify networks and maximize agility.
zz Open and standards-based protocols―Open, industry-standard pro-

tocol implementations mitigate the risk and cost of change when the
network must adapt and enable enterprises to choose best-in-class solu-
tions to meet their business needs.
zz Application-enabled networks―VoIP creates network challenges

such as scalability, interoperability, security, and manageability. HP
FlexNetwork architecture’s UC&C solutions can increase productivity with
streamlined communications and collaboration, and also reduce operat-
ing costs and improve ROI.
zz Flexible network design―The unique approach of HP FlexNetwork

architecture to network design enables you to build a modular, heteroge-
neous network with interoperable multi-vendor components.
56 Chapter 7: Key takeaways
zz Security―HP FlexNetwork architecture provides you with a consistent

approach to securing all segments of the network: data center, campus,
and branch.
zz Interoperability―The HP AllianceOne partner program is a comprehen-

sive partner program focused on the HP Converged Infrastructure strat-
egy of providing a shared services model to deliver secure, best-in-class
applications.
zz Mobility―HP unified wired and wireless access and the HP BYOD mobil-
ity solutions deliver a robust and secure way for your users to access your
network and applications from any corporate or employee-owned laptop,
smartphone, or other mobile device, while IT can manage the networks,
access points, and security on a single management platform.
zz Ease of management―With HP FlexNetwork architecture, IT can put

an end to “swivel-chair management.” Instead, IMC, the single-pane-of-
glass management application, can be used across the data center, cam-
pus, and branch—the building blocks of your modular network.
zz Energy efficiency―HP Networking is the first networking vendor to

introduce switches that meet the IEEE 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet
standard.
Chapter 8
Resources and next steps
In this chapter
99HP services for your network infrastructure

99HP ExpertOne career certifications
99More information and resources
N ow that you have learned the capabilities of the HP networking portfo-

lio, you are ready to take the next steps. Read on to learn how you can obtain
more assistance and information.
Network infrastructure experts

Call on the services of an HP networking expert, or start creating your own
HP-certified experts.
Services
HP offers technology consulting, outsourcing, and support services to help
enterprises plan, deploy, and operate their network infrastructure to optimize
business results. HP can identify opportunities for automation and integrate
various aspects of HP Networking into your business processes to provide
you with increased business efficiency and new business models to help you
redefine your marketplace. This includes integration expertise to incorporate
the benefits of cloud networking, IPv6, UC&C, and mobility aligned with these
business objectives.
58 Chapter 8: Resources and next steps
The HP lifecycle approach to solutions begins with consultation and assess-

ments to help you develop your strategy. This moves into architecture plan-
ning and design, through to solution implementation and global support,
even to outsourcing if desired.
The collaborative and modular approach enables you to implement the HP

Networking components that address your most pressing needs first, and
then add future capabilities on a flexible timetable.
For more information, visit www.hp.com/networking/services.
HP ExpertOne career certifications for IT professionals

HP offers education services, focused on management of change, to foster
pervasive user adoption and learning solutions. The HP ExpertOne Program
offers certifications and training across a wide range of solutions, from all-
in-one PCs to cloud computing. Choose learning options that work for you,
including HP Press publications and instructor-led or web-based training.
HP Networking certification topics include:
zz Cloud
zz Converged Infrastructure
zz Wireless Networks
zz Network Security
zz Virtualization
zz TippingPoint Security
You can also join the HP ExpertOne community of 500,000 IT professionals

and gain access to experts around the globe.
For more information, visit www.hp.com/networking/training, www.hp.com/

certification, and www.hp.com/networking/expertone.
More information
Go to the HP Networking website, www.hp.com/networking, to find a wealth
of information about HP Networking solutions and products. Resources
include white papers, videos, blogs, press releases, brochures, case studies,
fact sheets, and solution briefs.
Table 8-1 lists pages and web addresses for solutions, technologies, and
other topics specific to HP Networking.
Table 8-1 HP web resources
HP web page Web address
HP FlexNetwork Architecture www.hp.com/networking/flexnetwork
HP FlexFabric Networks www.hp.com/networking/flexfabric
HP FlexCampus Network www.hp.com/networking/flexcampus

Solutions
HP FlexBranch Networking www.hp.com/networking/flexbranch

Solution
HP FlexManagement Networking www.hp.com/networking/

Solution flexmanagement
HP Converged Infrastructure www.hp.com/convergedinfrastructure
HP Virtual Application Networks www.hp.com/networking/van
OpenFlow: Enabling technology www.hp.com/networking/openflow

for software-defined networking
Data Center Interconnect (DCI) www.hp.com/networking/dci
Mobility www.hp.com/networking/mobility
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), a www.hp.com/networking/byod

Holistic Approach
HP Unified Wired and Wireless www.hp.com/networking/unified-access

Access
Table 8-1 continued on next page...

60 Chapter 8: Resources and next steps
HP web page Web address
Rich media communications www.hp.com/networking/richmedia
Unified Communications www.hp.com/networking/uc
Dynamic Virtual Private Network www.hp.com/networking/dvpn

(DVPN)
AllianceOne Networking www.hp.com/networking/allianceone

Specialization
HP ExpertOne www.hp.com/certification
HP ExpertOne networking career www.hp.com/networking/expertone

certification
HP Networking Services www.hp.com/networking/services
HP Networking Training www.hp.com/networking/training
HP Press www.hppress.com
HP networking innovation timeline

Innovation is the heart and soul of any successful technology company. As a leader
in technology innovation, HP has contributed to many computing and networking
advances over the past 40 years.
1973 Ethernet co-invented by 3Com founder Bob Metcalfe.

1982 Developed EtherSeries, the world’s first commercial networking
operating system, along with the first commercial version of TCP/IP
for Unix and the first PC Ethernet adapter.
1987 Invented key elements of the 10Base-T networking standard.
1990 Introduced the industry’s first 10Base-T stackable hubs.
1993 ProCurve Networking became the first networking technology
company to offer a lifetime warranty on its network hardware.
1999 Shipped first 1000Base-T (gigabit copper) switch.
1999 Invented auto-MDIX (medium dependent interface crossover) and
standardized to automatically connect using either a straight-through
or crossover cable.
2000 Developed the “switch on a chip” with HP ASIC (application-specific
integrated circuit) technology.
2005 / 2006 Key driver behind the LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol) and LLDP-
MED (LLDP for Media Endpoint Devices) standards and first vendor to
ship switches supporting them.
2009 Introduced Intelligent Resilient Framework (IRF) as the industry’s
first stacking technology that revolutionized the manageability and
resiliency of networks.
2009 Introduced Intelligent Management Center (IMC) as the first single-
pane-of-glass management application for wired and wireless
networks with multivendor support.
2010 First to ship a switch supporting the PoE (Power Over Ethernet) Plus
standard (up to 30W per port).
2010 Acquired networking innovator 3Com.
2011 Shipped the industry’s first switch with the Energy Efficient Ethernet
(EEE) standard.
2012 Introduced the FlexNetwork Utility Advantage Program, a pay-per-
use managed network offering in partnership with communications
service providers, for enterprise and public sector clients.
2012 In collaboration with Stanford University, announced the first
commercially available open-standards-based software-defined
network (SDN) technologies, OpenFlow software, across 16 switch
product lines.
Acknowledgments
At HP Press, our goal is to create in-depth technical books of the best quality
and value. Each book is crafted with care and precision, undergoing rigorous
development that involves the expertise of members from the professional
technical community. We would like to acknowledge the team of experts who
helped bring this book to market.
Author: Teresa S. Stover
HP Press Program Manager: Michael Bishop
HP Networking Program Manager: Joseph T. Rice
HP Contributors:
Rob Owyang Rebecca Humphress
Kevin Secino Gladys Alegre-Kimura
Manfred Arndt Steve Brar
Ahmad Zamer Denise Buecheler
Sam Rastogi Mary Peterson
Martine Velkeniers Monique Lucey
John Gray
Publisher: HP Press
HP Headquarters
Hewlett-Packard Company
3000 Hanover Street
Palo Alto, CA
94304-1185
USA
Phone: (+1) 650-857-1501

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Phone: (+1) 650-857-1501

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

Chapter 1 Introduction to HP Networking....................................1

Chapter 2 Networking trends and solutions..............................5

Chapter 3 Building on an HP Networking foundation..... 13

Chapter 4 Cloud computing and virtualization..................... 33

Chapter 6 Rich media and UC&C......................................................... 51

Chapter 7 Key takeaways......................................................................... 55

Chapter 8 Resources and next steps.............................................. 57

99HP Networking tradition

N etworking has long been an integral part of an enterprise’s infrastruc-

HP has been a central innovator in this new wave of enterprise networking,

The HP Networking tradition

In the early 1980s, HP opened the doors on its networking business in

In 2010, HP acquired long-time networking innovator 3Com, solidifying HP’s

HP Networking here and now

Through years of technology innovations and by delivering compelling busi-

In fact, HP has continued to deliver innovative technology and exceed the

zz Cloud computing, including virtualization

zz Rich media collaboration

99Current technology trends

T echnology innovations of recent years are driving unprecedented

Organizations that can harness these innovations are well positioned to

To help organizations thrive and forge ahead with new opportunities, HP

Harnessing innovation for business advantage

Therefore, IT departments are under constant pressure to support a grow-

Rich media and unified communications and collaboration

Supporting rich media collaboration, however, creates complexity and risk

The HP Networking solutions portfolio

Furthermore, Virtual Application Networks (VAN) automate network opera-

With HP FlexNetwork architecture, HP is committed to providing value and

Open, industry-standard implementations mitigate the risk and cost of change

The HP AllianceOne partner program takes open protocols and interoperability

With an open, standards-based solution, enterprises can migrate from legacy

By contrast, HP FlexNetwork architecture scales on three dimensions: secu-

zz The most basic functionality to the most feature-rich

zz Limited connectivity to multi-site large-scale connectivity

zz Megabit to terabit capacity

HP FlexNetwork architecture gives customers a consistent approach to secur-

In the campus and branch, HP FlexNetwork architecture delivers perimeter

HP network security is based on industry-leading research from HP DVLabs.

In an SDN environment, the HP Sentinel Security Application stops threats

HP FlexNetwork architecture minimizes downtime and disruption, and eases

With software-defined networking (SDN), IT can orchestrate network services

Instead, with the HP FlexManagement solution, a single-pane-of-glass man-

Industry standards-based technologies enable consistent management and

Traditional three-tiered network architectures (consisting of the core, dis-

In fact, according to an International Data Corporation (IDC) white paper

2 HP. “Extend and Simplify the Management of your Heterogeneous Network

3 IDC White Paper, sponsored by HP, “ROI of a Complete Networking Portfolio:

99Optimized infrastructure with HP FlexNetwork

W ith HP FlexNetwork architecture, your enterprise can now modular-

HP FlexManagement and HP Intelligent Management Center (HP IMC), and get

Building agility on an HP infrastructure

HP FlexNetwork architecture, a cornerstone of HP Converged Infrastructure

Learn more at www.hp.com/convergedinfrastructure.

HP FlexNetwork architecture helps enterprises build cost-effective and effi-

Adapting networks to changing applications