HP promises greater network flexibility with FlexNetwork updates

HP has announced the availability of new hardware and software updates to its FlexNetwork architecture, designed to help businesses increase the flexibility of corporate networks.

The updates cover the entire Flex range, and the FlexFabric element for the datacentre now boasts news software in the HP 12500 switch series that HP claims can improve server-to-server traffic performance by 80 per cent and support IPv6 connections.

HP also announced a new 10GbE top-of-rack switch, the 5900, that offers up to 300 per cent greater network scalability and the ability to virtualise the switches in use from four to one to reduce total cost of ownership, the firm said.

The 5900 is expected to be available in early 2012 in the US at a starting price of $38,000, while the 12500 update is available this autumn and is free for existing customers.

The Flex Campus range now includes the HP 3800 stackable switch that provides 76 per cent lower latency and 122 per cent higher 10GbE port density to reduce power consumption, according to HP. The switch is available now from $4,970.

HP has also updated the FlexBranch range for small office environments, adding the ability for customers to use virtualised service modules from partners VMware and Citrix to accelerate the delivery of applications to workers in branch offices.

The HP Advanced Services zl Module with VMware vSphere 5 starts at $5,299, and the HP Advanced Services zl Module with Citrix XenServer starts at $4,499.

Finally, in an update to the FlexManagement software, HP will release version 5.1 of the Intelligent Management Centre to support the access and management of almost 6,000 end user devices. This update will be available at the beginning of 2012 from $6,995.

Olivier Vallois, HP Networking's datacentre solutions manager for Europe, told V3 that the updates will appeal to firms of all sizes in helping to manage networks.

"The benefit of the Flex range is that it provide a seamless system across an entire network, so larger enterprises can use elements from the whole system and run 2,000 10GB ports for example, but it can also scale for SMEs," he said.

"With the virtualised Flex Branch update, small companies with smaller networks can use the system to help service their networks, for example."