HP ProCurve Networking unveils new enterprise core switch

HP's network equipment arm ProCurve Networking launched its new high-end core switch aimed at enterprises.

The new 8212zl succeeds the 5400zl family of switches and is the first core switch to use HP's ProVision ASIC technology.

Speaking at the launch in Sofia Antipolis in France, John McHugh, vice president and general manager, ProCurve Networking, said that the new core switch was a high-performance, highly scalable, chassis core switch platform that provided comprehensive Layer 2 through Layer 4 features and advanced security.

"The 8212zl is designed to be a complement to an intelligent edge networking deployment," said McHugh. "This is the first core networking product that has a lifetime guarantee compared to other products in the market that have a 90 day guarantee."

He said the company has already sold 100 of the networking chassis, including the University of Westminster in London. McHugh added that the market for core switches was around £1.1 billion a year in EMEA and he hoped ProCurve would get around 30 per cent of this market, although he did not say when this target would be achieved.

Analysts said that the launch of the switch meant that customers had a range of core and edge switches that are designed to make it easier and less expensive to operate converged and highly complex networks.

"Because they are based on ProCurve architecture, they share common parts and improved management across devices - not many vendors offer this," said Matthias Machowinski, Enterprise Voice and Data directing analyst at analyst firm Infonetics Research.

The company also launched its ProCurve Wireless Edge Services zl module, which adds centralised wireless LAN configuration, management and advanced wireless services to the 8212zl core switch and 5400zl edge switch family.

The module puts ProCurve's Active Defense technology in wireless networks. This, it said, enabled a trusted network infrastructure that provided immunity from threats and protects data and integrity for all users.

The 8212zl core switch is priced at £14,102 for the base chassis and the Wireless Edge Services zl module is set to cost £3,172.

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