HP core LAN switch boasts new architecture

HP this week is expected to unveil a core LAN switch backed by a lifetime warranty that allows enterprises to deploy an operationally consistent network from the edge to the core.

Take a closer look at HP ProCurve's 8212zl Core Switch

HP’s ProCurve Switch 8212zl is the company’s first core offering based on HP’s ProVision ASICs. ProVision first emerged on the company’s ProCurve 5400zl and 3500yl series edge switches 18 months ago.

The 8212zl allows HP to now offer a core-to-edge network switching system that unifies network technology, infrastructure, software, operation, management and support, company officials say.

Use of common components also lowers cost of ownership and reduces complexity, HP claims.

The switch’s lifetime warranty means users can receive next-business-day replacement with phone and e-mail support. HP says it also offers lifetime software and firmware updates for its ProCurve product line to reduce the risk and unexpected cost of incremental feature enhancements and bug fixes.

Click to see: HP’s ProCurve Switch 8212zl

One analyst says the lifetime warranty is HP’s differentiator in a tough market, though its relevance is customer-specific.

“They’re the only company I’ve seen offering a lifetime warranty on their equipment,” says Matthias Machowinski, directing analyst for enterprise voice and data research at Infonetics Research. “But it depends on the company how long [the switch] will be deployed in the network. As technology keeps improving some may want to stay ahead of the curve; others are keeping equipment until it breaks. But people are always looking for value, so all things being equal it sweetens the deal.”

The ProCurve Switch 8212zl is a 692Gbps, 12-slot chassis core switch that provides Layer 2 through 4 switching, with security. It sports 288 Gigabit Ethernet ports with Power-over-Ethernet capabilities, and 48 10GbE ports. It also supports high-availability features such as customer hot-swappable, redundant management, fabric and power, HP says.

Competition for Cisco

Though it will face competition from just about every core switch from every major manufacturer, the 8212zl is intended to go up squarely against Cisco’s Catalyst 6509 and 4507 switches. The 6509 has a switching capacity of 720Gbps, and supports 386 Gigabit Ethernet and 64 10GbE ports; the 108Gbps 4507 sports 240 Gigabit Ethernet and 2 10GbE interfaces.

HP may be emerging as a more formidable competitor to Cisco, which dominates the enterprise LAN switching arena. HP experienced year-over-year port growth for the second quarter more than double the industry growth rate, according to Dell’Oro Group.

HP grew worldwide port shipments by 46% in the second calendar quarter compared to the industry growth rate of 21%. North American port growth for HP in the second quarter in the overall Layer 2 through 7 switching market was 57% in a market that grew by 14%.

The 8212zl may also hasten the conclusion of HP’s six-year-old OEM arrangement with Foundry Networks for core switches. HP has been offering the Foundry switches as the ProCurve 9300m line and will continue to do so, even though sales are “dropping off,” according to Dan Montesanto, HP ProCurve product marketing manager.