HP's new line of switches provides customers with more options in open network environments, improving their ability to tailor their data center network to their requirements. The new switch offering addresses customer needs through dedicated sales teams, offering hardware and software selection, backed by local support and services worldwide through HP Technology Services. This enables customers to streamline operations and reduce supply chain risks. These new products are among the industry's first in an emerging category of switches known as "brite box switches."(1) HP will
provide these new network switches to customers with web-scale data centers through its agreements with Accton Technology Corporation and Cumulus Networks.
The HP-Accton Technology alliance further strengthens the business relationship between the two companies and their efforts to provide disaggregated network solutions that meet the business needs of next-generation web-scale data centers in terms of network capabilities and competitive costs. Accton Technology's ability to develop and manufacture open switches, combined with HP's industry leadership in networking and its recognized global consulting and support capabilities, will enable the delivery of new, high-density, easy-to-deploy and install, cost-competitive "brite box" switch solutions to the market.
 
Bringing Linux OS to Cloud Data Centers:
HP has also announced its collaboration agreement with Cumulus Networks for the network operating system (OS). With Cumulus Linux networking OS included in the new HP open switches, customers can leverage the configuration, management, and control tools available through the open source and commercial Linux communities to deploy cloud data centers that best meet their business requirements.
 
HP's open switches provide high scalability and a lower total cost of ownership.
With this brite-box solution, HP differentiates itself from third-party manufacturers and other competitors by eliminating supply chain risk, providing a global presence in more than 160 countries, and offering a wide range of high-value support and consulting services. The new product line is designed to enable a more agile IT infrastructure and accelerate time to market for IT services. Another customer benefit is the lower total cost of ownership due to the use of standards-based hardware and simplified software, reducing acquisition and operating costs by up to 68%.(2)
As a starting point, HP is introducing two switches, one 10G/40G and one 10G, targeted at data centers based on leaf and spine topologies. Both switches will be available with Cumulus Linux OS and allow for automated operating system installation using network environment loading software. During the second half of 2015, HP will expand its product line to include 25G/50G/100G switches for web-scale data centers with higher demands, and 1G switches to meet specific customer needs. HP will also expand its network hardware and operating system options to meet emerging customer requirements. These expanded offerings will enhance businesses' ability to tailor their network infrastructures to meet the demands of specific applications and workloads.
 
To help customers transform their networks and build web-scale data centers, HP Technology Services offers HP Trusted Network Transformation, which provides an end-to-end approach to risk management in complex environments by proactively preventing problems and unplanned downtime. Through a modular approach, HP complements organizations' internal expertise with its resources where it can add value.
 
Pricing and Availability
The new portfolio of open network switches will be available at the end of March, at which time pricing details will also be announced.
(1) Brite box network switches are an emerging category and are described by Gartner in a recent report as follows: “This approach essentially 'differentiates' traditional switches from white-box switches.” Gartner, The Future of Data Center Network Switches Looks 'Brite', Andrew Lerner, Joe Skorupa, December 1, 2014
(2) Credit Suisse Securities Research and Analytics. September 18, 2013. Cisco Systems Inc.

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