Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Menu
Search
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Networking

    HP Stacks Up the Switches

    By
    Paula Musich
    -
    August 28, 2006
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Hewlett-Packard is jumping on what it perceives to be a trend to move away from unmanaged switches, coming out with a new, Web-configurable Layer 2 stackable switch that it will introduce on Aug. 28.

      The switch is one of five coming from the companys ProCurve Networking unit. The switches are intended to fill out the low end of HPs line of fixed-configuration switches. Theyre also meant to solidify HP as the No. 2 LAN switching provider behind Cisco Systems.

      ProCurve will bring to the new switches its trademark lifetime warranty, which does not require an annual maintenance contract, as well as new noiseless operation to units intended to sit on a desktop.

      At the same time, with the new ProCurve Switch 1800 Series, HP is attempting to address a trend it has seen among customers to move away from unmanaged LAN switches to those that can be configured and maintained simply via a Web interface, according to Darla Somerville, vice president and general manager of HPs ProCurve America unit, in Roseville, Calif. She said that HP has seen the trend both among small and midsize businesses and larger enterprises adopting managed switches for small, remote offices.

      Despite a heavy industry focus on Layer 3 switching, demand remains steady for Layer 2 switches—especially among SMBs, according to Katie Trippet, an industry analyst with Synergy Research Group, in Reno, Nev.

      Trippet forecast the annual market growth rate for fixed Gigabit Ethernet Layer 2 switches to be 7.55 percent between now and 2009, when the research company projects it will be a $1.95 billion market.

      The 1800 Series switch includes a 24-port version with a Gigabit Ethernet uplink and an eight-port desktop switch without a fan for quiet operation in an office environment.

      The eight-port version is just what the doctor ordered for ProCurve users at Lakeside-Milam Recovery Centers, in Kirkland, Wash. “There always seems to come a need for additional staff to share an office with someone,” said Jerry Luedtke, IS director for Lakeside-Milam. “With the 1800, I can tie it into [a wiring closet switch] and extend that into the office, so I dont have to pull cable [to accommodate new users]. It securely extends the data closet into the office space without the heavy expenditure of pulling a cable.”

      The eight-port switch also extends features such as trunking, VLANs (virtual LANs) and traffic prioritization to a low-end switch that is typically not available in the category, according to HP officials.

      The small form factor also works well for Lakeside-Milam. “You can hide it very easily so that end users dont see it. But [because its a managed switch] I can see it on the network, manage it with [SNMP] and secure it. Its perfect,” said Luedtke.

      Another new stackable aimed at the SMB market and those looking to migrate to a managed switch is the new ProCurve Switch 2510. It also eliminates noise for desktop operation by using no fan, but it provides 24 ports of 10/100 Ethernet connectivity with two extra ports for Gigabit Ethernet uplinks.

      The most advanced of the new stackables, the ProCurve Switch 2810 Series, is a high-performance Gigabit Ethernet switch offered in 24- and 48-port models. It brings more advanced traffic prioritization, traffic monitoring and more flexible user authentication to the stackable form factor. It is designed to bring greater throughput to bandwidth-intensive applications such as video streaming, data storage and graphical data applications.

      The switches, expected to arrive between Sept. 1 and Sept. 15, range in price from $209 to $3,949.

      Check out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, views and analysis on servers, switches and networking protocols for the enterprise and small businesses.

      Paula Musich

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Android

      Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro: Durability for Tough...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 5, 2020 0
      Have you ever dropped your phone, winced and felt the pain as it hit the sidewalk? Either the screen splintered like a windshield being...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Why Data Security Will Face Even Harsher...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 1, 2020 0
      Who would know more about details of the hacking process than an actual former career hacker? And who wants to understand all they can...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      How Veritas Is Shining a Light Into...

      eWEEK EDITORS - September 25, 2020 0
      Protecting data has always been one of the most important tasks in all of IT, yet as more companies become data companies at the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      How NVIDIA A100 Station Brings Data Center...

      Zeus Kerravala - November 18, 2020 0
      There’s little debate that graphics processor unit manufacturer NVIDIA is the de facto standard when it comes to providing silicon to power machine learning...
      Read more
      Apple

      Why iPhone 12 Pro Makes Sense for...

      Wayne Rash - November 26, 2020 0
      If you’ve been watching the Apple commercials for the past three weeks, you already know what the company thinks will happen if you buy...
      Read more

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×