The FINANCIAL -- HP announced a portfolio of OpenFlow-enabled switches, providing customers with the broadest choice in the industry for simplifying network management while meeting a wide range of bandwidth, performance and budget needs.

The portfolio spans 16 models and includes the HP 3500, 5400 and 8200 series switches, according to Hewlett-Packard Development Company. Additionally, HP plans to expand support for OpenFlow across all switches in the HP FlexNetwork architecture this year, making HP the only major networking vendor to offer a complete portfolio of OpenFlow-enabled solutions.

OpenFlow is an emerging network virtualization technology that provides customers flexibility and control to configure their networking environments to their specifications.

Deploying the OpenFlow standard enables enterprises to significantly reduce the complexity of network devices and automate tasks using simplified network management. By reducing the time it takes to make changes to the network, OpenFlow allows IT staff to better respond to changing needs in real time.

Customers and partners can now access a free upgrade to HP’s OpenFlow-enabled software for their HP switches here.

HP switches with OpenFlow-enabled software have been deployed by academic and commercial researchers worldwide to achieve simplified management. The extensive testing and practical application of OpenFlow technology on HP switches over the last four years in these environments have helped to ready the standard for broad enterprise use.

HP partners and customers include Indiana University, Stanford University and the Global Environment for Network Innovations Project. The GENI Project, operated by Raytheon BBN Technologies and funded by the National Science Foundation, is a virtual laboratory that explores future applications and services for efficient, agile networks.

HP is a founding member of the Open Networking Foundation, which continues to advance the OpenFlow standard in order to lower network operating costs for enterprises through simplifying hardware, software and management processes. Additionally, HP Labs – the company’s central research arm – has been developing programmable networks since 2008, and has published research on evolving OpenFlow technology for broader deployment by enterprises.

HP Networking is a key component of HP Converged Infrastructure, which enables the Instant-On Enterprise. The Instant-On Enterprise embeds technology in everything it does to serve customers, employees, partners and citizens with whatever they need, instantly.

HP’s premier client event, HP Discover, takes place June 4-7 in Las Vegas.

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