Business white paper. Migrating your data center to HP Open Networks

Transcription

1 Business white paper Migrating your data center to HP Open Networks

2 Table of contents 3 Executive summary 3 Why open networks? 5 HP FlexNetwork architecture the foundation of converged infrastructure 7 Benefits of a dual-vendor strategy 8 Migrating journey made easy with HP 9 Planning for dual-vendor networks 10 HP planning tools 11 HP Planning and Consulting Services 12 Deploying HP Networking in dual-vendor environments 13 HP deployment tools and services 14 HP Consulting Services for Deployment 14 HP Intelligent Management Center 15 Consider a proof of concept test 15 Training resources 16 HP Financial Services 16 Change the rules of networking with HP open networks

3 Who should read this paper? As a senior IT business leader, we invite you to discover the merits of dual-vendor strategy for data center networking. Here, you will learn how migrating your data center to open standard HP networks can be facilitated by partnering with HP, and how you can take advantage of the tools, extensive expertise, and resources HP offers. This document discusses the planning and deployment phases that are an integral part of the familiar and well-established practice of using Plan, Deploy, Install, and Operate (PDIO) model in data center environments. Executive summary In a truly global digital economy, amidst growing data and mobile users, IT has evolved to meet dynamic business needs. At the heart of the IT evolution are enterprise data centers that are undergoing fundamental changes in most aspects of their operations. While the compute and storage elements of data centers evolved and adapted to changes, the network component has remained somewhat stagnant. This lack of progress can be attributed in part to a near monopoly market condition that has persisted in this segment. Data centers with legacy network infrastructures are not suited for virtualization or cloud computing, and they lack the ability to meet growing business needs. Today s networks must be designed to deliver higher levels of application reliability, performance, scalability, and availability than ever before. Customers can take advantage of HP FlexFabric solutions to build virtualized data centers that are ready to support cloud computing and reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) of data centers. Business decision-makers are increasingly looking for better ways to free themselves from legacy designs that lock in customers and have higher costs. They prefer to establish their networks on open industry standards to be more scalable, interoperable, along with single pane-of-glass management, low operating costs, and investment protection. HP is leading the way toward open networks with unmatched interoperability, expert knowledge, and world-class consulting services to provide smooth implementation of IT projects. Why open networks? Traditional data center networks were designed for traffic that travels from server to users. New federated applications as well as virtualization and cloud computing environments significantly increase data traffic between servers. As a result, this requires new data center designs that support heavy server-to-server traffic patterns. Traditional 3-tier networks vs. 2-tier architecture The cloud is a vehicle for delivering Infrastructure as a Service, and data centers must adapt to this new reality. Legacy 3-tier network architectures are constrained by complexity, lower bandwidth due to oversubscription, and high latency contrary to business requirements. Conventional networks fail to meet the reliability, security, agility, and performance requirements of virtualized, cloud computing environments. 3

4 Legacy 3-tier networks were built for data centers of a different time. 3-tier designs were ideal for legacy environments, where most network traffic moved server to user or north to south. By contrast, today s data centers need to support new applications, where most traffic flows server to server or east to west (E-W). It is estimated that in cloud-ready data centers about 80 percent of network traffic will be server to server, or E-W. 1 The server-to-server traffic is also driven by federated applications, large data, and data analytics. Figure 1. A traditional 3-tier network N By 2014, network planners should expect more than 80 percent of traffic in the data center network to be between servers. 1 If enterprises do not change the tiered network design, they will experience increased congestion, as traffic levels between servers in the data center will grow during the next two to three years. 1 W Up to 80% of traffic E S Rack servers Blade servers Legacy architectures use outdated networking technologies that are no longer suitable for large networks. For example, STP, or variances of it, is used to eliminate loops from developing. STP allows only one open link between nodes blocking all others, or placing them on standby. This reduces network bandwidth and is not an optimum design for traffic flow between servers. Modern networks deploy STP-free protocols that leave all links open, utilize all available network bandwidth, and improve network performance. Another painful aspect of legacy networks is the deployment and management costs. IT professionals labor over managing growing network configurations device by device. The added workload necessitates a simpler and more practical approach to network deployment, configuration, and management. As enterprises look for data center architectures that meet their application needs, they are adopting infrastructure that are easier to deploy and simpler to manage. Virtualization brings with it the promise of dynamic workloads as exemplified by VMware vmotion. Legacy networks frequently fail to track the resources associated with migrated virtualized applications or virtual machines (VMs). Even worse, some designs restrict the use of data center resources to specific applications creating resource silos. Going forward, data centers must make all storage, compute, and networking resources available to all applications by transforming resources into an elastic pool of virtual elements. To enable resilient, scalable, virtualized and converged data centers, dynamic allocation of all resources to all enterprise applications is necessary. 1 Your Data Center Network is Heading for Traffic Chaos, Bjarne Munch, Gartner ID: G , April 27,

5 HP FlexNetwork architecture the foundation of converged infrastructure HP FlexNetwork is a industry s leading modular, end-to-end consistent networking architecture that overcomes legacy network shortfalls. It delivers the scale, security, and manageability needed for cloud based, rich media-centric, and mobile applications. The HP FlexNetwork architecture enables enterprises to align their networks with their changing business needs. HP FlexFabric, HP FlexCampus, HP FlexBranch, and HP FlexManagement are the four modular building blocks of the FlexNetwork architecture and key components of the HP Converged Infrastructure. The HP FlexNetwork architecture allows IT administrators to manage different network segments through a single pane-of-glass management application (HP Intelligent Management Center [IMC]). Note: HP Converged Infrastructure provides your blueprint for the data center of the future that accelerates the provisioning of IT services and applications by integrating servers, storage, networking, security, power, cooling, and facilities into shared pools of interoperable resources all managed through a common management platform. Figure 2. HP FlexNetwork architecture Industry s only network architecture converging data center, campus, and branch FlexFabric Converges and secures data center network, compute, and storage in the physical and virtual worlds FlexCampus Converges wired and wireless networks to deliver secure identity-based access FlexBranch Converges network functionality, security, and services for simplicity FlexFabric FlexCampus FlexBranch FlexManagement Converges Network Management and Orchestration FlexManagement FlexNetwork Architecture Open Scalable Secure Agile Consistent FlexNetwork Architecture Benefits of the HP FlexNetwork architecture The HP FlexNetwork architecture is an open and standards-based solution with scalability in three dimensions: security, agility, and consistency. It delivers five primary benefits: Open standards-based adherence for better network integration; it frees customers from vendor lock in and gives them the freedom to select best-in-class solutions. Scalable network performance scales up or down to accommodate changing business needs and workloads; this helps ensure effective deployment of network resources and predictable spending. Secure consistent security across architectural building blocks and VMs; secures customers and business information and enables enterprises to conduct business with confidence. Agile sophisticated orchestration for quick response to changing business needs; enhances resource utilization and helps ensure timely delivery of IT services. Consistent advanced network tools manage HP and Cisco equipment with consistency of configuration and management; this improves networking interoperability, reduces management costs, and simplifies migration to HP open networks. HP FlexFabric The HP FlexFabric solution module of the FlexNetwork architecture converges and secures data center network, compute, and storage in the physical and virtual environments. The HP FlexFabric solution module delivers flatter, higher-performance, low-latency 2-tier data center networks that improve service levels, help ensure business continuity, enable service agility, and reduce capital and operating costs. 5

6 I am bought into the principle and evolution of infrastructure convergence, as it will harmonize with data center initiatives around the deployment of virtualization, real time infrastructure and cloud computing. Andrew Butler, Distinguished Analyst and VP, Gartner, July 2010 Figure 3. 2-tier networks best suited for server-to-server traffic IRF IRF Virtual Connect W Up to 80% of traffic E Rack servers Blade servers Flatter 2-tier architecture provided by FlexFabric increases the performance of new applications, which requires the traffic flows to be server-to-server, or E-W. In a 2-tier network, traffic traverses shorter distances between servers as it no longer travels through the network core after going through the aggregation layer. In a nutshell, shorter distances improve performance. HP FlexFabric data center networking empowers IT to deliver better business services for the physical, virtual, and cloud solutions. At the network core, customers can take advantage on the highly scalable, cut-through modular architecture of the HP series. Enterprises can choose eight or eighteen slot platforms for 10GbE low-latency solutions. At the access layer, customers have a wide selection of fixed port top of rack (ToR) GbE and 10GbE switches. All of the ToR server access switches supports the innovative switch virtualization HP Intelligent Resilient Framework (IRF) technology. For low latencies and high port densities, the HP 5800 Switch Series makes good sense, while the HP 5830 Switch Series adds large buffers and high port densities to the GbE product line. For converged networks with FCoE the HP 5820 Switch Series offers great 10GbE solution. The HP 5900AF 10GbE ToR series is the right choice for more demanding environments with need for ultra low latencies, high port densities, or larger buffers with IPv6 support. In addition to the full line of ToR switches, we offer industry-leading HP Virtual Connect FCoE convergence solution for c-class bladed servers along with HP 6120 Blade Switch that rounds up our server access offering. Complementing the FlexFabric offering are the HP FlexFabric Interconnect and FCoE technologies. FlexFabric Interconnect is a data center-to-data center interconnect solution that enables high-performance remote vmotion workload mobility. HP has been leading the market in providing converged networking at the server edge with Virtual Connect and the 5820 Switch Series. HP anticipates to extend FCoE support to deliver end-to-end solutions utilizing data center bridging, transparent interconnection of lots of links, and FCoE before the end of

7 Figure 4. HP FlexFabric product portfolio Core /8800 HP TippingPoint Core Controller, vcontroller S6100N IPS, security subscription services Access BladeSystem servers Virtual Connect 612x Blade switch 5800, 5900 IMC service orchestration The elimination of vendor-specific functionality from the segment boundaries and utilizing standards-based communication allows competitive bidding and typical savings of percent. 2 Deep dive: Debunking the myth of the single-vendor network 3 This research paper explores the topic of dual vendors in detail. You will find some very specific quantitative analysis taken from hundreds of annual inquiries related to this topic, and excerpts of extensive interviews conducted with organizations that have stayed with single vendor network With the convergence power of HP FlexNetwork architecture, you can overcome the challenges of legacy data center networks and adopt an innovative, open, standard-based network solution that helps you keep pace with your growing business demands. Read more about the FlexNetwork innovations. Benefits of a dual-vendor strategy The old misconception that it s better to build data centers using one supplier of networking equipment is fading away. Customers have been told that a single vendor s throat to choke is better because it reduces complexity, simplifies management, and lowers cost. However, some customers have come to find that, actually the throat being choked is theirs. The customers have learned that purchasing from a single vendor who dominates the market share has driven up costs and complexity. The notion that a single supplier is easier to work with and provides favorable pricing is promoted by incumbent suppliers seeking vendor lock in. In reality, a single vendor strategy has more downfalls than benefits. Contrary to the prevalent belief, customers experience with introducing a second networking vendor to data centers have proven beneficial to businesses and made better financial sense. Adopting a dual-vendor strategy is much easier to implement than what many believe. It is less expensive than continuing with a single-vendor approach and requires moderate time and effort from IT teams. It is no secret that one vendor s networking tools are very similar to the ones IT teams would be working with in a two-vendor environment. This reality eases migration transitions and alleviates some of the concerns that one might have regarding dual vendor approach. Figure 5. Gartner research series 2 Clients that don t segment their network infrastructure will have higher costs and increased vendor lock-in, Tim Zimmerman, Gartner ID: G , March 15, Debunking the myth of the single-vendor network, Mark Fabbi, Debra Curtis, Gartner ID G , November 17,

8 Our very own data center migration success story As a proof of HP s firm belief in the value of migrating to open-standards networks, we successfully migrated our own data centers to an all-hp network infrastructure. In the process, HP increased network capacity, performance, and accelerated services delivery while significantly optimizing costs. Read more. Industry analysts research supports HP s view that a dual-vendor strategy is beneficial to data centers and essential for successful move to cloud computing. More importantly, a dual vendor approach is a must for reducing runaway costs of single-vendor limited options and guarding against proprietary solutions and dreaded vendor lock-ins. In a recent study, research firm Gartner found that Introducing a second networking vendor will reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) for most organizations by at least 15 percent to 25 percent over a five year time frame. 4 In addition to the compelling financial benefits, adding a second vendor to your network gives you the freedom to use solutions that best fit your business needs. Selecting the right networking vendors for your data center is critical for ensuring the success of deploying cloud-ready infrastructure and reaping the benefits of the dual-vendor approach. Enterprises that have chosen single-vendor network solutions are realizing that networks built on proprietary protocols ultimately limit their choices and fail to offer adequate agility. Proprietary architectures make organizations more subservient to vendors priorities, than to their own business priorities. Open networks are the logical and the only natural way forward as we move to deliver infrastructure and IT as services, based on virtualized data centers built for cloud computing. Enterprises need networks that can easily move applications and services to the cloud in a seamless, open, and multivendor way. Independent test results confirm the concrete and measurable benefits of HP open networks. The HP network offerings are based on wide, market-leading data center product portfolio and proven record of innovations that are further supported by the experience of running about 50 percent of VMs workloads deployed in data centers. HP leads by example HP has been helping enterprises worldwide to migrate to HP open standards-based networks successfully for years now. We have helped enterprises install more than five million converged networking ports and run about half of VM workloads deployed in data centers across the globe. Partner with HP for migrating away from legacy infrastructure to a virtualized and cloud ready data center infrastructure. You can simply add HP Networking to a Cisco environment in your data center to support a new or refreshed application. And at a right time, we can help you migrate your data center entirely to HP Networking infrastructure. If you are deploying a new data center based on HP open networking, we can work with you to connect it to existing data centers that are using Cisco infrastructure. You can learn more about experiences of many customers who have successfully deployed HP Networking in their data centers. To make your migration to HP Networking easier, HP brings to the table its global leadership in data center infrastructure and virtualization. HP also draws from its own experience in migrating all of its data centers to HP Networking. On top of that, we deliver the tools needed for migration along with the training and consulting services that are right for the success of transforming your data center. Migrating journey made easy with HP To take customers through the journey of migrating to a dual-vendor environment, HP offers some recommendations and tools to make the planning and deployment phases of PDIO process easier. In the next sections, we describe some of the ways HP can be of assistance, including optional services that some customers may find valuable. Figure 6. Open standards ease migration Legacy core HP Collapsed Core + Aggregation IRF HP Collapsed Core + Aggregation IRF More simplicity Greater agility Lower cost 4 Debunking the myth of the single-vendor network, Mark Fabbi, Debra Curtis, Gartner ID G , November 17, HP Aggregation IRF HP server edge IRF Blade/ Rack servers Optimized 3-tier Investment protected HP server edge IRF Blade/ Rack servers Simplified 2-tier Complexity reduced HP BladeSystem servers and Virtual Connect Integrated BladeSystem 1-tier Virtualized, cloud enabled

9 Planning for dual-vendor networks HP is an ideal partner for customers looking to invest in the future of networking open, industry-standards based networking. HP delivers a clear vision for converged networks and commitment to highest quality products, unmatched support and optional consulting services. There is no doubt that planning for your migration project is critical. In addition to careful planning, HP recommends a gradual approach to network migration starting with the access layer switches, then moving on to the aggregation and core layers of the network. As shown in figure 6, customers with legacy 3-tier networks may continue with that deployment model and add HP switches for investment protection. At the server access layer, customers may deploy HP ToR switched as a first step for use with rack mounted servers or HP Virtual Connect bladed servers. Figure 7. FlexFabric boundary protocols AllianceONE X 7 8 Standard exterior boundary protocols WAN OSPF v2 (IPv4), OSPF v3 (IPv6) 2 BFD 3 Multicast L2/L3 (PIM) 4 BGP 5 VLAN Trunking 6 MPLS, VPLS Core 7 IPsec, IP GRE 8 OSPF v2 (IPv4), OSPF v3 (IPv6) Proprietary protocols hygiene Services Access Security X IGRP, EIGRP, OTV Enterprises with 2-tiered networking environment can deploy HP solutions at the server edge while keeping the existing core devices. As business grows and the need arises for more scalable and agile network, customers can migrate the network core to HP series of modular and scalable switches. With that, customers will be able to migrate to 2-tier network environment safely without disruptions. As a starting point of the planning process, evaluate what is already in place in your data center. HP can conduct a discovery workshop to gather information that can determine your environment and together we will establish the business objective you are looking to achieve. Figure 8. FlexFabric interlayer protocols AllianceONE 7 WAN 8 1 X Core 1 X Services Access Security 1 X 6 9 Standard interior boundary protocols 1. IEEE 802.1Q, VLAN Trunking, LACP, IEEE 802.1p 2. IEEE 802.1az, 802.1bb 3. STP, MSTP, RSTP, PVST+ 4. OSPF v2 (IPv4), OSPF v3 (IPv6), BGP 5. BFD 6. Multicast L2/L3 (PIM) 7. VRRP 8. NAT 9. FCoE, iscsi Proprietary protocols hygiene X X DCE IGRP, EIGRP, HSRP 9

10 Decide which business applications, networking equipment, or network layer you plan to migrate. Identify all the interface points between the existing and new equipment. In case you are migrating an application, identify all the network and data center resources utilized by the migrating application, such as payroll or accounts receivable. You must also account for the users that rely on the application in question. It is always better to minimize the points of contacts during migration projects. Conduct inventory of the Layer-2 and Layer-3 protocols that are in use and identify ones that might have variations from full compliance with open industry standards. Work here should be to look at protocols at the boundaries of the core, aggregation, and access layers of the network. You should also look at inter layer protocols that need to be replaced. Identify the equivalent standard networking protocols for inter-layer or boundary protocols that were noted in the previous step. For example, if we identified Cisco Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP) protocol, then we need to pair that with the equivalent open standard Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) protocol that it will replace. Other examples of protocol pairs are proprietary Cisco Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP) protocol and the equivalent open standard Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) protocol. Another example is pairing Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) and Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP) protocols with the equivalent open standards Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) and Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) protocols respectively. If you feel that you need help with this task, then you may want to consider optional services from HP consulting. Work with your HP partner to agree on the protocols that may need conversion or configurations changes. Figure 9. Interoperability test results report and cookbook network test HP/Cisco Switching and Routing Interoperability Test Results April 2011 HP planning tools HP advanced data center network architecture reference guide The reference guide is intended for technology decision makers, solution architects, and other experts tasked with improving data center networking. It delivers a blue print for designing data center networks based on HP FlexFabric flatter 2-tier architecture that converges and secures data center network with compute and storage networks. It can serve as a baseline for network planning and design projects. The guide presents the modular building blocks for HP s vision for converged network infrastructure. It does this by identifying the most important IT trends today virtualization of resources at all levels, and then introducing HP-supported technologies that enhance virtualized computer networks. It provides examples of data center reference architecture for different types of virtualized server deployments. 10

11 The guide focuses on virtualization and HP Networking technologies that support virtualization. It provides a deeper level of detail to complement the HP Converged Infrastructure by discussing data center deployment models and key data center networking requirements. The guide covers deployment of servers, storage, networks, and virtualization technologies. Interoperability tests To enhance customers confidence in the interoperability of HP and Cisco networking, HP commissioned Network Test Inc., an independent and reputable testing lab to conduct extensive network compatibility test. In April 2011, Network Test published its report entitled HP/Cisco switching and routing interoperability test results confirming what our customers know. The report concluded that working with an extensive test bed that included core-, distribution-, and access-layer devices, Network Test successfully validated interoperability of 13 key protocols used in enterprise networks. Tests involved IPv4 and IPv6; switching and routing; and unicast and multicast traffic. In all cases described here, the HP and Cisco switch/routers correctly forwarded traffic. Read the complete report. HP migration training In addition to protocols and commands conversions, HP offers hands-on training for IT professionals to give them the expertise needed to carry out migration projects. You can choose a self-paced course or multiday, instructor-led training labs that provide the necessary details and the hands-on practice that you might need for successful migration. It is not a secret that many IT professionals need little training to lead migration to HP Networking due to the simple nature of the tasks and the readily available HP help. Customer experience and our own experience have shown that migrating to HP Networking is smoother than what most perceive thanks to our clear documentation, migration tools, hands-on training, and the unmatched HP Consulting Services. While customers can plan and implement a dual vendor strategy using HP FlexFabric, they also have the option of taking advantage of an impressive array of services if they need more support or augment the recommendations and tools we provide. Below is a brief description of the optional services that customers may chose to utilize during the planning and early phases of data center migration projects. One of (HP s) key selling features is its considerable consulting and implementation practice, which can integrate all of the required technical components, including hardware, software, and managed services. It is a key differentiator for HP. Michelle Warren, principal analyst at MW Research & Consulting HP Planning and Consulting Services For enterprises who chose to take advantage of additional help from HP, we offer optional consulting services that can help you carry out the migration project and reduce risks and burdens of migration from your IT staff. HP Consulting Services can help you assess your networking infrastructure, plan for, and select the right migration strategy. HP has the right solutions, resources, expertise, and experience to help you with data center network migration with ease and confidence. Network strategy and planning services: HP Visioning Workshop, Business Benefits Roadmap Service, and Strategic architecture Service are designed to help you identify network transformation opportunities that break down network complexity, reduce costs and risks. More importantly, we help you build a winning, fact-based business case to justify network migration and win the support of your business decision stakeholders. Network assessment services: Here, HP experts conduct planning and discovery workshop to collect network statistical information, technical and business viewpoints. These experts also conduct detailed review and analysis of current network architecture and standards. Armed with the collected material, our experts then submit recommendations for migrating 11

12 to open standards using best practices, including plans containing next steps and order of implementation. Network architecture and design services: HP-trained network consultants collaborate with you to analyze and validate your current and future networking needs. They help you carry out the necessary planning required for successful execution. This includes setting well-defined objectives, identifying and understanding critical dependencies, and evaluating business risks to help secure your business. Deploying HP Networking in dual-vendor environments As noted earlier, HP recommends that you start your deployment with the server access layer, and then gradually move to the next steps of migrating the aggregation and core layers of the data center network. Starting with access layer helps minimize possible disruption and enhances investment protection in the existing infrastructure. Start by identifying proprietary protocols between the access layer and other layers of the network. Make configuration changes to create all protocols compliant with open industry standards. Carry out the protocol conversions where needed to prepare the network for introducing new open standards equipment. Figure 10. HP Network Services Strategy Continual Improvement improvement Design Operation Transition Agree with your HP partner on the best path for migrating from existing equipment. Deploy new HP open standard switches in your network access layer by adding HP ToR switches at the server access layer. Figure 11. Interoperability cookbook network test HP/Cisco Switching and Routing Interoperability Cookbook May

13 Conduct recommended configuration and performance tests following each of the deployment steps to ensure proper operations, stable environment, and absence of undesirable or unintended changes in your installation. Conduct applications performance and compatibility checks to ensure the absence of any adverse effects on applications or users experiences. Add HP modular switches to the aggregation layer of the network if you are maintaining a 3-tier infrastructure. Perform the configuration and applications tests noted above. Introduce HP modular core switches to the core layer if you are making the move to a more reliable 2-tier architecture. Repeat the configuration and applications tests noted above. Test configurations and performance to ensure that all your business objectives are met. Verify proper network operations and accept migration project. Figure 12. Converting Cisco ACLs to HP ACLs HP deployment tools and services Interoperability cookbook HP s efforts in easing customer migration projects go beyond establishing interoperability to providing step-by-step assistance. As part of this work, HP commissioned the independent and reputable Network Test Inc. to build on its interoperability test and produce an Interoperability cookbook for HP and Cisco networking equipment. Network Test Inc, published a step-by step guide to provide practical and detailed procedures for establishing interoperability. The cookbook gives IT professionals valuable roadmap to follow when adding HP Networking to data centers with Cisco installations. The cookbook was published in May 2011 under the title HP/Cisco Switching and Routing Interoperability Cookbook. HP Interoperability and Migration Tools In reality, the IP and Ethernet ecosystem is well established and industry-standards compliant products from different vendors interoperate. At the same time, implementations of some protocols often vary from one vendor to another and require some attention to ensure smooth interoperability. Cisco s implementation of its own version of features is one of those cases where HP works to help ensure interoperability and shields customers from perceived incompatibilities. As part of our effort to provide seamless interoperability with Cisco and smooth migration to HP Networking, HP worked on multiple fronts: Identified implementation variations. Documented procedures that ensure successful interoperability and coexistence of HP Networking with Cisco equipment. Identified L2 and L3 protocols that need attention and documented procedures for ensuring interoperability. 13

14 Has compiled CLI lists that show the slight differences and explain the working of comparable commands. Went beyond just documenting variances and corrective procedures, to providing conversion tools that simplify migration. Access Control Lists (ACLs) represent the most complex aspect of interoperability. HP has identified and documented all perceived variations and offer an automated conversion tool to simplify migrating Cisco systems to HP Networking. HP switches and competing products from Cisco use the same identical ranges for ACLs as listed below: Standard ACLs, called basic and numbered Extended ACLs, called advanced and numbered MAC ACLs, called Ethernet frame header ACLs and numbered HP Consulting Services for Deployment HP optional consulting services offers an impressive array of resources and services that can help you throughout the deployment phase of your project and beyond. In addition to planning services, HP Consulting offers the following services that we encourage you take advantage of: HP Network Integration and Deployment Services: HP can coordinate the end to end integration and deployment of your network migration, offering a single point of accountability. Our experts can bring your network online, add new connections to your existing installation, or help you transition to a converged network environment scaling the solution to fit your business and technical network needs. HP Network Optimization Services: With this service, HP can help you improve the performance of your computing environment through an optimized network infrastructure. Our services include LAN performance optimization, WAN acceleration, load balancing as well as network scaling and upgrading. HP Intelligent Management Center Figure 13. HP Intelligent Migration Center Enterprises migrating to HP networks should consider our comprehensive network management application, HP Intelligent Management Center (IMC). The ability to manage networking equipment from 220 different vendors makes adopting HP IMC a good first step to take in the process of migrating to open HP Networking. As part of its portfolio, the IMC v5.1 recognizes and manages an impressive 6,800 networking devices, including 1,400 Cisco products. Such capability eases your move to a dual-vendor networking strategy and simplifies management of dual-vendor environments by offering a unified and consistent networking management through a single pane of glass. 14

15 In addition to managing Cisco resources, HP IMC provides a broad set of features across the fault-management, configuration, accounting, performance, and security (FCAPS) model to provision, monitor, manage network elements, and offer accounting of network assets. IMC modular architecture allows deeper functionality, such as IPsec VPN Manager, to be added where needed and delivers scalability for growth as management needs change. The consistent, simple management, better visibility of the network resources, and ease of use of HP IMC v5.1 enhances the prospects for successful migration and eases adding HP Networking products to your data center. Consider a proof of concept test HP recognizes that, at times, data center migration projects may appear overwhelming. We appreciate that customers feel more comfortable carrying out networking migration projects following a representative proof of concept (PoC) exercise. PoCs are very good confidence building tools and great way to have firsthand experience with building interoperable networks. HP has been working with customers to develop representative PoCs to help them successfully test and carry out data center migration projects. Customers have found it very valuable to have experienced HP teams and technical experts on their side throughout the PoC process and the follow up implementation phases. Take advantage of our experience and readily available resources to ensure the success of your own PoC ahead of migrating to HP networks or implementing a dual-vendor strategy for your data center. Your HP sales representative can walk you through examples of migration scenarios or schedule a discovery workshop to see how migrating to HP network works in your environment. Training resources Course: HP Networking Interoperability (Course ID: , self-study) The HP Networking Interoperability course helps network engineers design and implement multivendor networks that include HP, and Cisco switches. The course focuses on the key differences between platforms, such as VLAN configuration, STP, OSPF, link aggregation, and Network Address Translation (NAT). Network engineers can learn how to identify compatibility problems and evaluate the pros and cons of each possible solution for a given network environment. Figure 14. HP ExpertOne self-study guides 15

16 Additional resources HP FlexNetwork architecture brochure HP FlexFabric Reference Architecture Course: Accelerated Interoperability and Troubleshooting HP Networks (Course ID: ) The Accelerated Interoperability and Troubleshooting HP Networks course is a 5-day course combining the troubleshooting HP Networks and HP Networking interoperability courses. This accelerated training helps network engineers design and implement multivendor networks that include HP, and Cisco switches. The course focuses on the key differences between platforms, such as VLAN configuration STP OSPF, link aggregation, and Network Address Translation (NAT). HP Networking and Cisco CLI reference guide This guide provides a comprehensive list that compares and explains the similarities and variances between Cisco and HP Networking CLIs. HP Press self-study guides With the self-study guides from HP Press, you can prepare for HP certification exams at your own convenience using HP-approved self-study exam guides. The certification can help prepare your IT staff for handling the challenges of demanding data center environments. HP ExpertOne Offers a complete portfolio of network training and certifications for you to gain validated skills to design and build flatter, simpler, open-standards based networks that support virtualized, converged and cloud environments as well as seamless mobile access via unified wired and wireless networks. HP Financial Services HP Financial Services provides innovative financing and financial asset management programs to help you cost-effectively acquire, manage, and ultimately retire your HP solutions. For more information, visit hp.com/go/hpfinancialservices. Change the rules of networking with HP open networks You can t keep doing things the same old way. Applications are changing; networks must evolve. Is your network ready? Find out how HP can help you change the rules and migrate to open networks. Sign up for updates hp.com/go/getupdated Share with colleagues Rate this document Copyright Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. 4AA3-9352ENW, March 2013, Rev. 2