Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) wants to be a bigger player in the switching market. At HPE’s Discover conference today, its Aruba Networks division announced the new Aruba 8400 core and aggregation switch platform.
The Aruba 8400x switch series provides a top-end performance of up to 19.2 terabits per second of switching capacity. The switch is an 8 Rack Unit (RU) chassis, that can support a a maximum of 256 10GbE (SFP/SFP+) ports, or 64 40GbE (QSFP+) ports, or 48 ports of 40/100GbE (QSFP28).
Complementing the 8400X switch is the new ArubaOS-CX network operating system that makes use of the open-source Open vSwitch Database (OVSDB) protocol for enabling Software Defined Networking (SDN). As has been the case with Aruba’s prior network operating systems, the ArubaOS-CX system is based on Linux.
Beyond native SDN integration, ArubaOS-CX also provide and integrated network analytics engine.
“Combining the full automation and deep visibility capabilities of the Aruba0S-CX, this unique framework allows monitoring, troubleshooting and easy network data collection by using simple scripting agents,” Aruba’s specification data sheet on the 8400X states.
Aruba Tags
HPE is also getting into the asset tracking business with the new Aruba Tags technology. Similiar to the consumer tags made by TrackR for tacking, the Aruba Tags use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to track tagged items.
As opposed to consumer BLE trackers, the Aruba Tags technology isn’t just limited to tracking by mobile apps. Rather, Aruba’s Tags can also be tracked by Aruba BLE-enabled access points.
“Tracking information is then sent to the Meridian cloud-based platform where location mapping allows for each asset to be viewed in its true location,” the Aruba Tags specification data sheet states. “The form factor of Aruba Tags makes them easy to attach to valued assets – either with optional Aruba Tag carriers or without.
Sean Michael Kerner is a senior editor at EnterpriseNetworkingPlanet and InternetNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TechJournalist.