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HPE Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-Port Module - switch - 24 ports - plug-in module

Mfg # 571956-B21 CDW # 2215578 | UNSPSC 43222615

Quick tech specs

  • Switch
  • plug-in module
  • BL465c G6
  • 16 x 10Gb Ethernet (backplane) + 4 x 10Gb Ethernet/8Gb Fibre Channel SFP+ + 4 x 10Gb Ethernet SFP+
  • for BLc3000 Enclosure; Integrity BL860c i4; ProLiant BL2x220c G6
  • BL495c G6
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Know your gear

HPE Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-port Modules are the simplest, most converged and flexible way to connect virtualized server blades to any data or storage network. VC FlexFabric modules eliminate up to 95% of network sprawl at the server edge with one device that converges traffic inside enclosures and directly connects to LANs and SANs. Using Flex-10 technology with Fibre Channel over Ethernet and Accelerated iSCSI, these modules converge traffic over high speed 10 Gb connections to servers with HPE FlexFabric Adapters. Each module provides four adjustable connections (three data and one storage or all data) to each 10 Gb server port. Avoid the confusion of traditional and other converged network solutions by eliminating the need for multiple Ethernet and Fibre Channel switches, extension modules, cables and software licenses. Also, Virtual Connect wire-once connection management is built-in, enabling server adds, moves, and replacement in minutes instead of days.

This item was discontinued on July 02, 2019

Enhance your purchase

HPE Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-Port Module - switch - 24 ports - pl is rated4.14 out of5 by29.
Rated 5 out of 5 by from We use it to connect to our HP BladeSystem, which enables us to communicate. We're not a very big company, so this is really important to us.Valuable FeaturesIt's the only connection point we use to connect to our network. We really rely on it for that because we don't use anything else.Improvements to My OrganizationWe use it to connect to our HP BladeSystem, which enables us to communicate. We're not a very big company, so this is really important to us.Room for ImprovementAlthough it connects to our BladeSystem, we still have problems with the overall integration with the switches, BladeSystem, and 3PAR. So it's important to us that that integration is improved so that our entire infrastructure of HP solutions works together.Use of SolutionWe've used it for three-four years now.Deployment IssuesWe haven't had deployment issues.Stability IssuesWe haven't had problems with instability.Scalability IssuesWe have around 40 VLANs and two sites that are about 10 kilometers apart. That's a lot of volume across a long distance, and the switches have no problem with it.Customer Service and Technical SupportEven with Level-1 service, they're very helpful.Initial SetupIt was complex, but HP did it for us.Implementation TeamHP did everything for us.Other Solutions ConsideredWe were looking at not only the network piece, but all parts of our infrastructure, including solutions from Dell, IBM, and EMC.Other AdviceMake sure you plan everything, deciding you want to manage and how the system should work. You want to be able to do just one config and forget about it.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-01-07T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from They're dependable and we don't have to worry about them. Free and unlimited access to software for the switches would be very nice.Valuable Features:All the ProVisions and Comware-based switches work very, very well. They work and are very dependable at a reasonable price. The lifetime warranty is also a very nice feature.Improvements to My Organization:We don't have to worry about them, which means we can focus on more important things. They are dependable and the lifetime warranty is great. The price performance factor is very good.Room for Improvement:Free and unlimited access to software for the switches would be very nice.Deployment Issues:We've had no issues with deployment.Stability Issues:They have been very stable for us.Scalability Issues:They've scaled well for us.ROI:The lifetime warranty is actually what typically can make or break a deal. It figures heavily into determining return-on-investment. Not having to pay extra for the lifetime warrant is what make the deal, for us, on these switches.Other Advice:Make use of the free manuals on the HP website. Just download them. They're actually quite good.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-01-07T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from It integrates with the IMC management platform. The OS features are not stable.What is most valuable?Its features are, in principle, quite standard and basic, so I cannot give you any extra information about these features. They integrate nicely with IMC, the management platform.How has it helped my organization?The benefit is to connect everybody in the office. You cannot imagine working nowadays without being connected to the network for computing, coding, and streaming. This is mandatory.What needs improvement?The main one would be to have more basic parameters available on the web interface. There are too many basic parameters that you have to change in the command line. This means you need to train your people regarding the command line, even when it means having to change quite basic parameters. For example, changing the parameter to give priority to voice over data traffic.The stability is an issue. We have features that lose their configurations, like a port that was configured for VLAN 5 suddenly becomes configured for VLAN 2. It's really very annoying. People lose the connectivity, and nobody knows why, including HPE support specialists.What do I think about the stability of the solution?The OS features lose their configurations from time to time and we have periodic network freezes. Nobody understands why this happens. That's the problem, actually. There are nice features, but they are not very stable.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?Scalability is nice. You can stack several of them, so no problem with scalability.How is customer service and technical support?We use technical support a lot. When we bought these features in early 2015, they were quite new in the HPE offerings, and many re-sellers, consultants, and even HPE support staff didn't know very much about how they work and how to fine-tune and configure them.We had major HPE-certified consultants on site. We even had HPE specialists connecting, and they couldn't manage to really improve the solution very quickly. Usually we are quite satisfied with HPE support. This is why we continue to buy servers from them and we just bought storage. However, the support was not as good for these specific features that were purchased by HPE, an external company.Which solutions did we use previously?We were using Nortel until two years ago. We moved to a new building, so we had to switch as there were no active network components available. We had been using Cisco before and we still use Cisco for the wireless infrastructure.What other advice do I have?When selecting a vendor of ethernet switches ( https://www.itcentralstation.com/categories/ethernet-switches ), there are not so many alternatives on the market. We wanted to work with companies we are used to. We had to choose between Cisco and HPE ( https://www.itcentralstation.com/vendors/comparison/cisco_vs_hewlett-packard-enterprise ). Because we've always been very happy with HPE and there was a brand new series of advanced features that integrated nicely with IMC, we selected the HPE product.This solution is a brand new switch series with new firmware. I hope it will be more stable over time. It's a very good solution, but I would advise others to check that aspect carefully.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-12-25T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from They're reliable and stable, and we haven't had any downtime or speed issues.Valuable FeaturesThe most valuable feature for us is just their reliability. We've never had any problems with them at all. They are quality products that are better than the competition. They were also very easy to configure.Room for ImprovementIt needs better monitoring and alerting for issues. We use HP Intel Management Center, which is good, but there are a few extra things they can improve.Use of SolutionWe have been using them probably for about five years now.Deployment IssuesWe've had no issues with deployment.Stability IssuesIt's been stable and we haven't had any downtime.Scalability IssuesIt's scaled for our needs.Customer Service and Technical SupportWe have not had to use any technical support. Our support comes from the company from which we bought the switches. They set them up for us and they provide very good technical support. We've used them for over ten years.Previous SolutionsWe previously used Cisco and were a 3COM user when HP bought them and converted them to switches. We switched because of performance issues, and now we have very, very good performance. We have no speed issues with the licensing network.Initial SetupThe initial setup was not overly complex. We've got two sites and we use them on both sites. So we've had no problems, but we only have 250 users.Implementation TeamThe company we bought the switches from implemented them for us.Pricing, Setup Cost and LicensingThe price point is good when performance is taken into account compared to their competition.Other Solutions ConsideredWe looked at HP first and didn't really consider anyone else.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-01-03T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Both config and replicate configs are pretty easy on HP switches.Valuable FeaturesManageability and interfacing with other various networking management platforms have been most valuable for us. We use SolarWinds and are looking at Omnivew.Improvements to My OrganizationThe warranty is great and so is lifetime on most hardware. Both config and replicate configs are pretty easy on HP switches.Room for ImprovementI would like to see a POE ability added to the devices. We’ve used a lot of POE switches recently, HP and non-HP, and we want to standardize on HP. Our requirements are often that we need a very small 8-port switch and would like a version like this.Also, I’d like to see the functionality of higher-end switches and some features of the 2900 series on the lower-end ones as well.Stability IssuesI’ve put in a few solutions, including HP and others in the past. I had problems with Extreme and Cisco, but only minimal ones with HP.Scalability IssuesIt actually has great scalability. We have high-end switches and are putting in a core switch in the next few months. We also use managed switches. Every need has a solution.Customer Service and Technical SupportIt’s been great. I’ve reached out directly to the account rep who is very willing to help. With issues, they are able to help directly when our channel partners who can’t help. Support is timely, too, and it's easy to get to a live person.Previous SolutionsWe used a mixed bag of various vendors, but wanted to standardize on one platform that we knew was stable, reputable, and easily serviced by multiple channel partners if needed. We looked at others, but HP dominated.Initial SetupWe’ve engaged with many channel partners, and it has been very straightforward. We tweaked things here and there. We forgot a parameter, etc., but nothing big.Other Solutions Considered* Extreme* Cisco* Lower end switches – LinksysOther AdviceCost, reliability, serviceability, warranty, and not needing to purchase a support pack each year are important in helping choose the right vendor.Depending on what you need to accomplish the different models of the switches, start at the bottom and work up. A lot of functionality in the lower end switches may not be a need for the higher ones. Also, look at the stacking on the lower end switches.Support is great when needed, pricing is great, warranty can’t be beat, and lots of partners out there.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2015-06-23T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from The time it takes to implement them helps us work much more efficiently and customers are happy because because of the lower turnaround time to get their networks up and running.Valuable FeaturesThese switches are great because they're very easy to set up and to implement as part of network infrastructures. Most importantly, it covers all the areas that we need.Improvements to My OrganizationWe install these switches for most of our customers at their premises. The time it takes to implement them is so much less than other vendors' switches. This helps us work much more efficiently and customers are happy because because of the lower turnaround time to get their networks up and running.Room for ImprovementThe interoperability with LDAP could use some improvement.Deployment IssuesThese switches deploy usually without any issue.Stability IssuesThey are incredibly stable. We're able to use them for very challenging projects.Scalability IssuesThey scale very easily.Customer Service and Technical SupportTechnical support provides us with quick answers whenever we use them.Initial SetupThe initial setup of these is very straightforward.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-01-12T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from It's the proper GUI interface that makes them much easier to use. The fans tend to get more and more noisy as they go along.Valuable Features:They're reliable -- very reliable, in fact -- and a have a good management interface. They're simple to use and quite easy to understand, and I like that they're not CLI. It's the proper GUI interface that makes them much easier to use rather than just having the CLI which makes some of them very difficult. Cisco, for example, is only CLI, but HP gives you a GUI.They're also very configurable and they're very good.Improvements to My Organization:The main benefit is reliability. The switches don't go down and they tend to last for a long time. They just don't go down.They also only rarely need rebooting. I can probably count on one hand the number of times we've had to reboot an HP switch.Room for Improvement:They are very noisy, though, and the fans tend to get more and more noisy as they go along. The noise is actually a pain because sometimes where we've got multiple floors, we might put a switch on each floor rather than just put them in the comms room, and there the noise is an absolute pain. They are just very noisy.Stability Issues:That's why we like them, because they're stable. They're very reliable and they just last. The PO switches are also very good.Scalability Issues:You can scale by adding fiber connections to the switches which makes it simpler to join switches together, but we haven't found the need for it because the switch is so configurable.Other Solutions Considered:Yes, we have used competitors. We have used Dell, which is absolutely lousy. D-Link has some high-end switches, but they just don't come close.Other Advice:They're not Cisco, and big companies want to see a name like Cisco. True, HP isn't Cisco, but that's a bit unfair. Having that said, we've got one very big company now with about 200 users who are getting rid of their Cisco switches and putting in HP's.They're doing so because of HP's reliability and because they got fed up with paying Cisco prices to get their switches and to configure them when any network administrator can configure an HP switch. With Cisco, you need specialist knowledge and you don't really have to have specialist knowledge just for a switch.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-01-07T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from They support both fiber-optic and copper modules. They should enable certain features on certain frequencies.Valuable Features:5400r are the core switches. These are recently launched and they are the newer version of the old 5400 series of switches, and we use them extensively in most of our projects as core switches. They're very, very robust, and we know if there's any major problems on these kind of switches here.Improvements to My Organization:They support different types of modules: fibre-optic and copper modules. They offer very good value for the price, and they come with some excellent XP support platforms on the background: the warranties, the care-packs, and all of that. People like these controllers compared to some of the competing products.With the 5400R, it's a very competitive price, and the product is very stable. We've seen a lot of people buying these products. Frankly, we've not seen any migrations, but people are buying it because of the good price and stability. It has got the right features for the kind of markets we are targeting.Room for Improvement:They should enable certain features on certain frequencies.Deployment Issues:We had no issues with deployment.Stability Issues:There are more than 50 of such switches we have deployed, and we are hardly facing any problems with these switches. Again, they're very stable.Scalability Issues:If a client wants to start with a lower number of modules, they can do that. And if they want to add more modules, they can do that as well and still use the same modules.Initial Setup:The 5400 is fairly simple, not very complex. But it needs proper training and certification otherwise. We've seen people deploying this product, some of the companies in Dubai, and they didn't do it the proper way.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-01-12T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from The graphical user interface is very good and quite easy to run withWhat is our primary use case?I work in network operations and have experience as a user of HPE Ethernet Switches. We don't function as the customer, but as the customer's customer.What is most valuable?The graphical user interface is very good and quite easy to run with. It's quite intuitive.What needs improvement?In terms of product improvement, it's possible that the VLAN tagging could be improved, it's not that straightforward. But I can't really think of other improvements I'd like to see.Additional features that could be included in the next release could be the inclusion of further monitoring facilities.For how long have I used the solution?I've been using HPE Ethernet Switches for five years.What do I think about the stability of the solution?It's very stable and that's one of the good things about the product. It basically comes with a lifetime guarantee and that was one of the main reasons why I purchased them in the first place.How are customer service and technical support?I haven't had any reason to deal with the technical support people to date.What other advice do I have?I would recommend the Hewlett Packard product. They are very, very stable, and for the money it's really good value.I would rate the product a nine out of 10.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2019-11-05T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Very stable with simple management and easy scalabilityWhat is our primary use case?We primarily use the solution for data communication, the data center, and wireless. All of our switches are HP.What is most valuable?The switches offer simple management. I can control what I need using CLI. CLI commands are very simple and are somewhat similar to Cisco CLI. We can manage them, we can update them freely, and the warranty is unlimited. This is the solution's most valuable feature.The solution uses a single interface and that interface contains everything.For how long have I used the solution?We have been using the solution for about ten years.What do I think about the stability of the solution?The stability is very good on this solution. There have been no bugs, glitches or crashes.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?Scalability on the solution is easy. It's not too difficult. Right now, we have about 150 users on the solution.How are customer service and technical support?We've contacted technical support many times. They are quick to respond. We're satisfied with them.If you previously used a different solution, which one did you use and why did you switch?I have used Cisco switches before. Cisco updates are more difficult on switches. Also, the initial setup is more difficult.How was the initial setup?The initial setup is easy. Deployment only takes a few minutes.What about the implementation team?I handled the installation myself.What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?The pricing is a bit lower than Cisco switches.What other advice do I have?We use the 2500 PoE switches.I have a lot of experience with HP switches. They're very reliable and are implemented easily. The features that they offer are more than enough for our hospital. There are other features on solutions like Cisco and Juniper, but for what we need, this solution is perfect.I'd rate the solution eight out of ten.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2019-10-28T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from We chose HP as they were able to come up with some solutions that were a little outside of the box when things didn’t quite fit.Valuable FeaturesI would say, to start with, the most valuable feature is that HP is not too different from existing systems. You don’t have to change too much the mode of operation that the ops teams are used to, and the command interfaces are workable.Improvements to My OrganizationWe’re still in the implementation phase.Room for ImprovementWe’ve been getting fixes for things that were missing initially, but v6 support is there and has everything we need.Scalability IssuesBecause this is a modular device, we feel we can use scale in the future. The IRF is also important to us.Customer Service and Technical SupportOverall good. We’re running into some issues when looking at beta code, something HP isn't focused on. The support people don’t want to talk too much about that.Previous SolutionsWe’re basically trying to look at an openstack infrastructure solution. We’re using it on a voice-over-infrastructure, supporting IMS. We’re using a Cisco solution right now.Initial SetupI would say it’s no more complex than anything else, so we’re learning that people are protecting systems a bit differently.Other Solutions ConsideredWe looked at -* Cisco* Juniper* Alcatel Lucent* HP* Aresta* EricksonWe chose HP because they met most of the criteria that we were looking at, and they were able to come up with some solutions that were a little outside of the box when things didn’t quite fit. They were more proactive on the sales/engineering side and with pre-solution support.Other AdviceYou should look for high performance, low maintenance, open flow, and XLAN when choosing a solution. Compatibility with other products is also very important. Some routing protocols were required.Overall, the solution is a little more complicated than we initially wanted, but it’s pretty good. It’s going to be a learning and teaching experience for service providers. Solutions are there, but they’re not always the same methodologies for the same businesses.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2015-06-23T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from They have focused on building a highly programmable and open OS, but the technical support needs improvement.What is most valuable?They've had a commitment over the last five years to be amongst the most open out there. They are very easy to deploy and manage, and offer a lifetime warranty. Most other vendors who have tried this, have shied away from it. I think recently they have focused on building a highly programmable and open OS so you can create a very large ecosystem around it.What needs improvement?Building a bigger ecosystem around them, not just wired/wireless, but there's being able to bring other HP areas such as server and storage groups. At the moment, they operate as separate business areas, and they could clean that up a bit. Also, the technical support needs improvement,What do I think about the stability of the solution?They've been doing it for 15 years and have a very reliable product. The fact that they offer a lifetime warranty in some ways is a testament to the stability because if they were constantly failing and churning them out, it would be reflected in their financials.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?Since the acquisition of 3COM they have data center equipment that can scale to the largest data centres out there. I think they were the first to offer 40GB and 100GB. This is some big iron stuff.How is customer service and technical support?They've had their ups and downs. I think this is one area they can improve in. For a while, you used to get thrown into the queue with printers and all sorts of other stuff. So they've fixed that, and it's better, but still needs to be improved.How was the initial setup?It's easy to get going. You can unbox it, plug it in and have it running quickly, but if you go into the advanced settings it can take longer.What other advice do I have?They've got a good product, but there's still room for improvement. I would be insistent that they help you integrate it with the non-HP services you have through their professional services.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2017-06-23T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from It's allowed us to redesign our whole data center and networking architecture. Now it's stable and we've been able to scale.Valuable FeaturesThey meet my business requirements as I use an application that's hosted in the cloud, in our data center, and on our network. I can "zoom the surfaces."Improvements to My OrganizationWe used to have an unstructured data center without proper networking diagnostics. The data mines flow from different locations without a proper networking design. HP's people redesigned our whole data center and networking architecture. It's been stable and we've been able to scale. All I need to do is ask for any number of servers and they immediately create VMs.Room for ImprovementThere are RAM limitations on the VMs and I can't install certain apps on HP VMs.Use of SolutionIt was installed three years ago.Deployment IssuesIt's deployed just fine for us.Stability IssuesIt's very stable. Any downtime we had was scheduled. The design was redundant with double false switches.Scalability IssuesActually, we scaled up. We increased the the number of modules to meet the requirements we got from our branches.Customer Service and Technical SupportSupport in Saudi Arabia is different than if you compare it with other countries. If I give them a mark out of 10, I can give them eight. Support by HPE has met our expectations.Initial SetupSetup was complex, but they helped us out a lot.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-01-07T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Its ability to have different modules installed for different media types allowed for easy configuration, but the OS was a little difficult to manage at times.Valuable FeaturesI liked the scalability of the 5400 and 4200. It's ability to have different modules installed for different media types allowed for easy configuration.Improvements to My OrganizationEase of configuration.Room for ImprovementI found that the OS on these switches was a little difficult to manage at times. Configuration menus were not always user friendly even for someone with previous Nortel and Cisco experience. One Saving grace was the Procurve manager software. That made things a little easier to manage but I am still a command line person and would have preferred a more user intuitive command line.Use of SolutionI used the switches, HP Procurve 5400ZL and 4200VL as well as the 3500yl, for a little over a year.Deployment IssuesI did not deploy these switches. They were in place when I started working with them.Stability IssuesNo.Scalability IssuesNo. That is one thing I liked about them.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: Never had to call HP - NATechnical Support: Never had to call HP - NAPrevious SolutionsI had previously used Nortel and CIsco in a previous position. I switched due to a job change.Initial SetupThe initial set up of the switches was relatively easy. It has a list of questions that you answered similar to Cisco. The problem with this type of setup is it does not cover everything that should be set up on a switch when doing initial configuration.Implementation TeamAll implementation and configuration was accomplished with in-house network engineers and administrators.ROIUnknown.Pricing, Setup Cost and LicensingUnknown.Other AdviceMake sure you are familiar with other vendors first. That will help give you the base knowledge on how to navigate and configure this equipment. When all else fails, use the Procurve manager software to manage the equipment.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2015-08-27T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from It has met all of our needs but tech support could be better.Valuable FeaturesThe most valuable feature is that you do not require a spanning tree. With some of the other vendors, some of the other competitors, you require a spanning tree which cause a lot of looping issues in your data center or in your network. The other thing is, the HP 5400 switches comes with a lifetime warranty, so you don't have to invest anything onto a contract side, which is very good thing about it. The 5400 switches, you can use as a whole or access layer in your network and work out great.Improvements to My OrganizationThe benefits are it's been running robust, the hardware is running robust, no issues at all. It's lifetime warranty again. From the hardware standpoint, configure standpoint, it's all working fine.Room for ImprovementI don't know about specifics, but so far all the switches that we deployed, it meets all of our needs. For what we require, it has all of features. It also varies on the switch by switch version, and it depends on what kind of switches you have. For me, right now it's meeting all my needs, so I don't have any complaints about it.Use of SolutionWe deployed HP for almost five years and it's been rock solid. All the switches, no single-out days with the switches. The switches hardware have a long life, and it has been working great for us.Stability IssuesStability is pretty good, as I say that we deployed HP, it's been about four years and we haven't had a single out day in my data center. I can't ask anything more than that.Scalability IssuesAll the hardware that we have, our portfolio at HP, it's pretty scalable to the latest and greatest technology. You can have a 40 GIG QSFP Uplink for the top of Rex switches, or even one for your core switches, that's over 40 GIG, 100 GIG Uplink. That is what everybody is going towards now, with all the data centers. It's up to the mark.Customer Service and Technical SupportTo me, the technical support is not that good. Trust me, we don't use the technical support anymore from HP because we tried to use them and we didn't get much of a response from them. I know everybody's experience is different, but we try to do it by ourselves. We try to figure out by ourselves if any kind of software issue or any kind of hardware issue. The support, we didn't get much response from HP about the software support, configuration support, we just tried by ourselves, but hardware, it's pretty good.Previous SolutionsWith the old technology we were paying more money with the context. Obviously, we were having a lot of issues with the Data Center, where Data Center used to go down with the old legacy technology. We decided to move forward with RFP. We evaluated a few vendors in the market and after evaluation we decided to go with HP and it's been working out great for us.Initial SetupWhen we started deploying, it was H3C and they have a different division, Comware, and HP are 5400 Series, they have a different set up command lines. Now, they are making everything together on the Comware division. When we deployed, it depends on the switches. If you buy Comware switches, they have a different command set compared to HP or H3C switches. It was kind of hard for us to learn the command line initially, but now we are all comfortable with it and it's working fine. Since they are all HP now, all the switches, they only have a one command line in the Comware 7, if you have that, it's pretty easy to deploy initially.Other Solutions ConsideredWe tried Cisco, we tried Dell. Again, it's more robust and the most important factor was a price. I just look at the technology and see if it meets your needs for your data center and not in HP, looks like they did, they did meet our needs, what we needed for our data center, for our campus, branch offices and it's been working out great.Other AdviceHardware can last for a while. You have all of options to upgrade the switches, a lot of options to support the connectivities, like 1 GB, 10 GB, 40 GBs, different varieties of the switches. You can choose from.I just want to say that best thing about HP is they don't have a technology called a Spanning Tree Protocol, which can cause a lot of issues on your network, and HP kind of get rid of that. When you do a HP IRF, you kind of don't need that Spanning Tree, which is the most important part about HP.Other than that, again it's a hardware stability. Hardware stability, they have IRF for the switches to virtualize your switches. The easy set of command line, with the new Comware 7.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2015-10-15T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from The key feature is that we can choose ProVisions for simplicity or Comware-based switches for high-end features.Valuable FeaturesFrom the low-end ProVisions up to the high-end Comware-based switches, their most valuable feature is that they actually work. Not all switches can do that, especially at a reasonable price. HP's switches offer price performance you can't find anywhere else.Improvements to My OrganizationThese switches provide us with simplicity when we need. The ProVisions have fewer features and fewer functionality, but they're simpler. If we need, we can go with the Comware-based switches which have high-end features. So with these switches we can have both sides.Deployment IssuesWe had no issues with deployment.Stability IssuesThey have been stable.Scalability IssuesWe've been able to scale with these switches.Customer Service and Technical SupportTechnical support is mostly good, but it's just like every other vendor. When you're at level 1 and you yourself are very knowledgable already, you just want to pass level 1. Level 2 is, normally, quite good, and level 1 is just a filter to take away all the stupid questions. If you're at level 3, you're probably in trouble because you have something that requires you to talk directly to the lab. So with the tiered structure for technical support, there are some inefficiencies. It would be an improvement to make technical support more efficient.Other Solutions ConsideredWe evaluated Cisco and Juniper. They are considered high-end providers, but HP can more or less do it all. For small, medium, and enterprise businesses, HP has a very good product range.Other AdviceGet some proper training.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2015-12-31T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from The SDN features are centrally manageable and provide system-wide traffic control. However, the hardware table doesn't include byte count, so I installed flow rules in the software table.Valuable Features:The Software-Defined Networking (SDN) features I find most valuable are:* Directly programmable and configurable* Centrally manageable* Control traffic system-wideRoom for Improvement:I think that the HP Openflow switches should be improved in terms of the open-flow byte-count statistics.I used SDN because my master thesis is about the visualization of traffic in the network per application with SDN, so I have worked with HP switches almost along all this year. In my thesis the byte count was very important for the conclusions, but I noticed that this feature had some problems and errors.My little experience tells me that everything starts because the hardware table (table 100) doesn't have the byte count. So I had to install the flow rules in the software table (table 200) which has a limit-rate, that may be the reason for the relative errors that I found.I used a host as an iPerf server and another one as an iPerf client and then I compared the open-flow byte count against the byte count provided by the iPerf console.Use of Solution:I have used this solution for six months.Stability Issues:The switch manual say that the device supports up to four mirrorings. But when I configured two port mirrorings, the SDN controller interface was blocked and the mirrorings didn't work.Scalability Issues:The Openflow hardware table doesn't provide a byte-count statistic, and the software table provides a byte-count statistic but with errors.I found that the possible reason for this is that the software-limit rate of the switch, which is 10,000 pps maximum, with an advice in the switch manual that if we increase the limit-rate above 1,000 pps, it is possible that this increases CPU and impacts system performance.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2015-12-05T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Enrollment onto our network works and there's no stability issues as we grow our workforce.Valuable FeaturesThe two biggest benefits of these switches is the performance for the price and the quality of service we get from them. They're competitively prices, especially given their performance, and the service is flawless.Improvements to My OrganizationWe're able to extend our capabilities because of the reliability of these switches. We don't need to worry about this part of our network because we know that we can depend on them working consistently.Use of SolutionWe've been using it for four to five years.Stability IssuesIt's quite stable after several years of use.Scalability IssuesThe scalability is very nice, especially with new products coming out. Enrollment onto our network works and there's no stability issues as we grow our workforce.Customer Service and Technical SupportI'm the assigned tech guy within our company on these switches. We had a few hiccups at first that HP technical support helped us with, but we've been pleased since.Initial SetupThe initial setup was fairly straightforward since I was already familiar with the CLI.Pricing, Setup Cost and LicensingIt depends on which model, but it's not really more expensive than other solutions.Other Solutions ConsideredWe didn't really evaluate other options.Other AdviceTest the specific features you’re looking for with performance, and verify that you're get the best pricing.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-01-15T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from We use different modules and you can just configure on top of it.Valuable FeaturesThroughput is the most valuable feature for me, and penetration in the central data center. We use different modules and you can just configure on top of it. We have a fiber channel because my building is tethered with five, six floors. I need to get all this fiber to be connected to the switches. One switch solved the issue with high availability. The second connected all our server devices. We sliced it to our switch based on our requirement.Room for ImprovementThey need to improve the GUI interface for the switches, the access layer switch in particular, with complete details so we can track each and every port. This will make it easier to find the gaps in performance.Also, on two or three occasions, heat distribution caused a problem because we penetrate this to a different floor and a fan got damaged, stopped, and emitted a lot of heat.Use of SolutionWe've been using it for four years.Deployment IssuesI've had no issues deploying it.Stability IssuesI haven't had any issues with instability.Scalability IssuesThe upgrades are all pretty easy. We do the frequent upgrades based on the release notes of HP and it's going well for us.Customer Service and Technical SupportTechnical support is very good from HP especially because they give a lifetime warranty for the hardware. It depends on the support of what you've taken, for example, if you've been highly response level of followers. Now in Saudi Arabia, you can say the after-sales support has improved a lot. It's not only HP switching part, to be frank, it's HP with servers and anytime we open a case we can order pretty quickly as consultants.Initial SetupThe initial setup was simple because initially I used to have a Cisco switches, which was four years ago, and an old model. Configuration and backups are easy. Backups we configure on the solar vents and they're very much pretty integrated with the solar vents.Other Solutions ConsideredWe evaluated Cisco, but they were very expensive in terms of total cost of ownership.Other AdviceYou need to analyze and observe the performance.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2015-12-31T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Intelligent Resilient Framework (IRF) is a valuable feature.Valuable FeaturesThe feature called IRF (Intelligent Resilient Framework) is unique in HP switching.Improvements to My OrganizationSwitching functionality is the same as with other products, but the lifetime warranty makes HP preferable.Room for ImprovementCustomer support needs to improve.Use of SolutionI've used it for one year.Deployment IssuesNo issues encountered.Stability IssuesNo issues encountered.Scalability IssuesNo issues encountered.Customer Service and Technical SupportCustomer Service: 8/10.Technical Support: 6/10.Previous SolutionsI've used many products, but switching to HP depends on the customers requirement and the lifetime warranty.Initial SetupIt was straightforward with basic, simple switching and good documents available for reference.Implementation TeamWe used an in-house team assisted by easily-available technical documents and user-friendly CLI.ROIIt's the best product and has a lower failure rate.Pricing, Setup Cost and LicensingPretty good in switching, and the pricing is also good in comparison with others.Other Solutions ConsideredNo other options evaluated.Other AdviceRefer to best practices and technical documents.Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:HP Partners
Date published: 2015-07-07T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Offers standard security such as 802.1x, RADIUS/TACACS authentication, port-security, DHCP snoopingValuable Features:It has standard layer 2 functions with basic layer 3 features if needed. It offers standard security such as 802.1x, RADIUS/TACACS authentication, port-security, DHCP snooping and much more.Room for Improvement:Interface types, such as offering more of a mixture of 1Gb and 10Gb fiber/cooper interfaces. Faster backbone speeds when stacked.Use of Solution:HP 2920 The companies I have installed it for have kept it for roughly for 2-3 years.Deployment Issues:No issues. However, the CLI is a bit different from Cisco but once you have the HP terminology down it’s easy so long as you plan the deployment properly.Stability Issues:I haven’t heard any complaints from customers that I worked with.Scalability Issues:No. These switches can be outfitted with two 10Gb modules on the back for up links to other switches or to hosts. It can also be stacked with another 2920 for better port density.Previous Solutions:Clients who choose the HP 2920 switch 9 times out of 10 had older Cisco switches. They felt moving to HP would be more cost effective.Initial Setup:It was straightforward especially if you're a custom to using Cisco switches. The CLI and terminology are a bit different and might confuse several engineers. Fortunately, HP has released a document that states the equivalent HP commands.Other Solutions Considered:I have helped clients weigh out the pro’s and con’s and in the end it always came down to cost and 9 times out of 10 HP won the cost battle.Other Advice:Weigh out the Pro’s and Con’s between Cisco and HP and consider price as a last resort. Also, from my experiences it’s best to go with one solution then to mix and match different vendors.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2014-09-28T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from The most valuable features are full command line support, VLANs, protocols for trunking, and the lifetime warranty.Valuable FeaturesThe most valuable features are full command line support, VLANs, protocols for trunking, and the lifetime warranty. These switches are really good hardware with good stability.Improvements to My OrganizationIt's given us a stable solution for our network.Room for ImprovementStacking of switchesDeployment IssuesWe've deployed is without problems.Stability IssuesIt's been stable.Scalability IssuesWe have about a hundred users.Customer Service and Technical SupportI've used technical support only once. We needed support for a transceiver that was not supported, so technical support didn't help me. We chose another transceiver and everything worked as we expected.Initial SetupConsole port speed autodetect feature not work as we expected and create some problems with connecting to switch. I think that better option is set up one port speed and write it to manuals.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2015-12-31T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Reliable and consistent service. Standard network switch functionality. Installation could be easier.What is most valuable?The valuable features are:* Reliability and consistency of service* Standard core functions you would expect from a network switch* Demonstration of price against performance.What needs improvement?I don't know all the products and all the background, but the issue is the single pane of management. Things like a single window to manage all the devices and better integration make a product or a company competitive. I guess having a competitive edge on that would be good. There is a little bit of routing from the HPE ProCurve switches. All the integration is there and moving it forward to a kind of stable, developed product is still progressing. There are lots of bits to the HPE network picture, so I think that needs to come together more clearly.What do I think about the stability of the solution?I have only been there six months of the three years that we’ve had the solution. The feedback I received is that it has become more stable and it has developed as time has gone on.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?It scales for the method we have implemented at the moment. We have a large campus, over 500 buildings, so it supports that. We are in the middle of a review, so we are deciding on how we take the network forward as a strategy and then we will go to procurement. It may or may not be HPE in the future.How is customer service and technical support?My previous experience has always been good. I have had no direct experience recently, but my team gets the support they need. They are happy with that.How was the initial setup?I wasn’t involved in the installation. It was already in place. We are just using it as a rolling refresh for existing hardware. In terms of upgrades, I would say it is relativity straightforward. Probably not as slick as some solutions but it's not as convoluted as others. There is room for improvement.What other advice do I have?When choosing a vendor, reliability, performance, obsessively competitive price comes into it, but it is also about supply chains and availability of stock. I had buyers in the past where you can't get equipment when you need it. It is important to have a good support chain. The vendors that we use need to be knowledgeable in the products and work closely with HPE, so that is probably a very important part of that puzzle. HPE has always been strong, I would say, and have had a good reseller and third party support market. I think it is a strong solution.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-12-11T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Supportability is very important to us, so the fact that we can standardize on reasonably priced switches has made us more efficient.Valuable FeaturesWe're quite basic users of the product, so we like how simple it is to setup. We're standardized across the board on HP products, and we like that fact that they do have products that fit our needs. Plus, they're easy to install when we get them. They're easy to use once they're in and they're robust with a lifetime warranty.Improvements to My OrganizationWe're able to standardize on just a small number of HP products, switches included. Supportability is very important to us, so the fact that we can standardize on reasonably priced switches has made us more efficient.Room for ImprovementWe're quite basic users, but what I'd really like to see improvement on is the management. We've made an investment in the product and I'd like to better leverage it through improved management to work better for our company.Deployment IssuesIt's deployed just fine for us.Stability IssuesIt's very stable and we have very few issues with it. The fact that they come with lifetime warranties makes it even better for us.Scalability IssuesThe scalability is very good and we're using it in all 85 of our locations.Customer Service and Technical SupportI've not used technical support, and that's a good thing.Other Solutions ConsideredWe do pricing reviews to make sure that we're still getting good value for the money, and we are. We haven't really got any issues with the products, so there's not really any reason to change to those.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2015-12-31T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from The ProVisions are actually very simple to use and are a very good, solid switch. It doesn't have all the advanced features, but they're coming.Valuable Features:The ProVisions are actually very simple to use and are a very good, solid switch. It doesn't have all the advanced features, but they're coming. Now, they also have a DHT server running on them.Room for Improvement:It needs more routing and more VPN ports. These are included with the Comware-based switches, but not yet in the ProVisions.Use of Solution:We're using ProVision in the K15 v16, v17, and v18 software range.Deployment Issues:We've deployed them with no issues.Stability Issues:They have been very stable for us.Scalability Issues:We can scale them just fine.Other Advice:Just do it.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-01-26T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from PoE and VLAN allow for flexibility in our enterprise network because we can add VoIP and wireless access points if needed.Valuable Features:* Power over Ethernet (PoE)* Virtual LANImprovements to My Organization:PoE and VLAN allow for flexibility in our enterprise network because we can add VoIP and wireless access points if needed.Room for Improvement:Graphical User Interface (GUI) needs enhancement. Also, using a controller to support multiple access points would help manage and monitor our wireless network. VoIP requires QoS and our switches can work with it. We just need time to really implement across the board.Use of Solution:I've used it for three to four years.Deployment Issues:No issues encountered.Stability Issues:No issues encountered.Scalability Issues:No issues encountered.Previous Solutions:It was an upgrade from older HP models.Initial Setup:It was straightforward, but we aren't maximizing all the switch features for our enterprise.Implementation Team:We did it in-house.ROI:We have years left on this device as well as GB ports, and PoE.Cost and Licensing Advice:They have very aggressive pricing compared to Cisco.Other Solutions Considered:We also looked at Cisco.Other Advice:There are a lot of similar models, so check the features available.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2015-08-03T00:00:00-04:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from The most valuable feature for us is that it naturally works well with other HP products.Valuable Features:The most valuable feature for us is that it naturally works well with other HP products. Our headquarters uses HP products, and it only makes sense that we also do so in our office. Not only do we use HP switches, but we also use their APs and our entire wireless solution relies on HP products so that our infrastructure works together and has consistency.Room for Improvement:I think that Cisco's switches are more stable, so HP's switches could really be improved more with stability. HP switches are also more expensive than 3COM switches, as we've spent close to two $2 million. It would be great if it were less expensive.Use of Solution:We purchased them in 2008, but haven't upgraded since.Deployment Issues:It deploys with no issues.Stability Issues:We don't really have any issues with stability. If and when something goes wrong, we just restart them. Most of the problems we have are on the server side, which seems to be more sensitive for us.Scalability Issues:We have four sites with more than 1,400 employees and more than 300 or 400 switches -- and there have been no scalability issues.Previous Solutions:We used 3COM and then moved to Cisco, which was more stable. And then we moved to HP.Other Solutions Considered:We looked at Cisco again, but they're expensive yet have a good reputation.Other Advice:HP switches are probably the best quality product for the price. That's the most important thing someone should look for when deciding which solution to use.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2016-01-12T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from I like the simplicity and warranty. We are a small shop, and being simple is bestWhat is our primary use case?These are core switches, so they handle the bulk of our network traffic from servers to the endpoints as well as SAN traffic.How has it helped my organization?They switch. They are capable of much more sophistication than we are able to support. The addition of Aruba looks promising.What is most valuable?Simplicity and warranty. We are a small shop, and being simple is best. These are basic managed switches and the lifetime warranty is great.What needs improvement?It would be nice to have a common OS across models so that they could be managed together. But that is more in line with higher production equipment.For how long have I used the solution?More than five years.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2018-12-19T00:00:00-05:00
Rated 5 out of 5 by from We're using the Converge series of switches, and we're quite happy with the easy-to-use common line. They're easy to administer and manage.What is most valuable?We're using the Converge series of switches, and we're quite happy with the easy-to-use common line. They're easy to administer and manage, and never have any major problems. They're stable and reliable.How has it helped my organization?We're able to offer every user very high-speed internet for both transferring data and downloading from the network. This is a solution that actually works best in a very high-speed environment.What needs improvement?All its features fit our needs right now. It's not too pricey and it's not a series that will end any time soon. We stick with what we know.What do I think about the stability of the solution?It's actually quite stable. We haven't had problems with performance, upgrades, updates, different versions, etc. We're quite happy with the stability.What do I think about the scalability of the solution?Scalability is also quite nice because we're used to stacking the switches up to five or six units. It would be nice to be able to stack more than that, but we don't have the need for it right now, just in the future maybe.How is customer service and technical support?The level of technical support depends on the topic. We've had some not-so-good experiences where our tickets were left open because they couldn't solve our problem.How was the initial setup?The initial setup is quite complex.What other advice do I have?I would not suggest implementing MSM controller solutions, but you can't make a mistake with HP Converge series switches.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Date published: 2017-06-25T00:00:00-04:00

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