Overview

Current generation of router's are typically optimized for high packet throughput, often at the expense of flexibility. But in the enterprise space, there is a need to expand the functionality of routers to include security, voice, video and other functions, blurring the line between routers and network appliances. IT professionals and Internet service providers (ISPs) are trying to keep pace with changing network requirements by supporting more sophisticated functionality and services.

However, implementing new functions on mixed architecture systems often requires costly add-in hardware. Conversely, a single architecture - Intel® architecture - allows these requirements to be met with software-based networking components (i.e., routing, firewall, VPN and IPS) that are highly adaptable and capable of running nearly any workload, allowing enterprises to easily incorporate new features, services and applications.

A software-based networking component can be based on off-the-shelf, general-purpose server processors that for many classes of routers have closed the performance gap relative to network requirements. Technological advances, per Moore's Law, are producing impressive performance improvements.

Intel® processor performance and energy efficiency have improved many-fold in recent years, making a single architecture approach a reality for networking devices.

Benefits

The benefits enterprises can derive from software-based networking components including:

• Increasing flexibility with virtualization
• Improving scalability with multi-core technology
• Lowering power consumption with power management
• Protecting against Malware with trusted execution
• Simplifying the deployment of new services

HP Intel CME Solution Center’s expertise

The HP Intel Communications, Media, and Entertainment (CME) Solution Centers in France, China, and the United States are part of a worldwide initiative to innovate and provide expertise at a vital point of convergence for the industry. The combined forces of the two companies bring unique skill sets and infrastructure to the converged network environment.

The solutions centers engage in a wide variety of activities:

• Live demonstrations of key technologies to drive sales and demonstrate HP and Intel's leadership and know-how in hardware- and software‑based solutions
• Proofs-of-concept related to the fields of communications, media, and entertainment, as well as the healthcare industry and cloud computing.
• Platform certification and benchmarking: the solution centers regularly perform benchmarking of independent software vendor (ISV) products and certify HP hardware for use in specific software solutions.

When migrating to the next generation of data centers, the HP Intel CME Solution Centers can help reduce time‑to‑market and lower the risks of adopting innovative solutions.

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