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The ProCurve ProVision™ ASIC, the fourth generation of ProCurve's innovative network chipsets, is already making a difference. A key component of the ProCurve 5400/3500 Series switches, the highly integrated ProVision ASIC has built-in wirespeed intelligence; offers a great engineering balance between feature capabilities, performance and price; and is scalable across a number of products. In addition, the 5400/3500 integrates a Power over Ethernet (PoE) subsystem in to the RJ45 connector block to simplify the deployment of PoE-enabled end points such as IP phones, video cameras and wireless access points.
Less obvious, perhaps, is that fact that embedded in the design of today's ProVision ASIC chips are capabilities built with tomorrow's needs in mind.
A glimpse of what lies ahead
Here are some ways in which the ProVision ASIC will help future-proof ProCurve switches:
Programmability — Based on patented technology from HP Labs, the programmable ProVision ASIC network chipset can inspect information deep into data packets. As a result, new algorithms can be programmed into the ASIC to support new traffic classifications, which enables switches built using the ProVision ASIC to support applications and policy rules that do not exist today. In this way, functionality can be added easily without costly upgrades to the switch hardware, which protects your investment over time.
Security blade support — The ProVision ASIC includes extensive support for re-directing specific network traffic to a security or special function blade such as a WLAN controller for the ProCurve Switch 5400 Series. The ProVision ASIC inspects fields of network traffic and slices out what's most interesting or important from a security standpoint, then copies or re-directs a subset of the traffic to a special function blade within the chassis. This capability is adaptable, so it can provide long-term value without forcing you to commit to specifics now, in anticipation of unknown future circumstances.
Remote packet mirroring — With normal port mirroring, all traffic going to or from a port is copied into another port on the same device. With remote packet mirroring, the ProVision ASIC encapsulates mirrored traffic and tunnels it to another device anywhere in the network. This enables you to use a network analyzer or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) remotely, meaning you can place the device wherever it is convenient and avoid having to physically walk over and plug into it. The ProVision chipset uses its Policy Enforcement Engine to filter specific traffic based on any classification rule, such as IP address or protocol. This allows you to maximize your analysis engine and examine only traffic you are interested in.
IPv6 support — The ProVision ASIC offers full support for IPv6 in hardware, which enables switches that use the ProVision ASIC to not only support current IPv6 capabilities, but also incorporate future features as they arise.
As part of this remote packet mirroring capability, the ProVision ASIC has a fully encapsulated Layer 2 or Layer 3 tunnel, so you don't need mirrored VLANs. Without encapsulation, traffic is flooded everywhere and eventually gets to the analyzer – but the encapsulated approach is more direct, efficient and secure. Traffic goes directly to the switch or analysis device that needs it without being flooded throughout the network. From a future-proofing perspective, this is important because it means that you retain more flexibility in how you allocate your network traffic, and you don't have to "waste" precious performance on less efficient methods.
"Today, it is increasingly rare for switch makers to focus on developing their own network chipsets," said Paul Congdon, ProCurve's Chief Technology Officer and an HP Fellow. "But ProCurve has long known that by designing our own ASICs, we are able to deliver precise functionality and value in our products – as well as retain far more consistency and control over the future of our products.
"We believe that the ProVision ASIC, in particular, enables us to build products that meet real business goals today and that can also scale and grow with our customers' technology and market requirements."
As ProCurve updates its Switch 5400/3500 software, the ProVision ASIC is designed to automatically take advantage of new features and capabilities. The programmable ProVision ASIC enables current ProCurve switches, such as the 5400 and 3500 series, to deliver a rich ProCurve Adaptive EDGE Architecture™ experience and sophisticated ProCurve ProActive Defense security features right to the edge of the network. At the same time, this ASIC innovation also provisions for future application needs, both anticipated and entirely unexpected.
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