HP ProCurve Networking Enhances Switch Line with Power-over-Ethernet

HP ProCurve Networking has brought out two new Ethernet switches that offer Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) functionality and allow businesses of all sizes to deploy IP phones, wireless access points, Web cameras and other devices requiring an external power supply.

Joining the 2600 series of managed switches, the HP ProCurve Switch 2626-PWR and Switch 2650-PWR are stackable, multi-layer, managed switches. Both switches are IEEE 802.3af compliant for Power-over-Ethernet, providing up to 15.4 watts per port. The switches also feature the flexibility of two different port densities, allowing customers to choose the technology that most closely fits their business needs.

"Deploying the Power-over-Ethernet-enabled HP ProCurve Switch 2626-PWR and 2650-PWR streamlines your wiring closet while minimizing the possibility of an access point being unplugged and not plugged back in, thus avoiding disruptions to the operation of the network," said Mohammad Malcki, computing center network engineer, University of Oregon.

The HP ProCurve Switch 2626-PWR is a 26-port switch with 24 auto-sensing 10/100 ports and two dual-personality ports for 10/100/1000 or mini-GBIC connectivity. The Switch 2650-PWR is a 50-port switch with 48 auto-sensing 10/100 ports and two dual-personality ports for 10/100/1000 or mini-GBIC connectivity. Eliminating the need for a separate power source, both switches support IP phones or other IEEE 802.3af-compliant devices with internal power supplies. An external redundant power supply is planned to be available soon as an accessory.

"With these ProCurve switches, businesses of all sizes can add affordable Power-over-Ethernet to the wiring closet without having to buy additional technology they don't need or sacrificing the ability to expand as their business grows," said John McHugh, general manager and vice president, HP ProCurve Networking Business. "These switches will help drive down the cost of deploying voice-over-IP applications, accelerating adoption of VoIP and similar converged technologies."

Here are some of the features of the HP ProCurve 2600 series PoE switches.

IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet: The switches provide 360 watts of 48 volts for powering IEEE 802.3af-compliant devices; the Switch 2626-PWR provides a full 15.4 watts on all 24 10/100 ports; the Switch 2650-PWR provides up to 15.4 watts per port with an average of 7.5 watts on all 48 10/100 ports.

Network Security: The switches offer 802.1X and RADIUS network login to control port-based access for authentication and accountability; port security prevents unauthorized access using MAC address lock-down; switches feature Secure Shell (SSHv2) and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) for secure access; TACACS+ eases switch management security administration by using a password authentication server.

Performance: 13.6 Gbps backplane and wire-speed non-blocking architecture for low latency throughput; Rapid Convergence Spanning Tree Protocol (802.1w) increases network uptime through faster recovery from failed links; supports up to 30 portbased VLANs, GVRP, and 802.1Q VLAN tagging; traffic prioritization (802.1p) allows real-time traffic classification into eight priority levels; Group VLAN Registration Protocol (GVRP) allows automatic learning and dynamic assignment of VLANs.

Functionality: Two 10/100/1000 ports or mini-GBIC slots for optional fiber connectivity such as Gigabit-SX, -LX or -LH; basic IP routing enables automatic routing with up to 16 external routes - including one default route - in IP networks; 802.3ad Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) and HP trunking supports up to six trunks, each with up to four links (ports) per trunk, trunking across modules is supported.

Stacking Capability: Single IP address management for a virtual stack of up to 16 switches, including the 2500 series, 2600 series, 2800 series, 4000m, 6108, 8000m and 4100gl series.

Copyright Publications & Communications, Inc. Dec 2003
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