Product Positioning; Overview; Data Center Use Models - HP ProCurve 6600 Switch Series Technical Overview

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Product positioning

Overview

The intelligence, throughput, scalability, and physical connectivity options of the 6600 series make them
suitable for applications at the server edge or aggregation/distribution layer of a compute network . The 6600
switch series leverages the same ProVision ASIC and software found in the widely deployed 8200zl, 5400zl,
6200yl, and 3500yl products . Enhanced for the data center, the 6600 series provides front-to-back (reversible)
airflow, redundant hot-swappable power supplies, hot-swappable fan trays, expanded 10-Gb port buffering for
demanding high-availability applications .
The foundation for all of these switches is the purpose-built, programmable ProVision ASIC that allows the most
demanding networking features to be implemented in a scalable yet granular fashion . The 6600, 8200zl,
5400zl, 6200yl, and 3500yl series switches have been designed as a continuum of products that utilize a
common code image that enables consistency and scalability throughout the portfolio from data center core to
edge . The ProVision ASICs are aimed at achieving several technology and business imperatives:
• Providing superior feature capabilities and performance without sacrificing affordability
• Allowing sophisticated control features in both campus and data center networks
• Enabling programmatic capabilities to safeguard future needs and requirements

Data center use models

The HP ProCurve 6600 Switch Series includes one of the most advanced routing switches in the HP networking
product line . The 6600 switch series is targeted at both top-of-rack server access and end-of-row aggregation/
distribution for enterprise data centers and midmarket compute rooms . The 6600 series products ship standard
with the Intelligent Edge feature group, and offer an optional Premium License feature group that includes
advanced protocols such as Q-in-Q, PIM-SM, PIM-DM, OSPFv2, OSPFv3, and VRRP to support end-of-row use
models (RIP and static routing features are included in the standard Intelligent Edge feature group) .
The 6600 series was specifically designed to support top-of-rack use models with the intent of supporting highly
virtualized server edge deployments for large Layer 2 scale-out systems . The advantages of top-of-rack use
models are effectively fourfold:
• Lower-cost design: Fixed configuration products offer significant per-port savings over modular-based
products . Additionally, top-of-rack products designed to support front-to-back airflow better support hot-aisle
and cold-aisle separation to reduce cooling expenses .
• Enhanced multi-tier network: Virtualized data centers require expansive Layer 2 footprints to allow for
adequate mobility between hypervisors and application scalability . The 6600 series supports 64K MAC
addresses for enhanced mobility and scale in the data center .
• Reduced cabling costs: With the eventual adoption of 10-Gb at the server edge, direct attach copper cables
from the server NIC to the top-of-rack switch significantly reduce the cost per connection versus expensive
fiber-optic connections .
• Easier edge network refresh: When networking becomes integrated in the rack with servers, technology
refreshes become easier to manage as the compute and networking building blocks are effectively deployed
in tandem .