Dubai, 21st, November 2006. ProCurve by HP today launched the 2900 series High-performance Gigabit Stackable Switches at Gitex 2006. The switches consist of two high-performance 24 and 48-port 10/100/1000 stackable switches; each with four dual-personality ports and four integrated 10GbE ports (two X2 slots + two CX4 ports) for high-speed stacking and uplinks.

Speaking at the launch, Ivan Kraemer, regional sales and marketing director, HP ProCurve said "The 2900 series is designed for connecting a large number of PCs, printers, servers, and other host devices that require high performance links to the distribution/core of the network. Compared to its competitors, the 2900 also has a lot more memory buffer to handle bursty network traffic.  He further added. "The need for this level of performance and scalability is being driven by existing and future bandwidth-intensive applications such as large databases, networked storage, server farm, or multimedia applications such as IP-video."

Commenting on launch, Maria Antoon, Marketing Manager, ProCurve Networking further added: "Gitex is the perfect platform for us to launch this product in the region and showcase it to our customers. " She further added: "The 2900 series is targeted at small to large companies looking for high performance gigabit-to-the-desktop switches, the 2900 series offers more integrated standard 10G Ethernet ports which provide high-bandwidth virtual IP stacking and/or 10G uplinks in a more cost-effective and flexible manner."

The ProCurve Switch 2900 Series:

The new ProCurve 2900 Series features two switches: the ProCurve Switch 2900-24G with 24 10/100/1000 ports and the ProCurve Switch 2900-48G with 48 10/100/1000 ports. Both have four dual-personality ports for 10/100/1000 or mini-GBIC connectivity. By including four integrated 10-Gigabit Ethernet ports (two built-in CX4 and two X2 transceiver slots), the 2900 Series offers cost-effective and easy-to-deploy 10-Gigabit stacking and uplinks.

The 2900 will be used by corporate, educational, healthcare, and government customers seeking a high-performance switch that is simple and flexible to configure, industry-standards compliant, and features robust security and management.

Ideal for the wiring closet, the 2900 is designed for connecting to a large number of PCs, servers, and other host devices that require high performance uplinks to the distribution/core of the network. The need for this level of performance and scalability can be driven by existing or future bandwidth-intensive applications such as large database, networked storage, server farm, or multimedia applications such as IP-video.

The ProCurve Switch 2900 Series provides these key benefits to customers:

  • Gigabit-to-the-edge and 10GbE stacking/uplink increases performance and reduces network bottlenecks. High-bandwidth applications can be implemented without affecting other users

  • The integrated four 10GbE can be configured to be stacking, uplink, or a mix of both. This allows flexibility to match customers' network and application requirements

  • Static IP routing with key security and management capabilities provides the ability to segment the network and route between VLANs

  • Standards-based (10GbE stacking/uplinks, 10/100/1000, software, etc.) means easy deployment and interoperability with multi-vendor infrastructure

  • The industry's only true Lifetime Warranty - for as long as a customer owns the product - comes standard on all products. This includes free next-business-day advance replacement (available in most countries), free pickup of the defective unit, free telephone and email support, and free software updates; all without purchase of a service contract

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About ProCurve Networking by HP
The ProCurve Networking business unit of HP delivers enterprise networking solutions comprising wired and wireless LAN and WAN networking products, services and solutions. Recognizing the necessary migration of intelligence and functionality to the network edge, the ProCurve Adaptive EDGE Architecture strategy is the industry's only comprehensive and inclusive network design strategy that is adaptable, scalable and completely interoperable for achieving command from the centre with control to the network edge. ProCurve was positioned in the challenger quadrant in research and advisory firm Gartner, Inc.'s 2004 Magic Quadrant Report for Global Campus LANs.

Further information on ProCurve Networking solutions and products is available at www.hp.com/eur/procurve

About HP
HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2006, HP revenue totaled $88.9 billion. More information about HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.

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