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Module 2
Objectives
This module introduces you to the HP A-Series switches, which are designed to meet
the needs of large enterprise customers demanding high availability, high scalability,
and a comprehensive feature set for data centers, enterprise, and campus networks.
After completing this module, you should be able to:
Describe the basic characteristics of each HP A-Series switch
Classify A-Series switches, based on the switchs form factor, manageability, and
Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) functionality
Explain the different environments for which each A-Series switch is designed
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A-Series Switches
A-Series Switches
A-Series Switches
A3100-SI Switch Series
A3100-EI Switch Series
A3600-EI Switch Series
A3610 Switch Series
A5120G-SI Switch Series
A5120G-EI Switch Series
A5500G-SI Switch Series
A5500G-EI Switch Series
A5800G Switch Series
A5810 Switch
IntelliJack Switch Series
HP 6120 Blade Switches
Categorization of A-Series Switches
HP Data Center Connection Manager
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This section describes HP A-Series switches. With the exception of the HP 6120 Blade
Switches, the A-Series switches were formerly branded H3C or 3Com switches.
If you are supporting a switch with an older name, use the Product Naming
Conversion Matrix, which is included with this course, to identify the new name and
find the related information in this course.
Note
This course does not cover the following A-Series Switches. Use the
associated URL to access the hardware installation guide for each switch:
A12500 Switch Series:
(http://www.h3c.com/portal/Technical_Support___Documents/Technic
al_Documents/Switches/H3C_S12500_Series_Switches/)
HP A9500 Switch Series:
(http://www.h3c.com/portal/Technical_Support___Documents/
Technical_Documents/Switches/H3C_S9500E_Series_Switches/)
HP A7500 Switch Series:
(http://www.h3c.com/portal/Technical_Support___Documents/
Technical_Documents/Switches/H3C_S7500E_Series_Switches/)
HP A5820X Switch Series:
(http://www.h3c.com/portal/Technical_Support___Documents/
Technical_Documents/Switches/H3C_5820X_Series_Switches/)
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HP A-Series Switch Overview
A3100-8-SI
8 10/100 ports
1 10/100/1000 port
Throughput up to 2.68 mpps
A3100-16-SI
16 10/100 ports
1 10/100/1000 port
Throughput up to 3.87 mpps
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The HP A3100-SI Switch Series consists of fixed-port, Light Layer 3, managed switches
for enterprise networks.
A3100-SI switches are designed for the access layer: they provide 10/100 Mbps
downlink and 1000 Mbps uplink ports. They connect directly to endpoints using
10/100 ports and aggregate the traffic to higher capacity switches nearer the
network core using 10/100/1000 ports.
The HP A3100-8-SI switch includes the following:
Eight auto-sensing 10/100 ports
Note
Throughout this module, unless otherwise noted, a port listed as 10/100/1000
will be understood to be auto-sensing and auto-MDIX, to support Base-T
(copper) cabling, and to comply with IEEE 802.3 Type 10Base-T, IEEE 802.3u
Type 100Base-TX, and IEEE 802.3ab 1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet. Similarly,
unless otherwise noted, a port listed as 10/100 Mbps will be understood to be
auto-sensing, to support Base-T (copper) cabling, and to comply with IEEE
802.3 Type 10Base-T and IEEE 802.3u Type 100Base-TX.
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HP A-Series Switch Overview
A3100-24-SI
24 10/100 ports
2 10/100/1000 ports
Throughput up to 6.55 mpps
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The A3100-16-SI switch with 2 Extended Module Slots includes the following
features:
16 auto-sensing 10/100 ports
Two module slots
Throughput up to 5.36 mpps
One RJ-45 console port
The A3100-24-SI switch with 2 slots includes the following features:
24 auto-sensing 10/100 ports
Two module slots
Throughput up to 6.55 mpps
One RJ-45 console port
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HP A-Series Switch Overview
A3100-8-EI switch
A3100-8-PoE-EI switch
8 10/100 ports
1 dual-personality port
Throughput up to 2.68 mpps
A3100-8 EI switchfanless
A3100-8-PoE EI switchPoE
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The HP A3100-EI Switch Series consists of fixed-port, Light Layer 3, managed switches
for enterprise networks.
A3100-EI switches are designed for the access layer: they provide 10/100 Mbps
downlink and 1000 Mbps uplink ports. They connect directly to endpoints using
10/100 ports and aggregate the traffic to higher capacity switches nearer the
network core using 10/100/1000 ports. The switches support static routes, and
allow users to assign the management VLAN an IP address.
The A3100-8-EI and A3100-8-PoE-EI switches include the following features:
Eight auto-sensing 10/100 ports
One dual-personality portthis port can be used as either a 10/100/1000 port
or a Small Form Factor Port (SFP). (SFPs provide a variety of options including
fiber optic; see Module 3: HP A-Series Switch Hardware for more information.)
Throughput up to 2.68 mpps
One RJ-45 console port
The A3100-EI switch is available in an AC and DC model.
There are a couple of differences between the two eight-port switches in this series:
the A3100-8-EI switch is fanless, and the A3100-8-PoE-EI switch provides Power over
Ethernet (PoE) on all Ethernet ports.
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A3100-24-EI switch
A3100-24-PoE-EI switch
24 10/100 ports
2 dual-personality ports
Throughput up to 6.55 mpps
A3100-24 EI switchfanless
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HP A-Series Switch Overview
A3600-24-SFP-EI switch
24 10/100 SFP ports
2 10/100/1000 ports
2 SFP ports
Throughput up to 9.53 mpps
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The HP A3600-EI Switch Series consists of fixed-port, Layer 3/4, managed switches.
The switches in this series support static routes, Open Shortest Path First (OSPF),
Routing Information Protocol (RIP), Protocol Independent Multicast Dense Mode (PIM-
DM), and PIM Sparse Mode (PIM-SM). In addition, these switches offer the latest
traffic-prioritization technologies to optimize applications on converged networks.
These features, coupled with advanced security features and reliability, make the
A3600-EI switches well-suited for the access and distribution layers in an enterprise
network.
The A3600-EI switches come with a variety of port options, including the 28-port
switches shown here. The A3600-24-EI and A3600-24-PoE-EI switches provide the
following features:
24 auto-sensing 10/100 ports
Four open SFP ports (See Module 3: HP A-Series Switch Hardware for a list of
optional SFP transceivers that customers can purchase and install in these ports.)
Throughput up to 9.53 mpps
One RJ-45 console port
The A3600-24-PoE-EI switch provides PoE on all Ethernet ports. The internal power
supply provides a total PoE power of 300 watts to PoE-enabled devices such as IP
phones; optional supplemental power is available.
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HP A-Series Switch Overview
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The HP A3610 Switch Series includes fixed-port, Layer 3/4, managed switches. The
switches in this series support static routes, OSPF, and Border Gateway Protocol
(BGP).
This series provides intelligent network management switches intended for a network
environment where advanced features, high performance, and dense port distribution
are required. For enterprise networks, HP recommends deploying A3610 switches at
the access layer or distribution layer. For small to medium-sized networks, the
versatile A3610 switches can be deployed at the access layer or the network core.
The A3610-24 switch with 2 GbE and 2 SFP ports includes the following features:
24 auto-sensing 10/100 ports
Two auto-sensing 10/100/1000 ports
Two open SFP ports
Throughput up to 9.53 mpps
One RJ-45 console port
The A3610-24 switch with 4 SFP ports includes the following features:
24 auto-sensing 10/100 ports
Four open SFP ports
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HP A-Series Switch Overview
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A3610-48 switch
48 10/100 ports
4 SFP ports
Throughput up to 13.1 mpps
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HP A-Series Switch Overview
A5120-16G-SI switch
16 10/100/1000 ports
4 SFP ports
Throughput up to 29.8 mpps
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A5120-48G-SI switch
48 10/100/1000 ports
4 SFP ports
Throughput up to 77.4 mpps
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HP A-Series Switch Overview
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Two open module slots (on the rear panel of the switch) (See Module 3: HP A-
Series Switch Hardware for more information about supported modules.)
Throughput up to 95.2 mpps
One RJ-45 console port
The A5120-24G-PoE-EI switch provides PoE on all Ethernet ports.
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HP A-Series Switch Overview
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A5500-48G-SI switch
A5500-48G-PoE-EI switch
44 10/100/1000 ports
4 dual-personality ports
2 open module slots
Throughput up to 130.9 mpps
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HP A-Series Switch Overview
Two open modules slots (on the rear panel of the switch) (See Module 3: HP A-
Series Switch Hardware for more information about supported modules.)
Throughput up to 130.9 mpps
One RJ-45 console port
The A5500-48G-PoE-EI switch provides PoE on all Ethernet ports.
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A5500-24G-EI switch
A5500-24G-PoE-EI switch
20 10/100/1000 ports
4 dual-personality ports
2 open module slots
Throughput up to 95.2 mpps
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HP A-Series Switch Overview
A5800-24G switch
A5800-24G-PoE switch
24 10/100/1000 ports
4 SFP+ ports
1 module slot
Throughput up to 155 mpps
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The HP A5800G Switch Series consists of fixed-port, managed Layer 3/4 switches.
They support:
Static routes
OSPF
RIP
IS-IS
They also support multicast routing protocols PIM-DM and PIM-SM.
The A5800G switches meet the requirements of the most demanding enterprise
networking applications. These switches offer the highest levels of resiliency and
secure connectivity, as well as the latest traffic-prioritization technologies to optimize
applications and ensure business continuity in converged networks. In addition, some
models feature PoE, with support for up to 20W per port, and are PoE+ ready.
The A5800G switches are optimized for deployment at the core in SMB networks or
at the distribution, data center, and access layers of enterprise campus networks.
The A5800-24G-SFP switch includes the following features:
24 SFP ports
Four SFP+ ports
One open module slot
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HP A-Series Switch Overview
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HP A-Series Switch Overview
HP A5810 Switch
HP A5810 Switch
A5810 Switch
48 10/100/1000 ports
2 SFP+ ports
2 dual-personality ports
Throughput up to 101
mpps
Available in AC or DC
model
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Designed for enterprise networks, the A5810 switch can be deployed at the access
layer, data center, or distribution layer. In SMB networks, it can also be deployed at
the core. This switch provides the highest levels of resiliency and secure connectivity,
as well as the latest traffic-prioritization technologies to optimize applications and
ensure business continuity in converged networks.
The A5810 Switch is a fixed-port, managed, Layer 3/4 switch. It supports:
Static routes
OSPF
RIP
IS-IS
This switch also supports multicast routing protocols PIM-DM and PIM-SM.
It provides the following:
48 10/100/1000 ports
Two SFP+ ports
Two dual-personality ports
Throughput up to 101 mpps
The switch is available in an AC or DC model.
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NJ1000G Switch
4 10/100/1000 ports
2 pass-through ports
NJ2000G IntelliJack Switch
4 10/100/1000 ports
2 pass-through ports
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HP A-Series Switch Overview
6120G/XG
16 internal 1-GbE downlinks
4 external 10/100/1000 uplinks
2 external 1-GbE SFP ports
1 external 10-GbE CX4 uplink
2 external 10-GbE XFP ports
6120XG
16 internal 1-GbE downlinks
8 external SFP+ 10-GbE uplinks
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Designed for the data center, the HP 6120G/XG and the 6120XG switches are
installed into an HP c-Class BladeSystem enclosure. (These switches were formerly
branded HP ProCurve.) Both are Layer 2, managed switches that support QoS
metering and security features such as 802.1X, MAC authentication, and Web
authentication. In addition, both can be automatically provisioned by the HP Data
Center Connection Manager.
These blade switches are well-suited for data centers that require both 1 GbE and 10
GbE connections. They have a non blocking architecture and provide wire speed on
all uplinks and downlinks.
The 6120G/XG switch provides:
16 internal 1-GbE downlinks
Four external 10/10/1000 uplinks
Two external 1-GbE SFP ports
One external 10-GbE CX4 uplink
Two external 10-GbE
One USB console port
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HP A-Series Switch Overview
A-Series Switches
Categorization of A-Series Switches
A-Series Switches Categorized by OSI Layer
Deployment for A-Series Switches
HP Data Center Connection Manager
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The next section shows how A-Series switches can be categorized as Layer 2, Light
Layer 3, and Layer 3/4 switches. It also provides a table that lists the environment in
which each switch can be installed: access layer, distribution layer, core, and data
center.
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This table provides a quick reference for categorizing the A-Series switches according
to OSI functionality they provide. Essentially, Layer 2 switches do not route traffic
(although they can support multiple VLANs). Light Layer 3 switches provide limited
routing capabilities. All of the Light Layer 3 switches shown here support static routes;
some also support one dynamic routing protocol (typically RIP). Layer 3/4 switches
provide a full suite of routing capabilities. For example, they typically support OSPF
or BGP in addition to RIP and static routes.
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HP A-Series Switch Overview
A3100-SI
A3100-EI
A3600-EI
A3610
A5120G-SI
A5120G-EI
A5500G-SI
A5500G-EI
(SMB networks)
A5800G
(SMB networks)
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The HP A-Series switches include devices suitable for deployment at all layers of an
enterprise network: access layer, distribution layer, core, and data center. As this
slide illustrates, some switch series can be deployed in more than one layer,
depending on the needs of the company and its network.
HP positions the switches in these categories, but customers can deploy the switches
wherever they want. However, such deployments are typically exceptions rather than
common practice.
Note
The HP A-Series includes switches that function at the core of enterprise networks.
However, support for these switches is not covered in this course.
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A5810
(SMB networks)
IntelliJack
6120
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This slide shows the deployment options for the remaining A-Series switches.
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HP A-Series Switch Overview
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Several of the A-Series switches are designed specifically for the data center. Many IT
organizations spend a significant amount of time setting up and managing servers in
their data centers. The HP Data Center Connection Manager can help ease the
management of these servers.
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Two options:
DCM Controller, an appliance
DCM ONE Software, running on HP
ONE Services zl Module
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HP A-Series Switch Overview
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Summary
Summary
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This module has introduced you to the HP A-Series switches and outlined the features
that they provide. It has also explained how to categorize the A-Series switches
according to their OSI functionality and the network layer where they can be
deployed.
Finally, this module introduced you to DCM, which allows network administrators
and server administrators to work together to provision the network for server
interfaces.
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