HP boosts partner opps with new SDN App Store

HP has unveiled the industry’s first enterprise-class software-defined networking (SDN) open ecosystem with the HP SDN Developer Kit (SDK) and the HP SDN App Store.

The tech giant says the releases will help create new business opportunities for partners, providing a simpler way for customers to purchase and deploy network services.

“With SDN the networking industry has an opportunity to disruptively innovate and is now primed for a monumental leap forward,” says Bethany Mayer, senior vice president and general manager, Networking, HP.

“HP has created the industry’s most comprehensive SDN product portfolio as well as an open SDN ecosystem, which offers an environment for enterprises and partners to rapidly tune the network to their business and application needs.”

Mayer claims legacy network rollout typically requires months of extensive ‘human middleware’ and customisation, delaying potential application deployment while limiting agility.

SDN promises to automate network operations, however closed, proprietary SDN technologies inhibit innovation, prevent interoperability and limit creation of a marketplace.

An open SDN ecosystem and application development platform can unlock innovation as well as enable collaboration.

“One of our biggest priorities is delivering new innovations that keep pace with customer demands for new services,” adds Ricardo Pedreti, data networking marketing manager, Telefonica|Vivo Corporate Customers.

“The simplicity and automation enabled by HP’s SDN solution, removes complexity and will allow us to accelerate the delivery of next-generation services.”

The HP SDN Developer Kit provides developers the tools to create, test and validate SDN applications, leveraging HP’s SDN infrastructure and full complement of support services, Pedreti adds.

The HP SDN App Store on the other hand, lets customers browse, search, purchase and directly download SDN applications onto their Virtual Application Networks SDN controller, creating a new business model for how network services are purchased and implemented.

"Applications are what will drive SDN technology into mainstream networking prominence," adds Rohit Mehra, vice president of network infrastructure, IDC.

"The catch 22 is that to innovate through applications requires a large investment in infrastructure to develop, which becomes prohibitive.

"The advent of an SDN App Store, together with an SDN Developer Kit, makes this an accessible alternative for developers."

Current SDN ecosystem partners registered for the HP SDN Developer Kit include Aastra, Blue Coat Systems, BlueCat, Citrix Systems, Ecode Networks, F5, Infoblox, Infranics, Intel, Microsoft, MIMOS, PwC, Qosmos, Radware, Real Status, Riverbed, RMIT University, ShoreTel Inc., SAP, Tech Mahindra, VMware, Versatile and Websense.