Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Unified Communication and Collaboration










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Hewlett-Packard Enterprise
Unified Communication and Collaboration

by Sherry Kercher

Docid: 00011089

Publication Date: 2001

Report Type: PRODUCT

Preview

The Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE) Unified Communications and
Collaboration (UC&C) portfolio is a collection of hardware, software,
and services for integrating voice, data, presence, video collaboration,
Web collaboration, and IM (instant messaging) among other features. The
portfolio is based in large part on the networking technology HP acquired
when it bought 3Com in 2010 and now includes wireless technology from
Aruba Networks, which HP acquired in May 2015. In September 2017, Micro
Focus merged with HPE’s Software Business Segment, further strengthening
HP’s market position. The UC&C portfolio is based on the HP Converged
Infrastructure strategy that focuses on a service-oriented approach to
business. This report looks at HPE’s UC&C offerings in greater detail.

Report Contents:

Description

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Hewlett-Packard (HP)’s Unified Communications and Collaboration
(UC&C) portfolio is an integrated communications platform that
includes hardware, software, and services for connecting corporate teams.
It includes a number of offerings in several areas, including HPE Flex
solutions, mobile user connectivity, and data storage.

Hewlett-Packard Company
Profile

The portfolio is based on HP’s $2.7 billion USD purchase of 3Com in 2010.
As part of this merger, HP integrated 3Com’s network switching, routing,
and security products with its own ProCurve solutions. This helped bolster
HP’s Converged Infrastructure strategy, which is built on the idea of
integrating servers, storage, networking, management, facilities, and
services. It is also now integrating wireless technology that it acquired
from Aruba Networks in 2015.

Vendor

Name: Hewlett-Packard
Headquarters

3000 Hanover St
Palo Alto CA 94304-1185
Phone: (650) 857-1501
Fax: (650) 857-5518
Web: http://www.hp.com/
Type of Vendor: Hardware, software, and
professional services firm
Founded: 1939
Service Areas: Global
Stock Symbol: HPQ (NYSE)

HP UC&C combines IT infrastructure, voice, messaging, data, presence,
and video within a virtual workspace. The platform integrates features
such as telephony, audio conferencing, e-mail and voice messaging, Web
collaboration, video collaboration, and other communications. It also
offers security and administration tools for protecting corporate data. HP
can architect, design, and implement UC&C either on-site, in the
cloud, or using a hybrid model, and also offer fully managed services.

HP’s UC&C network hardware, software, and services were designed to
deliver an optimum network for managing and securing data and voice, wired
and wireless, and core to edge, from deployment and health monitoring
through to migration and phase out.

HP MSR Survivable Branch Communication Module (SBM)

The HP MSR SBM allows for real time communications, even when the WAN is
unavailable. It is a survivable branch application with software to ensure
instant messaging, voice, video, and desktop sharing. It provides toll
bypass and least cost routing over the public switched telephone network
(PSTN). It is offered in a small MIM module, medium MIM module, and large
FIC module:

  • MSR Small Survivable Branch MIM Module–Powered by
    Microsoft Lync, offering a survivable branch application with software
    from HP to ensure instant messaging, voice, video, and desktop sharing.
    It provides toll bypass and least cost routing over the public switched
    telephone network (PSTN).
  • MSR Medium Survivable Branch MIM Module–Powered by
    Microsoft Lync, providing Microsoft Unified Communication Open
    Interoperability Program certified gateways. It offers compact form
    factors providing branch router solutions using HP MSR30 Series Routers.
  • MSR Large Survivable Branch Communication FIC Module–Powered
    by
    Microsoft
    Lync, offering Lync OIP Certified media Gateway, a rich set of UC&C
    features, and flexible FIC form factors.

UC&C Hardware

HP’s UC&C-related hardware includes the Services zl Module series
Solutions, IP phones, and VoIP gateways. Table 1 expands on each of these
families.

Table 1. UC&C Hardware in Detail
Category Description
Services zl
Module series Solutions
HP Survivable Branch
Communication zl Module (SBM) powered by Microsoft Lync
SBM combines the Microsoft
Lync survivable branch application and HP software to provide
survivable branch services while maintaining internal peer-to-peer
communications when the data center cannot be reached. Components
of the offering include public switched telephone network (PSTN)
to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) gateway, a graphical user
interface (GUI), management interfaces, and an application
programming interface (API) to the switch. It fits in the chassis
of the HP E8200 zl and E5400 zl Switch series.
The HP AllianceOne Services
zl Module for Avaya Aura Session Border Controller (SBC)
SBC allows for real-time
interactive communications and establishes a demarcation point to
sustain a broader service reach. It is designed to let Unified
Communications and Contact Center Solutions leverage Session
Initiation Protocol (SIP) while extending the power of the Avaya
Aura architecture in the network. It secures voice, video,
presence, and instant messaging (IM) by defending SIP signaling
elements against security threats and overloads. It also supports
regulatory compliance.
HP MSR Survivable Branch
communication module (SBM)
The MSR SBM enables real
time communications even when the WAN is unavailable. The HP MSR
Small Survivable Branch (SSB) MIM module, HP MSR Medium Survivable
Branch Communication MIM Module, and HP MSR Large Survivable
Branch Communication FIC Module integrate a Microsoft Lync
survivable branch application with HP software. They provide
instant messaging, voice, video, and desktop sharing.
The HP Advanced Services zl
Module with Citrix XenServer
This product allows for the
hosting of one or multiple applications within the networking
infrastructure. It consists of a processor, storage, network
interfaces, and memory that are connected with a network switch
ASIC on a platform that hosts a virtualized environment. It is
installed into an HP 5400 zl or 8200 zl series switch.
Virtualization management tools allow for the applications and
services to be managed remotely.
HPE Flex Solutions Designed for small and medium-sized businesses that
need to have equipment up and running efficiently. Solutions
include collaborations servers, data processing servers,
virtualization servers, and office servers.
HP Advanced Services zl
Module with VMware vSphere
This open architecture
platform allows for the hosting of one or multiple applications
within the networking infrastructure. It contains a processor,
storage, network interfaces, and memory interconnected with a
network switch ASIC on a single platform that hosts a virtualized
environment. It is installed into a HP 5400zl or8200zl series
switch. Virtualization management tools, applications, and
services can be managed remotely.
IP Phones
4120 Microsoft Lync-optimized
desktop phone that lets users enter a PIN number to access
voicemail, personal contacts, and other customized user profile
settings. It supports Microsoft Office 365 combined with
cloud-based versions of Microsoft’s communications and
collaboration services.
4110 Lync-optimized common-area
phone that provides PoE (Power over Ethernet) connectivity. Users
enter a PIN number to access voicemail, personal contacts, and
other customized user profile settings.
VoIP Gateways
MSR20 Series Routers delivering
convergence of routing, switching, voice, security, embedded
encryption, and a firewall.
MSR30 Series Routers with multi-core and
distributed architecture with distributed processing, aggregating
capability, embedded hardware encryption, and redundant,
hot-swappable hardware.

Network Management

HP’s UC&C network management offerings include the Intelligent
Management Center Software Platform, which is offered in Standard and
Enterprise editions. The platform is a wired and wireless network
management tool supporting the FCAPS model, providing IT business
management, and system architecture. It allows for the addition of
optional modules to extend capabilities, and supports the management of HP
and third-party devices. It is offered with an initial license for 50
managed devices with available additional node licenses. Intelligent
Management Center Enterprise Software Platform includes both eAPI library
and five nodes of IMC Network Traffic Analyzer (NTA) Software.

Lync-Qualified Products

Lync-qualified wireless products include:

  • MSM Controller Series – Works in unison with HP MSM
    access points. Its architecture scales to the IEEE 802.11ac without
    requiring controller replacement. The MSM Controller Series includes the
    MSM760, MSM765zl and the MSM720.
  • HP 425 802.11n Dual Radio Access Point Series – A
    dual radio IEEE 802.11n indoor access point that has both embedded
    antennas and optional external antennas. It provides two spatial stream
    access and up to 300 Mbps of throughput per radio. It is designed for
    voice and multi-media communications and offers embedded high gain and
    optional external antennas.
  • MSM-802.11n Dual Radio Access Point Series – Provides
    scalable, secure, WI-FI access points either autonomously or centrally
    controlled by MSM Controllers. It offers built-in Spectral Analysis and
    integrated Wireless IDS/IPS for detection, classification, and
    intelligent avoidance of non-802.11 interference and comprehensive
    threat protection.
  • MSM-802.11n Dual Radio Indoor/Outdoor Access Point Series
    – Provides 450Mb/s per radio technology to outdoor environments for
    outdoor coverage, point to point, and point to multipoint applications
    either autonomously or centrally controlled by MSM Controllers.

Lync-Qualified Wired products include:

  • 2620 Switch Series – An offering for customers who
    are building converged enterprise edge networks.
  • HP 3500 and 3500 yl Switch Series – Consists of Layer
    2/3/4 switches that offer intelligent edge capability in a fixed port
    form factor.
  • 8200 zl Switch Series – A high performance,
    full-featured modular switch designed to offer reduced complexity as
    part of a Unified Wired and Wireless Network infrastructure.
  • 2910 al Switch Series – A scalable offering for
    building high-performance networks. They can be deployed at enterprise
    edge and remote branch offices, converged networks, and data center top
    of rack.
  • 5400 zl Switch Series – Consists of Layer 2/3/4
    switches that support integrated advanced capabilities in chassis
    (6-slot and 12-slot) form factor. It offers maximum flexibility, life
    time warranty, and lowered TCO.

UC&C Voice Applications

As part of its UC&C lineup, HP offers software options such as:

  • VCX Desktop Communicator Software Series – Deliver
    portals to interpersonal communications functions such as VCX IP
    telephony, audio and video conferencing, e-mail, presence, and IM. The
    tool includes interaction with Microsoft Outlook, multiple SIP-based
    clients chatting, conferencing capabilities, and the use of local
    presence.
  • VCX V7000 IP Conferencing Series – Scalable,
    in-house conferencing system. The software provides host and participant
    Web-based conference controls, peer-to-peer and one-to-many conferences,
    and redundant server options for high availability.

Table 2 lists some of the UC&C service capabilities HP offers.

Table 2. UC&C Solutions
UC&C Service Description
UC&C Voice Transformation Solutions Provides scalable, enterprise-class
telephony with an option for incrementally adding telephony
features in a phased, custom-designed approach. Users can also
deploy the complete range of UC&C technology.
UC&C Virtual Workplace Solutions Services for helping secure
intellectual property, improve decision making, and response time
by integrating data, voice, video, and Web collaboration tools
with presence and messaging, in one communications platform.
UC&C Communications Enabled
Solutions
Add critical workflows and business
applications into the enterprise collaboration platform. This is
useful in extending UC&C coverage to industry-specific
business processes.

HP also offers Business Value Analysis services, useful for consideration
while developing a UC&C deployment or upgrade strategy:

  • Transformation Experience Workshop – For defining an
    aligned vision for unified communications.
  • Business Benefits Workshop – Shows a link between IT
    investments and the business benefits they offer.
  • Strategic Architecture Services – Defines a roadmap
    and plan for realizing a UC&C vision.

Applications

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Application and scalability considerations for HPE’s UC&C products
are listed in Table 3.

Table 3. UC&C Applications and Scalability
Product Applications
HPE Survivable Branch
Communication zl Module (SBM) powered by Microsoft Lync
Small businesses to large
enterprises
The HPE AllianceOne
Services zl Module for Avaya Aura Session Border Controller (SBC)
Small businesses to large
enterprises
HPE MSR Survivable Branch
communication module (SBM)
Small businesses to large
enterprises
HPE Advanced Services zl
Module with Citrix XenServer
Small businesses to large
enterprises
HPE Advanced Services zl
Module with VMware vSphere
Small businesses to large
enterprises
HPE ProLiant Tower ML Servers SMB-sized businesses
HPE ProLiant DL Rack Servers SMB-sized businesses
HPE ProLiant Easy Connect Home and small businesses
HPE ProLiant Easy Connect Cloud Cloud or hybrid infrastructures
4120 Small businesses to large
enterprises
4110 Small businesses to large
enterprises
MSR20 Series Small branch offices,
SMB-sized businesses
MSR30 Series Small branch offices,
SMB-sized businesses

Environment

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The products and services that make up HPE’s UC&C portfolio have
different operating requirements and considerations. HP asks that
interested, potential customers contact its sales staff regarding platform
support and other deployment issues.

Support

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HP offers a variety of support options for its offerings, including
support online or via telephone. A support lookup tool is also available
via the HP site.

Pricing

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Due to the configurable nature of its products, HP does not publish
detailed pricing information on its platforms. Interested customers should
contact the company directly for price-related information.

Competitors

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HP’s UC&C portfolio competes with Cisco’s UC&C products, Micro
Focus GroupWise (formerly Novell), and other competitive offerings from
IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya, Unify (formerly Siemens
Enterprise Communication), Callware, Mitel, and Polycom. In September
2017, Micro Focus merged with HPE’s Software Business Segment in a
transaction valued at approximately $8.8 billion USD. This is helping
boost the strength of HP’s presence in the unified communications market.

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About the Author

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Sherry Kercher is an editor for Faulkner Information
Services. She holds a master’s degree in library and information science,
and tracks and writes about storage, communication networks and equipment,
and Internet technologies.

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