Product Positioning
Overview
A widely used method for segmenting the areas in which switches are installed calls for three different
classifications: access, distribution and core. Access switches provide aggregation of end nodes for
connection to a distribution or core switch and are usually found in wiring closets. Distribution switches
aggregate the links from access switches and possibly server farms. Distribution switches anchor the
network in a building, or, for small networks, across a campus. Core switches provide the focal point of
the local network, aggregating the distribution switches, providing connectivity for central site data
centers, and providing connectivity in many cases to the external network.
Regardless of your network s architecture whether you have adopted ProCurve s Adaptive EDGE
architecture with its intelligence at the edge, or whether you use a traditional architecture that
concentrates intelligence at the center of the network you have a choice of wiring topologies to
implement that architecture.
The intelligence and throughput of the ProCurve Switch 5400zl and 3500yl series make them suitable for
applications at or near the edge of networks of all sizes, or in the center of networks that are small-to-
moderate in size. The modular structure of the ProCurve Switch 5400zl series gives you the flexibility to
tailor the switch to match your topology s requirements. The ProCurve Switch 6200yl, an advanced Layer
3 stackable, is designed to be deployed as an aggregator of traffic from the edge to the core of the
network.
The foundation for all of these switches is a purpose-built, programmable ProVision ASIC that allows the
most demanding networking features, such as QoS and security, to be implemented in a scalable yet
granular fashion. A high capacity switch fabric, based on the most recent ProVision ASIC architecture, is
integrated with the switch backplane. The ProCurve Switch 5400zl, 3500yl and 6200yl series have been
designed as a product family, using the ProVision ASICs and software, providing consistency and
scalability across the family.
The ProVision ASICs are aimed at accomplishing several objectives:
" Provide a great engineering balance between feature capabilities, performance, and price
" Bring sophisticated control features to the Edge of the network
" Have programmable features that allow future requirements to be accommodated in the ASICs.
Key features of the ProCurve Switch 5400zl, 3500yl and 6200yl series include:
" Performance High capacity switch fabric (from 115 Gbps to 692 Gbps backplane speed), bandwidth
shaping and control, Quality of Service, L2 and L3 jumbo frames
" Security Per-port identity-driven ACLs, IP and MAC lockdown/lockout, source port filtering, 802.1X,
Web, and MAC user authentication, virus throttling, management access control (SSH, SSL,
TACACS+, secure FTP)
" Operational flexibility High port density in 4U and 7U form factors, Versatile Intelligent Ports
(10/100/1000, PoE-enabled), power supply choices for optimum PoE
" Resiliency Redundant power supplies, hot-swappable/hot-insertable modules, MSTP, switch
meshing, VRRP, OSPF-ECMP
" IP Routing RIPv1, RIPv2, OSPF, PIM-SM, PIM-DM, static routes
" Investment protection Upgradeable management engine and CPU, upgradeable to Premium Edge
feature group, add-in modules and power supplies, Versatile Intelligent Ports, programmable ASICs
ProCurve Switch 5400z and 3500yl Series
The ProCurve Switch 5400zl and 3500yl series consists of the most advanced intelligent edge switches in
the ProCurve Networking product line. The 5400zl series includes 6-slot and 12-slot chassis and associated
zl modules and bundles, and the 3500yl series includes 24-port and 48-port stackables. With a variety of
Gigabit interfaces, integrated Power over Ethernet (PoE) on all 10/100/1000Base-T ports, 10-GbE
capability, and a choice of form factors, the 5400zl and 3500yl switches offer excellent investment
protection, flexibility, and scalability, as well as ease of deployment, operation, and maintenance.
