Aruba's next-generation network solution revolutionizes traditional network management

Aruba, the world's leading provider of next-generation network solutions, has officially released a new network solution for enterprise users. Through this solution, Aruba will help enterprise users break the rigid model of traditional network management and help enterprises build more competitive networks in the wave of digital transformation with disruptive innovation.

With the goal of helping enterprise users subvert traditional network management, Aruba has released a complete set of solutions covering core switching, access and network management, mainly including: 8400/8320 core switches, AP340 and AP370 wireless access points, ArubaOS 8.0 controller intelligent operating system, IntroSpect behavioral analysis security software, ClearPass Profiler IoT device analyzer, Net Insight cloud network management and analysis platform, as well as Aruba Central comprehensive cloud management platform and SD-Branch software-defined branch network architecture.

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Pictured are Aruba China President Xie Jianguo (first from left), Aruba Asia Pacific Vice President Steve Wood (second from left), Aruba Wireless Business General Manager Ash Chowdappa (third from left), HPE Vice President Mark Carroll (third from right), Aruba Asia Pacific Chief Technology Officer Amol Mitra (second from right), and Aruba China Technical Sales Vice President Wu Zhangming (first from right) jointly released the new product

A new round of digital transformation will revolutionize network management

A new wave of digital transformation with cloud computing, IoT, mobility and intelligence as the core is just in time. In the future, the scale of mobile Internet users and the number of IoT devices connected will be massive. Steve Wood, vice president of Aruba Asia Pacific, pointed out that "for network management and applications, this is a change and subversion of the 'rules of the game'." In his opinion, the closed and static network management in the wired network era is difficult to adapt to the new environment of mobility and IoT. The future network will be subverted in three dimensions, including subverting network boundaries, innovating security strategies and intelligent network management.

• Aruba's core switching and network control technologies achieve multiple industry firsts

Aruba believes that under the trend of mobile first, the "separate management" of wired and wireless networks has caused problems such as duplicate construction of network facilities and inefficient management. The future network will be integrated into a large network, which enterprises can deploy and manage in a unified manner. Based on the above concept, the Aruba 8400 core switch has a milestone significance. At the same time, Aruba OS 8.0 pushes the management of network controllers towards intelligence.

The industry's first software-defined architecture: Aruba 8400 core switch

As a disruptive product, the Aruba 8400 core switch is the industry's first network switch to use a software-defined architecture. It is equipped with the industry-leading operating system ArubaOS-CX, which has achieved breakthroughs in campus core and aggregation network technology, truly extending intelligence from the edge to the core, while meeting multiple application requirements such as high performance, high availability, security, visual management, and intelligent troubleshooting.

Different from traditional switch hardware, the 8400 core switch not only has high hardware performance and carrier-level reliability, but also carries ArubaOS-CX, a new switch operating system with built-in Python scripts and REST APIs, which can realize automation and fine-grained programmability of switch functions. It is like the nerve center in the switch, which can automatically simplify key and complex network tasks. At the same time, the network analysis engine (Aruba Network Analytics Engine) can achieve performance monitoring and intelligent troubleshooting of the network system through simple rule-based monitoring and automatic correlation of network activities.

Aruba OS 8.0 controller operating system brings virtualization technology to network control for the first time

As the hub for controlling AC and AP access points, Aruba OS 8.0 controller intelligent operating system applies virtualization technology to the field of network controllers for the first time. Its "killer" innovations are:

1. Virtualize the physical wireless controller to achieve intelligent management of APs. For example, in a large campus network, users can roam seamlessly across controllers. Managers can flexibly adjust the load balancing of controllers based on user access density.
2. The MultiZone feature is the industry's first shared AP technology that uses the same wireless access point to have up to five independent secure networks in the same physical location.
3. AirMatch technology more intelligently optimizes RF parameters based on the environment to improve user experience.
4. Live Upgrade enables online upgrades without interrupting business operations, without restarting the entire system, reducing disruption to terminal network users when quickly troubleshooting or upgrading the network.

• Innovate security strategies, gain insights into user behavior and securely connect smart devices

Aruba believes that in the environment of mobility and the Internet of Things, network security threats are more complex and frequent. In the past, enterprises used firewalls to isolate enterprise networks from the Internet. However, with the change in network usage behavior (mobile terminals, IoT devices and BYOD entering enterprise networks in large numbers), it is difficult to cope with it. Based on AI machine learning technology, Aruba's security strategy starts with the analysis of future IoT devices and user behavior to provide intelligent solutions. Aruba IntroSpect and ClearPass Profiler came into being.

IntroSpect behavior analysis security software forms an accurate and visual user behavior portrait based on the user's Internet habits. When the platform identifies abnormal or high-risk Internet behavior of users, it can provide timely warnings before the harm occurs and transmit the information to the ClearPass platform on the platform to repair these attacks.

ClearPass Profiler can identify any smart device connected to the Internet of Things and visualize information such as device type, status, and location to determine the risk of connected devices. This is very necessary in the context of the future Internet of Things.

• Intelligent network management fully stimulates network application efficiency

Aruba emphasizes that intelligence is one of the core features of future network management. It uses cutting-edge technologies such as cloud computing, visualization, and artificial intelligence to further stimulate the efficiency of network management and applications. Aruba's innovation is based on this, covering cloud management, software-defined branch network, and intelligent operation and maintenance.

Aruba NetInsight Cloud Network Management Platform

Aruba NetInsight cloud network management platform can be described as Aruba's "secret sauce", which enables network operation and maintenance management to truly catch the "express train" of cloud computing and artificial intelligence. The platform is based on big data and AI machine learning technology formed by cloud network configuration sharing, coupled with Aruba's rich Wi-Fi knowledge, technology and experience, to help users find the best tuning solution for network configuration optimization with the same type of needs.

One-stop deployment and management in the cloud: Aruba Central integrated cloud management platform

Aruba believes that the cloud approach can greatly improve network management efficiency and reduce operating costs. Especially for the application scenarios of multiple branches of an enterprise, Aruba uses the cloud approach to solve the above limitations of traditional network management, such as manual labor, long deployment cycle, complex management, and invisible results. Aruba Central can perform centralized network management including wireless networks, wired switching, and WAN routing infrastructure based on the cloud platform. This means that branches only need to deploy AP access points, and the central administrator will complete the network configuration distribution, network performance monitoring, and fault diagnosis, which greatly saves costs and achieves a simpler and more convenient network deployment.

Software-defined branch simplifies network deployment: Aruba SD-Branch software-defined branch architecture

Aruba SD-Branch software-defined branch architecture provides a complete hardware and software solution for the network management of branch chains of large and medium-sized enterprises. Its performance is reflected in: (1) using common policies across LAN, WLAN and WAN to carry out unified policy deployment and control; (2) providing a variety of management models including autonomous management and cloud management; (3) making the network simpler by using fewer devices.

Aruba Asia Pacific Chief Technology Officer Amol Mitra said, "In the wave of digital transformation, Aruba must not only maintain its leading technology advantage in the wireless field, but also become a leader in core-to-edge networks, providing integrated solutions from the access layer to the data center, thereby helping enterprises better deploy, apply and manage networks, and thus more easily handle all aspects of work and personal life."

"Aruba's portfolio redefines the future of network management and moves away from the rigid, static client-server model of the past decade to a software-defined approach that enables seamless, secure access to cloud-based applications from any device, anywhere," said Mark Carroll, vice president and general manager of HPE's wireless networking business. "This is not only the future of networking applications, but also a reflection of Aruba's technology innovation."

Wu Zhangming, vice president of technical sales for Aruba China, said that with the high penetration of mobile and IoT technologies, the disruption of network management is imminent. As networks truly move from the wired era to wireless dominance, network boundary integration, mobility, automation and visualization of network management are inevitable.

Finally, Xie Jianguo, President of Aruba China, concluded: "The launch and implementation of Aruba's new generation of network solutions in China shows that the Chinese market has always been one of Aruba's strategic cores. Through Aruba's R&D center in Beijing, we will not only better introduce globally common products, but also provide customized solutions for Chinese enterprise users based on local customer needs and usage scenarios, helping them to subvert network management and seize business opportunities in the wave of digital transformation."