Cisco Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3020 for HP Information Guide
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Q&A
Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3020 for HP
Updated: May 10, 2006
OVERVIEW AND POSITIONING
Q.
What is the HP Blade Switch called and when is it available?
A.
The HP Blade Switch is called the Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3020 for HP.
Q.
What does the Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch offer to customers?
A.
The Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3020 for HP is an integrated switch for HP c-Class BladeSystem customers that extends Cisco’s
resilient and secure Infrastructure Services to the server edge and utilizes existing network investments to help reduce operational
expenses.
The Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3020 for HP provides HP c-Class BladeSystem customers with an integrated switching solution
which dramatically reduces cable complexity. This solution offers consistent network services like high availability, quality of service
and security. It utilizes Cisco’s comprehensive management framework to simplify on-going operations. Cisco’s advanced network
services in combination with simplified management helps reduce total cost of ownership.
Q.
Why is this switch a Catalyst product, while the CGESM is an OEM product?
A.
Customers have overwhelmingly given us feedback that they want to treat the integrated blade switches as Cisco products. They
want the same experience in terms of pre-sales (Cisco sales team involvement, documentation, trade-in programs etc) and post-sales
(service and support, Advanced Services etc) support from Cisco. Hence, we are going to treat these switches as an extension of the
Catalyst switching family. We are going to add it to the recently launched “Blade Switch” sub-brand within the Catalyst family.
Q.
Was this product developed jointly?
A.
Absolutely, the Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3020 was developed jointly with HP.
Q.
How is Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3020 different from CGESM?
A.
CGESM is the integrated Cisco Ethernet switch that works inside a p-Class Bladesystem chassis, while the Catalyst Blade Switch
3020 is the integrated Cisco Ethernet switch that works insides a c-Class Bladesystem chassis. From a feature set perspective, they are
very similar. The major differences are:
●
Up to 8 GE uplinks are available on Catalyst Blade Switch 3020, while CGESM supports up to 6 GE uplinks
●
Customers requiring copper connectivity do not need to use SFPs any more with Catalyst Blade Switch 3020
●
The Catalyst Blade Switch 3020 switch is much smaller in size – it is driven by the chassis switch form factor
Q.
How is Cisco Catalyst Blade Switch 3020 different from other blade switches?
A.
The products are very similar and are part of a portfolio of switching products that integrates Cisco switching technology into
Bladeserver chassis. They are all layer 2+ switches. Our goal is to have feature and functionality consistency within the blade switch
product line. Each of the switches however have a different form factor to fit the different partner chassis they go into.