VLAN Beta Customers

[Darrel]

****Wanted***
VLAN Beta Customers

HP is looking for a few good customers who would be interested in partnering in product development as a Beta test site. We seek your nput on the VLAN implementation on HP-UX.

The objective of the partnership program is to help us refine our product requirements to achieve the best possible quality and overall TCE (Total Customer Experience.). We believe the best way accomplish this objective is by conducting Beta testing by HP-UX customers prior to product release.

*** We want you as a HP-UX VLAN Beta Customer!!!! ***

The following section will answer some basics about VLAN and not intended to be exhaustive as this is not the forum.

----- VLAN Q&A ----

What is VLAN?

VLANs are commonly used to separate groups of network users into manageable broadcast domains, to create logical segmentation of workgroups, and to enforce security and priority policies among each logical segment.

Each VLAN behaves as its own separate network (even when sharing a common physical LAN framework), with its traffic and broadcasts
isolated from the others, increasing the bandwidth efficiency within each logical group.

What Industry Standards define VLAN and used by VLAN?

The two key standards are 802.1Q 802.1p

1) 802.1Q is the IEEE Standard for VLAN.

2) 802.1p is the IEEE Standard that defines a link level priority mechanism to enable traffic classification and CoS (Class of Service).


What are the plans for HP-UX?

Implement 802.1Q/1p tagging at HP-UX servers and workstations.


What are some of the advantages of VLAN tagging at end stations?

1) Ability to convert network level priority (e.g., IP ToS) to link level priority for end-to-end Class of Service (CoS).

2) Relieve switches of performing VLAN association and classification, allowing faster operation.

What are the planned features for the first release of VLAN?

1) Ability to define IP Subnet, protocol, and port-based VLANs on servers and workstations.

2) Ability to configure multiple VLANs on a single NIC card.

3) Ability to create VLANs on Link Aggregates.


What are the support requirements?

1) PCI/HSC Fast Ethernet (100BT) and Gigabit Ethernet (1000BT & 1000SX).

2) HP-UX 11i

3) VLAN tag-aware switches (802.1Q switches). 802.1p implementation on switches is optional.

What are the customers roles and responsibilities a VLAN beta customer?

1) Provide answers to questionnaire.

2) Provide quotes that may be used by Marketing/Sales

To become a VLAN Beta Customer or for more on the latest on HP-UX VLAN technology contact:

Eric Yeh, Product Manager
(408) 447-7331
email: eric_yeh@hp.com


We cannot emphasize enough how much we would like to involve you our customers and partners in this important venture. A successful partnership and Beta test program will help guide us in the right direction regarding usability (look and feel), supportability, features and performance requirements. And you can be a part of that success.

If you or if you know of another HP customer who would be interested in participating in HP-UX VLAN beta program please let us know. We will answer any questions you may have in regards to the partnership program and Beta testing.