Eclipse Networking assumed responsibility for designing and implementing a new network based on a number of ProCurve switch models, with the existing 10Mb backbone being upgraded to 1Gb. ProCurve assisted in choosing the right combination of hardware. The new network currently has some 250 users.

According to Kirsten, network availability has increased from 85 per cent to more than 99 per cent. Any downtime that still occurs is due to power failures and not to equipment failure. Indeed, ProCurve technology is proving so reliable that the network continues to function with minimal intervention.

Improved reliability goes hand-in-hand with improved application response times. From a business perspective, these benefits translate into consistently fast and secure access to critical data. This is particularly important in the case of the systems used to monitor the equipment in the iron ore plants. Faster access to data also enables end-users to complete transactions more quickly and to be more productive generally. In fact, Kirsten estimates that the productivity of employees has increased by as much as 25 per cent since the installation of the network.

“We are highly impressed by the quality of our ProCurve switches, and the comprehensive lifetime warranty is of course a tremendous bonus. I am sure that we will still be running our network on this technology many years hence,” he concluded.

• Rapid business growth put pressure on Assmang’s IT infrastructure.
• The existing network architecture did not offer sufficiently high availability and performance.
• Network capacity was also inadequate to support the growing number of end-users.

• Assmang decided to upgrade the network infrastructure at its Beeshoek iron ore mine.
• It based the new network on ProCurve’s Adaptive Edge Architecture™.
• Eclipse Networks, a local partner, assumed responsibility for designing and implementing the new network.

• Network availability has increased from 85 per cent to more than 99 per cent, with any remaining downtime due to power failures rather than equipment failure.
• Application response times have also improved, giving end-users consistently fast access to critical data.
• This helps ensure that the company’s operations continue without any interruptions.
• The productivity of some users has increased by as much as 25 per cent.

The ProCurve Networking business unit of HP is a supplier of enterprise networking solutions comprising wired and wireless networking products, services and solutions—including WAN routers, Ethernet switches, routing switches, wireless access points and network management applications—which allow customers to build networks based on open standards that meet current and future needs for security, performance and reliability.

The ProCurve Networking Adaptive EDGE Architecture is a unique design strategy that creates a secure, mobile, multi-service network by placing intelligence at the edge-where users connect and policies are enforced. This innovative approach creates a dynamic network infrastructure designed to keep up with advancing technology and user needs while protecting business investments.

When you are ready to explore the benefits a ProCurve Networking solution can offer you, call HP at 1-800-975-7682.

To learn more about ProCurve Networking's Adaptive EDGE Architecture™ solutions, visit our home page.

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