HP To Open App Store Outlet For Developers On 1 October

An HP software defined network (SDN) app store has been set up for launching on 1 October, providing developers with a centralised marketplace for their products and HP SDN customers and partners with easy access to applications.

The company claims the HP SDN App Store will allow customers to discover and purchase specific applications before downloading them for testing or live deployment on their network environments.

Partner assistance

HP is also making provisions for the channel, promising its partners will play a key role in supporting their customers in the transition to SDN, helping them choose the right apps. The company said the store, along with services like its HP Virtual Application Networks (VAN) SDN controller and HP SDN SDK, will make the technology easy and accessible.

“Our customers are eager to transform their network architecture into a competitive advantage, and SDN applications make that possible,” said Antonio Neri, senior vice president and general manager of HP Servers and Networking. “With the HP SDN App Store, we have completed the final piece of the SDN ecosystem by offering a vibrant, robust marketplace of innovations that supports more than five million users and provides support to customers as they migrate to SDN.”

Applications will be sorted into four categories or “circles”. HP Circle apps have been built and tested by HP, Premium Circle apps are top sellers and have been jointly tested by HP and its partners, Partner Circle apps have been tested by HP or its partners and screened by HP, and the Community Circle offers open access and community supported apps that demonstrate the benefits of open source and concept SDN software.

The first wave of apps comprise four partner applications and two HP apps, including HP Network Protector, which offers real-time security across OpenFlow-enabled network devices and HP Network optimiser for Microsoft Lync.

HP has made a number of SDN-related announcements in recent months, telling the audience at its HP Discover event in Las Vegas in June that without SDN, the development of cloud services will stagnate.