HPE exited the multi-vendor network operations business in 2017 by divesting its OpenView platform to Micro Focus (now part of OpenText). However, times have changed, and HPE is back in the multi-vendor game with the latest release of their OpsRamp-integrated network management system, Central.
Since the announcement of the pending Juniper acquisition, industry watchers have speculated about the future of HPE’s Aruba Central, particularly considering the robust AI-driven functions featured in the Juniper Mist management console. Speculate no longer. The effort to integrate OpsRamp into Central was significant, and by all indications, it firmly establishes the tool as a cornerstone of HPE’s networking strategy.
HPE’s announcement does not suggest that Mist will be among the overlapping technologies to be eliminated—far from it. Mist’s AI capabilities are foundational to Juniper’s intelligent and automated network management functions—core technologies of their own that HPE sought to enhance through the Juniper acquisition. The path is clear: the advanced features of Mist, like OpsRamp, will be fully integrated into Central.
While speculation can be entertaining, let’s focus on the actual announcement. HPE has announced significant enhancements to its network management tool, Central. As HPE’s GreenLake offering gains traction in the enterprise networking space, many large enterprise customers face multi-year rip-and-replace scenarios, creating a mixed-vendor environment. Managing this type of environment is challenging and often undesirable. HPE Aruba is alleviating this burden with the latest release of Central.
The updates include new AI insights and capabilities, along with the integration of OpsRamp for monitoring third-party network devices from vendors like Cisco, Juniper Networks, and Palo Alto Networks.
Key Enhancements
- AI Insights and Optimizations: Improved network device configuration, expanded observability, and AI-generated optimizations.
- OpsRamp Integration: Adds insights from third-party network devices, reducing blind spots and speeding up health monitoring and troubleshooting of non-HPE Aurba devices.
- Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM): Integration of HPE Aruba Networking User Experience Insight (UXI) for continuous SLA monitoring.
Additional Features
- Streamlined Configurations: New common configuration model, hierarchical configurations, and 90 new APIs.
- Third-Party Monitoring: Enhanced network management with insights across end-to-end infrastructure allowing for a unified contextual network observability
Future Enhancements
- AI Model Expansion: Three times more AI-trained models, reducing time and effort for network management.
- Generative AI Integration: Expanded AIOps capabilities with multiple generative AI models.
- Security Features: New AI-powered security observability and monitoring features to address IoT security risks.
HPE Aruba Networking Central is available as a SaaS and through HPE GreenLake for Networking subscriptions. The latest AI Networking capabilities will be available in public preview starting October 2024, with additional features rolling out by year-end.
