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While expanding its corporate campus, General Mills deployed an enhanced ProCurve Networking infrastructure utilizing the Switch 5300xl series. The solution provides greater bandwidth, secure guest connectivity to the campus network, and future flexibility to continually augment the company's global infrastructure.
General Mills is pleased with the performance of its new infrastructure, and plans to standardize on ProCurve Networking solutions worldwide.
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As General Mills began planning a recent expansion to its corporate campus in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the company's IS team realized it was the perfect time to implement new functionality and performance into its existing ProCurve network.
"In adding to our campus, we identified an opportunity to provide greater bandwidth from the network backbone down to each desktop, offer improved guest access to the network, and increase the overall functionality and flexibility of our infrastructure," said Eris Hanson, IS department manager, General Mills. "However, with a rigid timetable, there was no room for error. ProCurve Networking rendered the installation completely seamless and remarkably easy. We could not be happier."
The infrastructure upgrade has provided General Mills with a cutting-edge corporate network that offers significant bandwidth, secure guest access, and the ability to easily expand and standardize with ProCurve Networking globally.
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General Mills' enhanced ProCurve Networking infrastructure provides faster connectivity to the corporate network, with a Gigabit backbone and 100 megabits on the desktop. The network relies on the Switch 5300xl series layer 2/3/4 chassis, which offers scalable, wire-speed switching in a compact four-or eight-slot modular form factor. These convergence-ready switches offer flexibility, high port density, software upgrades included in the purchase price, and a lifetime warranty.
Hanson indicated the chassis design of the HP ProCurve Switch 5300xl series provides flexibility for future network enhancements. "We are able to use our existing ProCurve Networking chassis well into the future, and when the need arises, we can simply swap out cards based on the requirements of specific users and groups—or even upgrade the entire network—without conducting an overhaul."
Security was a top priority of the new implementation. "New network functionality presents entirely new issues, including how devices and applications would connect to our network, how we control viruses, and how we ensure only General Mills employees get onto the network," said Hanson. "Because ProCurve Networking products provide advanced, industry-standard security features, such as the latest 802.1X technology, security has been a non-issue. And the transition has been seamless for our users and guests—we have received a limited number of calls from the help desk simply because ProCurve Networking products perform so well."
Hanson indicated ProCurve Networking's Guest VLAN features provide a subtle, yet important, benefit to General Mills. ProCurve Networking switches automatically provide different configuration capabilities for different classes of users, such as guests and campus employees.
"Being a large global company, we have many guests visiting our campus who need various network services, whether it be Internet access or the ability to work collaboratively with our campus users," Hanson stated. "With our ProCurve-enabled Guest VLAN, we can provide quick and appropriate access for guests."
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General Mills chose ProCurve Networking because of its technology, dedication to standards, and renowned service, as well as the two companies' long-standing IT relationship. According to Hanson, "HP has always made us feel like a partner, not a customer. With HP, we have a voice, and that voice carries." Hanson emphasized HP's support of industry standards is a big reason why General Mills plans to standardize worldwide on the HP ProCurve Switch 5300xl series.
"With industry standards-based solutions, ProCurve Networking provides General Mills flexibility to augment our global network and take advantage of new technologies as they emerge," said Hanson. "The combination of network flexibility, outstanding product performance, and unparalleled service made standardizing on ProCurve Networking's Adaptive EDGE Architecture a simple, clear-cut decision."
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- Improved network bandwidth
- Secure Guest VLAN
- Flexibility for future network enhancements and technology deployments
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Hardware
Software
Software
HP services
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Lifetime warranty with next-business-day advance replacement (available in most countries) on most products for as long as the customer owns it *
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Telephone support available during normal business hours
- Technical product support available via e-mail
- Comprehensive network design and configuration services offered at no extra charge
* The HP ProCurve Routing Switch 9300m series and Secure Access 700wl series have a one-year warranty with extensions available.
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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.
Purchase: In the US, HP business solutions, products, and supplies can be purchased at your local HP partner, or bought directly from HP either online or by calling 800-613-2222.
Finance: HP finance plans provide all the benefits of new technology without the risk or cost of ownership. For details, call 888-999-4783.
Accessibility: HP is committed to providing products and services that are accessible to people with disabilities. For more information, please visit the HP Accessibility web site or call 888-259-5707.
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