HPE Secretly Kills Off OpenSDN Line

HPE appears to have quickly and quietly shut down its OpenSDN line, which was once touted as an ideal software-defined networking platform for IT services and solutions providers.

Affected products include HPE OpenSDN 1.0 Data Center Networking Controller, HPE OpenSDN SD-VPN solution and the HPE OpenSDN SFC solution.

We used the word “appears” because, as of this writing, HPE has still not publicly confirmed the move.

Instead, an internal HPE memo was leaked to the UK technology publication The Register, which published the contents today. 

“HPE is advising our sales teams of the End of Sale of the HPE OpenSDN family of solutions, effective immediately,” said the memo, reportedly from Sarwar Raza, vice president of product management, and Jacques Rames, an SDN and network function virtualization sales exec.

“Product and service SKUs from these product families are no longer available for order or fulfillment. There are no follow-on releases planned for HPE OpenSDN solutions.”

It added: “This decision is made in light of business and financial considerations.”

The HPE product webpage describes the OpenSDN solution like this:

“The HPE OpenSDN Portfolio enhances the functionality of and is complementary to HPE NFV offerings. It is a tested, supported, indemnified and enhanced distribution of the OpenDaylight SDN Controller. It is positioned at the network virtualization layer for NFV deployments and serves as the core controller on which common SDN use cases are built.”

The alleged leaked memo stresses the company’s desire to keep the decision low key.

“HPE is not planning any external announcement regarding this change,” the communication states. “Communication with affected customers will be coordinated via Account Teams.”

“Do not offer any proactive statements to customers,” the memo continues. “If asked, please share that HPE has discontinued development of HPE OpenSDN and now offers partner solutions in its place.”

But HPE officials acknowledge the suggested replacement products are not perfect, according to the memo.

“So you may have to re-qualify open opportunities based on (distributed cloud networking) features,” it states.

The memo’s authors also make clear that the decision is in no way a reflection on HPE’s commitment to open source technologies in network function virtualization.

“Our decision is not based on merits or otherwise of open source vs proprietary solutions,” the statement said. “HPE continues to support open, standards-based solutions as well as best of breed partner solutions depending on specific customer needs.”

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