The HP A7500 switch series comprises 10 Gigabit modular core switches designed for the requirements of enterprise data center applications. These multilayer switches meet the evolving needs of integrated services networks, & can be deployed in multiple network environments, including the enterprise LAN core, aggregation layer, & wiring closet edge, as well as in metropolitan area networks (MANs) & data centers. They feature cost-effective wire-speed 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports to provide the throughput & bandwidth necessary for mission-critical data & high-speed communications. A passive backplane, support for load sharing, & redundant management & fabrics help HP A7500 series switches offer high availability. Moreover, these switches deliver wire-speed layer 2 & layer 3 routing services for the most demanding applications.