Hewlett Packard Enterprise Tuesday unveiled a new version of its Aruba Central network management platform outfitted with artificial intelligence-based analytics. "This is a breakthrough with artificial intelligence-based analytics being integrated into Aruba Central for the first time," said Hewlett Packard Enterprise Vice President Dr. Tom Bradicich, HPE Fellow and global head of IoT and Edge Center of Excellence and Labs. "The impact this is going to have on customers is tremendous because these analytics are no longer on a separate tool, program or screen." The new Aruba Central capabilities for the first time allows partners to proactively optimize an SD-WAN rollout based on the AI based analytics from Aruba Central. Aruba Central now includes branch management capabilities with a new SD-WAN Orchestrator that makes it easier for partners to deploy what HPE calls a "large scale edge infrastructure connecting thousands of branch locations with multiple data centers."

It should come as no surprise that the Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the most eagerly anticipated trends in heavy industry. Powered by a host of technologies, including low-cost sensors, IP and wireless networks, private and public clouds, and powerful edge infrastructure, industrial IoT promises to transform the way companies provide products and services and interact with customers and partners. Simultaneously, another revolution is taking place in artificial intelligence (AI). For years, programmed intelligence based on simple rules and limited data inputs have powered various industrial applications. A robot arm that extracts a molded part from a chemical wash after certain conditions are met is an example of a narrow, "weak" AI.