HP strengthens scale-out computing portfolio to boost customer data centre performance, flexibility

Issued by Arcay Communications for HP

Johannesburg, 15 Dec 2009

HP recently launched servers, storage, software and networking offerings that deliver new levels of infrastructure performance and efficiency, enabling customers to accelerate business innovation.

The new offerings include the HP ProLiant G6 blade, along with “skinless” server technology, storage, software and interconnect/networking offerings optimised for Web 2.0, cloud and high-performance computing (HPC) environments. These extend the HP Extreme Scale-Out (ExSO) portfolio, introduced in June, which is designed to reduce customers' total cost of ownership and increase data centre capacity.

“The ExSO portfolio was created to meet the demanding needs of scale-out as well as high-performance computing customers that require highly efficient and powerful computing infrastructures,” said Andrew McNiven, Enterprise Business, Industry Standard Server Product Manager, HP South Africa HP. “We will continue to add to this portfolio, delivering innovative solutions based on our deep understanding of scale-out data centres and enabling our customers to gain more value from their infrastructure.”

HP products drive higher performance

As space, energy and cost constraints continue to challenge the growth of scale-out customers, HP is delivering scale-out technology offerings that address these factors without sacrificing performance:

* The HP ProLiant BL2x220c G6 dramatically increases server density, enabling customers to get more value out of their scale-out investments while maximising the use of physical data centre space. The latest addition to the HP ProLiant G6 server portfolio, the BL2x220c, includes two blade severs in the physical space of one. It has 33% higher memory capacity than the previous generation and delivers excellent energy efficiency and industry-leading blade server performance per watt.⁽¹⁾

* The HP Cluster Platform 3000SL delivers maximum performance per watt and per rand. This HPC-optimised implementation of the new HP ProLiant SL series offers double the density over traditional rack servers as well as improved energy efficiency with shared power and fans.

* The HP ProLiant SL165z G6 lowers power consumption by 18% and costs by 10%.⁽²⁾ The first AMD processor-based HP ProLiant SL server, the SL165z, uses HP's innovative “skinless” system architecture built on a lightweight rail and tray design to dramatically reduce capital, facilities and shipping costs while using a fraction of the space normally required within a data centre. Additionally, the ultra-efficient, modular design enables customers to quickly and easily build solutions that meet extreme scale-out workload requirements.

* The recently introduced HP StorageWorks X9000 Network Storage Systems simplify management of extreme data sets, enabling customers to rapidly respond to business needs while lowering costs. Ideal for data-intensive environments, these IBRIX software-based solutions virtualise file storage and create a single scale-out storage pool that is instantly accessible and centrally managed.

New integrations for added flexibility

To speed allocation and delivery of system resources while improving flexibility, HP also announced new solutions and integrations that provide scale-out customers with:

* Improved system efficiency, through dynamic workload management, automated provisioning and resource scheduling via Moab Adaptive Computing Suite (ACS) integration. Moab ACS operates across software stacks and operating systems, including UNIX, Windows and Linux, to meet the demands of complex and heterogeneous computing environments.

* Increased network performance, flexibility and choice with new 40Gbps (4X QDR) InfiniBand switches and host channel adapters, as well as a large port-count 10 Gigabit Ethernet switch via seamless integration with Mellanox, QLogic and Voltaire interconnect solutions.

More information is available at www.hp.com/go/extremescaleout and www.hp.com/go/hpc.

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world's largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.co.za.

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⁽¹⁾ The HP ProLiant BL2x220c SPECpower_ssj2008 results of 2,113 overall ssj_ops/watt is currently under review by SPEC and expected to be published on 11/18/09. For the latest SPECpower_ssj2008 results, visit http://www.spec.org/power_ssj2008/results/power_ssj2008.html. SPEC and the benchmark name SPECpower_ssj are registered trademarks of the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation.

⁽²⁾ Compared to HP ProLiant G5 servers.

UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group. Windows is a US registered trademark of Microsoft Corp.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialise or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions.

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