HP recently announced new and enhanced HP ProLiant servers that help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) accelerate business results by simplifying the deployment, management and maintenance of their IT infrastructure.
SMEs can be challenged by limited financial and human resources when responding to growing customer demands and evolving business needs. Smaller enterprises, such as retail stores, medical practices and real estate offices, need simple, scalable and cost-effective solutions to power their businesses.
Based on current buying trends, at least 5.1 million small businesses worldwide will purchase their first server within the next five years, according to AMI Partners, a global strategy consulting firm. [1]
The new HP ProLiant MicroServer Generation 8 (Gen8) is an ideal first server that provides simplified set-up, management and maintenance with innovative HP Smart Technologies. The HP MicroServer offers centralised, anywhere, any time data access to employees to boost productivity and collaboration through data sharing - and it is small and quiet enough to sit on a desk.
Further expanding the HP ProLiant server portfolio, HP today also announced cost-optimised solutions for micro and SME clients that provide the reliability, flexibility and scalability needed to accommodate current and future business needs. New solutions include the HP ProLiant DL310e Gen8 v2 and HP ProLiant ML320e Gen8 v2.
"Small and mid-sized businesses require innovative server solutions that meet their specific business needs and price points to remain competitive," said Andrew McNiven, Product Manager, Industry Standard Servers, HP South Africa. "These new HP ProLiant servers are easy to use, highly reliable and cost-effective to maintain, enabling our SME customers to boost business performance, save time and cut costs."
Gen8 innovations
The HP ProLiant MicroServer, introduced in 2010, is an ultra-compact server solution that enables SMEs to manage and grow their businesses without adding burdensome cost or complexity.
The new HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 delivers the reliability, performance and security of a business server in a whisper-quiet design that is half the size of most competitive entry-level servers, which allows it to be displayed on the floor or desk [2]. It is an ideal first server solution for micro and small businesses, enabling collaboration through centralised information and data sharing. Plus, through HP unique innovations, it enables SME clients to reduce time spent on IT so they can focus on managing and growing their business.
Designed for organisations with fewer than 10 employees, the HP MicroServer Gen8 shares and secures critical information in a central server. Data and applications housed on the server are remotely accessible from virtually any Web-connected device with Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Essentials, improving productivity and collaboration.
The HP MicroServer Gen8 leverages several HP ProLiant Gen8 server innovations as well as the HP ProActive Insight architecture, enabling SME customers to:
* Simplify system installation, set-up and maintenance with the HP iLO Management Engine (iLO4) and HP Intelligent Provisioning, embedded in each server with software and preloaded tools ready to deploy for simplified management.
* Remotely manage the server from anywhere, any time to increase productivity while lowering operational costs with HP Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) Essentials.
* Continuously monitor performance with HP Active Health, which automatically assesses the servers for optimum health and lowest power consumption, and accelerates application updates to boost server performance and improve uptime via HP Smart Update.
* Deliver an integrated, converged server and networking infrastructure solution with the optional, stackable HP PS810-8G managed switch, which automatically discovers, monitors and accelerates the connectivity performance of both devices.
The HP MicroServer Gen8 also provides HP channel partners the opportunity to deliver new SME services and partner revenue opportunities with HP Insight Online - the industry's first comprehensive cloud-based services portal.
Greater computing opportunities
The expanded HP ProLiant line-up is ideal for SME clients, SME channel partners and organisations in emerging markets. The new servers improve performance, power management and serviceability:
* HP ProLiant ML310e Gen8 v2 is an updated, full-featured, single-processor tower server with enterprise-class manageability for SMEs with remote or branch offices that need to boost productivity and connectivity and simplify management with maximum uptime.
* HP ProLiant DL320e Gen8 v2 is a new compact, single-processor, rack-optimised server that can be deployed anywhere. It is ideal for single-application uses, such as small businesses and chain stores, and is ideal for factory automation, medical, transportation, telecoms and military. The server meets the unique space, mobility, management and budget challenges that SME and embedded market customers must solve.
Pricing and availability [3]
* The HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 is available worldwide immediately for a starting price of R4 875.
* The HP ProLiant ML310e Gen8 v2 is expected to be available worldwide next month for a starting price of R8 970.
* The HP ProLiant DL320e Gen8 v2 is available worldwide immediately for a starting price of R9 750.
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