HP has announced fully integrated systems, including some of
which are solution-specific systems. They call the family Converged Systems.
Thus, HP joins IBM and Oracle to provide systems delivered to the customer’s
location in very close to production-ready status. The big attraction is that
the integration work no longer falls on customer shoulders. Instead, all the
connecting and testing of the hardware is completed before shipping. HP does
the background work to assure that the hardware layers converge. Customers can
choose a ready-to-run VMware or Microsoft system.
HP’s goal is to simplify the entire process of configuring,
ordering, installing, testing and operating the system. They have done
significant work in each area to make this happen. The initial announcement is
for three standard systems. These are the HP ConvergedSystem 300, the HP
ConvergedSystem 700 and the 700X. They differ in the number of supported
virtual machines. The 300 normally supports 50-300 VMs. The 700 supports
100-1000+ VMs. The 300 will include a VMware environment, while customers for
the 700 will have a choice of a Microsoft or a VMware hypervisor.
In addition to the three standard systems, HP will offer
four specialized systems. The first is the HP ConvergedSystem 100 for Hosted
Desktops. It is a Moonshot system providing desktop support in conjunction with
Citrix. The next is the HP ConvergedSystem 300 for Vertica. This system offers
big data processing with powerful analytics. HP also offers the HP AppSystem
for SAP HANA. It leverages SAP’s in-memory technology to provide a platform for
high speed database work.
The last item discussed is the HP CloudSystem, their next
generation cloud offering. It offers a hybrid cloud based on OpenStack
technology to reduce vendor lock-in risks. It will be aligned with HP’s new
OneView infrastructure management software.
By standardizing configurations, and keeping them simple,
particularly in the case of the 300, HP aims to drastically shorten the time to
configure, order and move systems into production. HP is quoting a typical time
of 20 days from the time of the order till the system shows up at the customer
location. HP has allowed 2 days at the customer site to make the system ready
for production. As might be expected, for the 700X, which offers more
flexibility, things are not quite as simple and will likely take longer
depending on the choices made by the customer.
A new financial model is as important as ordering simplicity
and quick delivery. Here the goal is also to make it as painless as possible.
HP offers a fixed payment model starting as low as $2,250 per month. Customers
can grow their systems with expansion modules for as little as $550 per month.
Customers can also add a utility payment model with HP Flexible Capacity
Services.
HP is offering ConvergedSystem customers a free upgrade to
HP OneView management software in 2014. HP already sells this software for its
blades and ProLiant systems. Frost & Sullivan has recognized HP OneView
with an award for excellence[1].
HP identified key applications it expects customers to run
on these systems. For these, they developed application maps, called App Maps.
These contain work load configuration and operational details for key software
to speed implementation. Initially, these are available for SQL Server,
Exchange, and SharePoint. App Maps allow HP to leverage its increasing best
practices experience and expertise.
We like what HP has done with these new systems. Their
efforts to simplify the ordering and other processes necessary to move a new
system all the way to production appear successful. They also have available
appropriate consulting services to handhold less experienced customers.
They will be adding more solution software to their
converged systems as time goes by. Their new OneView software will be useful
for customers to manage their infrastructure including Cloud when it becomes
available. We think that HP will have real success in the marketplace with
these systems.
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