HP Intros Tools, Services To Consolidate Technology In Microsoft Environments

Hewlett-Packard wants to make it easier for customers and channel partners to consolidate its server, storage, and network technologies in Microsoft Exchange and Windows Server 2008 environments with new reference architecture and services.

The move to push the convergence of server, storage, and networking technologies comes as HP and other system vendors look for ways to compete against Cisco, which recently moved into the converged data center market with its new Unified Computing System (UCS).

HP on Monday unveiled its new HP BladeSystem Matrix templates for integrating its blade server technology with Microsoft Exchange 2010 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

The Matrix templates are aimed at helping customers quickly allocate and reallocate server, storage, and networking resources in response to changes in workloads, HP said.

The solutions include a number of options based on a customer's required service level, required data availability, and the role the database plays within the organization.

HP also has similar solutions for earlier versions of Exchange, as well as for Oracle and SAP applications.

HP on Monday also unveiled new tools to support the configuration, design, and architecting of Microsoft applications using Microsoft's Hyper-V virtualization technology, as well as new services for supporting HP's and Microsoft's entire hardware and software stack.

The new tools follow other moves by HP to speed the convergence of storage, server, and networking technologies in the data center, including HP's proposed $2.7 billion acquisition of networking vendor 3Com.

That proposed acquisition is seen as an act of revenge on Cisco for that company's decision to compete with former partner HP by moving into the server and storage market with its UCS.

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