Compaq ProLiant 8500 Evaluating and Implementing Compaq Data Center Solutions - Page 11

Evaluating and Implementing Compaq Data Center Solutions for Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server 11 Emergency Patch Process Non-critical bug fixes and driver revisions are provided as part of a certified planned baseline update for the Compaq Data Center Solution. In case of an extremely serious field issue that carries an unacceptably high risk to a customer's operations, a "hot fix" (i.e., SoftPaq, Hot Fix, Quick Fix Engineering Patch (QFE), or similar update) will be issued against the installed baseline. This type of hot fix will be a mandatory update for all at-risk customers running that baseline, redefining the baseline. The emergency fix will be quickly certified by Compaq in the 24x7 Compaq Data Center Certification Lab and released to customers. Compaq will work closely with customers to perform an update on their solutions to preclude any loss of data. Evaluating Compaq Data Center Solutions Compaq leads the way in revolutionizing the economics of enterprise computing with reliable, stable industry-standard solutions for the data center. The powerful combination of ProLiant Servers, StorageWorks and SANworks Enterprise Storage solutions, Intelligent Manageability tools and an industry-leading portfolio of lifecycle services uniquely positions Compaq to deliver the total Data Center solution. Features Due to the critical need for reliability in the large enterprise, all elements touching the Windows 2000 Datacenter kernel must be certified by Microsoft. The Windows 2000 Datacenter solution offered by any OEM must include certified hardware, software, and services. Testing, training, and experience provide the basis for certification under this Microsoft program. The Compaq Data Center Solution exceeds the Microsoft requirements by adding features and processes, such as: • Compaq Scalability Compaq uniquely offers both scale-out and scale-up architecture with the 8-way ProLiant 8500 Data Center Server. • Compaq Reliability Compaq extends the reliability of its solution by including StorageWorks hardware and SANworks software in each Compaq Data Center certified solution. Compaq includes kernel-touching applications in the Data Center certification runs. Compaq also completes a cooperative support agreement with kernel-touching independent software vendor (ISV) applications so customers can receive complete support for their hardware, operating system, and software from the Compaq Data Center Support Center. For continued system reliability, Compaq implemented a stringent change control program for the Compaq Data Center Solution. We collect all hardware and software and run the combination of changes through a 7-day stress test. The certified set of changes releases to customers in 6-month intervals. Compaq is the exclusive 8-way server vendor for the Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter logo administered by VeriTest. When an application receives the Datacenter logo, customers can rest assured that the application was tested on Compaq ProLiant 8500 Data Center 4-node cluster. 13PS-0501B-WWEN