HP BL260c HP ProLiant BL strategy for rapid deployment and reprovisioning of h - Page 2

Abstract The HP ProLiant BL program is an integral part of HP infrastructure for the Adaptive Enterprise. This brief identifies critical challenges facing information technology (IT) organizations, describes HP strategy in launching the ProLiant BL product development program, and explains how the ProLiant BL program addresses the major computing challenges in these environments. IT resource challenges On top of pressure for lower costs and greater operational efficiency, IT organizations must juggle the growing scope of change needed to support a variety of business initiatives. For many corporations today's goal is to transform themselves into adaptive enterprises where IT is a provider of a single set of dynamically scalable resources that enable business users to tap into IT services whenever required. As the IT role transforms to service provider for the enterprise, enterprise IT faces the need to automate key processes that maximize utilization of resources. The ability to scale both up and down automatically and deliver IT service in a utility-like fashion requires a highly adaptive, integrated computing infrastructure. HP strategy Recognizing the challenges of the current environment, HP developed components of an infrastructure for the Adaptive Enterprise. This infrastructure is powered by three interrelated, core capabilities: the ability to establish and maintain continuous and secure operations; the ability to plan, monitor, and control devices in response to changing demands; and the ability to dynamically provision, assign, and share resources whenever needed. The HP ProLiant BL program exemplifies how HP technology can enable an Adaptive Enterprise through a modular design that simplifies deployment and maintenance, high-availability and highperformance features, and integrated management and security features. The HP ProLiant BL program includes an entire portfolio of industry-standard server blades with a common interface for use in multi-tiered computing environments requiring everything from front-end servers to higher performance mid-tier and back-end servers. The target market for these solutions includes large enterprise customers and service providers who require high levels of flexibility and efficiency from their IT organizations and an overall better return on their IT investment. As part of the ProLiant BL program, HP developed modular servers that customers can quickly deploy in standard racks, right along with existing legacy servers and storage devices. HP also developed tools to enable rapid reallocation of resources for on-demand computing. The strategy for the HP ProLiant BL program included the following objectives: • Create a modular server architecture with tool-free mechanical designs, hot-plug components, increased system redundancy, power and space efficiency, and integrated virtual presence and control functionality. • Build on innovative industry-standard technologies. • Develop an architecture that will protect not only customer investments in existing IT infrastructure and hardware, but also their investment in the new blade architecture through support for nextgeneration server blades. • Increase serviceability through modularity and simplified spares inventory. • Create a common management interface and provide anytime, anywhere management access. • Support current versions of top-tier operating systems. 2