HP Xw25p HP BladeSystem p-Class System Overview and Planning - Page 35

HP ProLiant Essentials Rapid Deployment Pack RDP provides a remote console-based method for scalable, automated server deployment without network degradation. RDP can be used to deploy from up to 100 server blades in 30 minutes. In addition, RDP for Windows (version 1.40 or later) includes the added ability to identify and deploy interconnect switches. RDP maximizes IT resources by providing a full server build from a remote console for initial power on, automated server configuration on the fly, and installation of standard software sets based on server roles. The intuitive interface reduces the level of IT skill sets needed to deploy and redeploy ProLiant BL servers in the data center and throughout the network. RDP features industry-standard PXE technology and multicasting technology. RDP also includes a modular set of DOS-based utilities for automating many steps in the configuration process, and it provides sample scripts for configuring server blades. A Linux edition of RDP is available and requires an additional management server. Network File System (NFS) is required if performing a Linux scripted installation. All server blades have PXE-enabled NICs. The RDP enables administrators to create a configuration script, or "server profile," for target server blades by copying and editing files of a configured source server or server blade. Administrators can then copy that configuration script and Scripting Toolkit utilities to a network share or a bootable server configuration diskette. By combining scripts for server configuration and OS installation, IT administrators can rapidly configure a new server or server blade and install the OS remotely. This remote process shrinks a typical installation time from hours or days to minutes, making it possible to scale server blade deployments to high volumes rapidly. RDP also enables server blade "rip-and-replace" functionality. An administrator can use RDP to pre-assign a particular server profile to each server blade bay in a server blade enclosure. For example, in order for a ProLiant BL20p G3 Server Blade in server blade bay 4 to run Microsoft Windows 2000 with Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) and some HTML scripting, the administrator simply builds that server profile for bay 4 and loads the image onto a deployment server. When a new server blade is installed into bay 4, the server blade seeks out the deployment server, downloads the pre-assigned script, and begins working immediately without intervention. If that server blade requires replacement, the new server blade automatically seeks out the deployment server and downloads the pre-assigned script to configure itself identically. In other words, the new server blade automatically takes on the role of the previous server blade, significantly reducing the time and effort needed to keep servers in production. For more information on HP ProLiant Essentials RDP, refer to http://www.hp.com/servers/rdp/ HP Systems Insight Manager HP SIM helps reduce incidence of unplanned server downtime and maximizes IT staff efficiency by providing centralized fault, inventory, and configuration management for your ProLiant BL servers. HP SIM will automatically discover and draw a visual representation of HP BladeSystem enclosures and servers. It associates server blades with the appropriate enclosure and displays health status for each blade. Users can drill down for further information such as system events or detailed system inventory and can access onboard management such as the System Management Home Page and the iLO management processor. Through automated event handling, systems administrators can ensure proactive delivery of system alerts so that component failures or environmental problems do not result in unplanned server downtime. 35