VMware to Collaborate with HP on Comprehensive Solutions to Manage Mixed Physical and Virtual Datacenters

VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), the global leader in virtualization solutions from the desktop to the datacenter, today announced its intention to expand its strategic relationship with HP to include the joint development of management software solutions that manage both physical and virtual datacenter resources. VMware intends to deliver with HP integrated physical and virtual datacenter management and automation software solutions that would standardize on various technologies within HP’s Business Technology Optimization (BTO) software. These new solutions would bring even greater management capabilities to the emerging concept of a virtual datacenter operating system (VDC-OS). Today’s announcement expands on the introduction of integrated software offerings from VMware and HP that help customers seamlessly automate the management of heterogeneous environments, announced earlier this year.

As a first step in the companies’ expanded relationship, VMware would work with HP to integrate HP BTO software with VMware vCenter Lab Manager, which provides self-service access to a library of pre-configured virtualized application environments, allowing teams of users to check out systems on-demand while IT maintains administrative control. With Lab Manager, organizations can reduce hardware costs, automate manual provisioning tasks, and accelerate application development and test cycles.

In addition, VMware and HP would jointly develop and bring to market enhanced virtualization management offerings for VMware vCenter and HP BTO customers based on the HP BTO application and infrastructure discovery technologies (HP Discovery and Dependency Mapping) to better manage their VDC-OS environments. A VDC-OS enables businesses to efficiently pool all types of hardware resources (including servers, storage and network) into an “internal enterprise cloud” that acts like a single, giant computer. A VDC-OS can also safely and automatically move workloads to external clouds when additional compute capacity is needed. A VDC-OS is highly elastic, self-managing and self-healing, enabling businesses large and small to benefit from the flexibility and efficiency of the “lights-out” datacenter.

“Through an expanded co-development relationship with HP we would further strengthen the VDC-OS platform as the best place to run all enterprise applications,” said Raghu Raghuram, vice president and general manager of VMware’s Server Business Unit. “By integrating HP BTO technologies for application management with VMware vCenter and combining it with the performance, reliability and security of the VMware platform, we would be able to offer our joint customers an ideal foundation for their next-generation datacenters.”

“Customers want to achieve better business value through the management of virtualized business applications. The solutions that we would develop through our collaboration with VMware would achieve just that,” said Robin Purohit, vice president and general manager, Software Products, HP.  “By working closely with VMware and taking our joint solutions to market, we would bring the application and infrastructure management capabilities of HP BTO software to thousands of customers who are building out VDC-OS environments on the VMware platform.”

As a result of this enhanced relationship, the two companies would jointly develop go-to-market and sales programs that would leverage and integrate both companies’ direct and channel sales forces.

CIO.com Virtualization Alert: HP Servers and Storage

Sponsored by HP Save with 0% Lease Offer on HP Servers and Storage Virtualization has moved from a “fringe” technology to an essential. Hear tips and recommendations from The Enterprise Strategy Group on the value of moving from traditional storage provisioning. And find out how to take advantage of a limited time 0% lease offer on servers and storage. Download now: http://www.accelacomm.com/jlp/cxoalert_virtualization112608/10/50082240/ ESG Research on Server and Storage Virtualization Deploying storage virtualization alongside server virtualization can yield maximum benefits. In this Webcast, ESG research will show how one large storage pool can provide optimized utilization, flexibility and ease of management making your data center operationally and financially sound. Download now: http://www.accelacomm.com/jlp/cxoalert_virtualization112608/10/50082184/ Conquer the realities of managing virtualization – and rewards will follow. The benefits of virtualization may be obvious, but what about the risks? In reality, it’s a challenge to manage and integrate across larger infrastructure services. This CIO webcast examines everything – from what other CIOs are going through to the integrated management solutions that bring virtualization benefits to fruition. Download now: http://w.on24.com/r.htm?e=126148&s=1&k=E38947B50E2870842DF1E85585E2468C&partnerref=cxoalert_virtualization112608

HP Acquires LeftHand Networks to Extend Leadership in Storage and Virtualization Solutions

http://www.hp.com

HP today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire LeftHand Networks Inc., a leading provider of storage virtualization and iSCSI storage area network (SAN) solutions.

LeftHand Networks’ solutions enable midsize companies and remote offices or branches of large corporations to easily and cost-effectively protect critical business data. HP has agreed to purchase LeftHand Networks for $360 million in cash, subject to certain purchase price adjustments.

Founded in 1999, LeftHand Networks is privately held and headquartered in Boulder, Colo. It has 215 employees and more than 500 resellers and distributors worldwide. The company has more than 11,000 installations across 3,000 different customers.

A pioneer of iSCSI SAN technology, LeftHand Networks delivers scalable storage software on industry-standard hardware that supports existing technology environments. LeftHand Networks’ portfolio extends HP virtualization solutions to the midmarket with software that runs on both existing storage and industry-standard server hardware, reducing training time and overall complexity. As a result, companies can move to a SAN for significantly lower cost, manage their data more easily, and scale their storage infrastructures incrementally as their businesses grow.

Additionally, for certain virtualized environments, LeftHand Networks’ intelligent cloning technology can reduce the amount of disk space required for storage by up to 97 percent,⁽¹⁾ while its thin provisioning features reduce power consumption by minimizing the over-provisioning of storage.

In addition, LeftHand Networks also features advanced data replication technology with bandwidth management and failover protection. This makes it ideal for backup and disaster recovery operations between remote offices and a central location.

With the addition of LeftHand Networks, HP will add midrange offerings to its suite of iSCSI solutions. Customer needs at the low end of the market will be met with the HP StorageWorks All-in-One Storage System (AiO) and HP StorageWorks Modular Smart Array (MSA) product lines. The high end will be addressed by the HP StorageWorks Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA) line. Customers will further benefit since LeftHand Networks’ solutions are already certified to work with a wide range of HP products, including HP ProLiant servers, HP BladeSystem infrastructure, HP ProCurve Networking and HP Insight Control management software.

“Customers need a faster, less complex and more economical route to storage networking to better protect their critical business data,” said Dave Roberson, senior vice president and general manager, StorageWorks Division, HP. “The acquisition of LeftHand Networks significantly expands our storage portfolio, enabling HP to deliver customers an expanded suite of storage functionality, scalable capacity and interconnect options for every budget and performance requirement. With our strong channel and leading position in the industry-standard server market, we are ideally positioned to deliver this technology to customers worldwide.“

“Joining with HP is a natural fit for our customers and channel partners, giving them an expanded portfolio of server, storage and networking products and services that are already supported by LeftHand Networks’ solutions,” said Bill Chambers, chief executive officer, LeftHand Networks. “The combination of LeftHand Networks’ virtualization technologies with HP’s has the power to significantly accelerate server consolidation projects by making the deployment of shared storage much easier and more cost-effective.”

The transaction is subject to certain closing conditions and is expected to be completed in HP’s first fiscal quarter of 2009. Following completion, the business will be integrated into the HP StorageWorks division within the Technology Solutions Group at HP.

More information about HP StorageWorks is available at www.hp.com/go/storage.

New HP Products and Services Enhance Microsoft Virtualization from Desktop to Data Center

HP Monday announced new additions to its recently updated portfolio of servers, storage, software and services – driving more business value into Microsoft® virtualization environments.

Today’s unveilings offer:

• Immediate interoperability of Microsoft virtualization technologies with HP enterprise hardware and software offerings – including HP ProLiant and HP BladeSystem servers, HP StorageWorks and HP Thin Client products, and HP software.
• Strategy, design, transition, operation and continual improvement services for new Microsoft virtualization technologies in HP and heterogeneous environments.
• Customized training to prepare customers for Microsoft virtualization products and solutions.

HP and Microsoft are expanding the Microsoft Technology Center in Reston, Va., with an increased focus on the manageability, security and sustainability advantages of joint HP and Microsoft virtualization solutions. This center is targeted to the U.S. federal market.

“Customers are increasingly using virtualization to deliver lower costs and reduced risks to the business as virtualization moves from being a tactical technology toward becoming a key transformation strategy,” said Sean Hehir, vice president, Microsoft Strategic Alliance, HP. “HP has worked extensively with Microsoft to develop products and services across our portfolio that not only help customers realize the full value of Microsoft virtualization technologies, but also help them accelerate the growth of their businesses.”

“HP and Microsoft have a proven track record of delivering strong results for our customers based on our combined technology experience and industry credibility; and we deliver solutions, products and services that solve real-world business problems and provide undisputable customer value,” said Bob Kelly, corporate vice president, Infrastructure Server Marketing, Server and Tools Business, Microsoft. “HP is both a key partner and valued customer for Microsoft, and together we are helping customers obtain the full value of their Microsoft virtualization investment.”

Reduce costs, increase security and simplify management

HP ProLiant, HP BladeSystem servers and HP StorageWorks – part of the industry’s most complete platform designed for virtualization – broadly support Microsoft virtualization technologies, including Microsoft Windows® Server 2008 Hyper-V and Microsoft Hyper-V Server. HP ProLiant is one of Microsoft’s development platforms for testing and development of Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V.

• Microsoft Hyper-V Server is a stand-alone server virtualization product that will be supported on a wide range of HP ProLiant servers, providing a cost-effective solution for consolidating existing workloads.
• HP Insight Dynamics – VSE, along with Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 (SCVMM), will provide a comprehensive physical and virtual systems management environment for advanced management of Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V running on HP ProLiant and BladeSystem servers. This support is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2009.
• HP Insight Control Environment delivers integrated and easy-to-use life cycle management for server and storage infrastructure across an entire Windows Server 2008 environment. HP Insight Control Software complements and extends the capabilities of the Microsoft System Center suite of products.

HP ProLiant is also management-enabled for Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008. HP will be including Performance and Resource Optimization (PRO) features in its ProLiant management pack to help customers manage their Microsoft virtual environments running on HP servers. HP StorageWorks and HP Thin Client products will provide comprehensive support for Microsoft virtualization technologies. This offers a unique opportunity for customers to work with a single vendor to purchase and deploy a comprehensive virtualization solution.

New virtualization services and education offerings

As the largest integrator of Microsoft technologies in the world, HP has the ability to integrate and support these technologies in heterogeneous environments, helping customers address strategic or large-scale virtualization deployments and management to deliver better business outcomes.

• The new HP Microsoft Virtualization Infrastructure Service offerings guide customers through a transformation of their server infrastructure, including virtualization strategy, consolidation, virtual machine management and security. Applying HP data center and system integration best practices results in a more reliable and manageable infrastructure with lower, more predictable costs. In addition, HP support services help customers increase stability in ongoing operations.
• The HP Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Service provides customers with an understanding of HP VDI, which includes Citrix XenDesktop along with Microsoft optimized desktop technologies such as Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, System Center Virtual Machine Manager, Microsoft Application Virtualization, Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services and Windows Vista®. This service enables customers to build a reliable desktop infrastructure that reduces total cost of ownership, increases security, simplifies technology management and readily adapts to new business requirements with improved flexibility.
• New customized training and education offerings include classroom training, live online training, self-paced e-learning and a variety of informal learning options. These services enable businesses to stay up to date while minimizing the time away from core business activities. HP is a worldwide Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for learning solutions.

Increased management support for heterogeneous environments

HP is furthering its support for heterogeneous management of virtualized environments and seamless management of physical and virtual environments. HP software extends management of systems virtualized via Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V environments with offerings in the HP Business Technology Optimization (BTO) software portfolio.

• HP IT Service Management software provides discovery of Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V and can be used to identify, manage and track the entire virtual asset life cycle, allowing customers to drive business value by paying for only the licenses they need.
• HP Business Service Automation, including HP Server Automation software (formerly Opsware Server Automation System), will fully enable automation of change and configuration management processes across virtual and physical environments for Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V environments, and will integrate with System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 for managing the advanced platform capabilities, while decreasing downtime associated with uncontrolled change.

HP Encourages CIOs to Rethink Virtualization in Business Terms

HP has expanded its industry-leading virtualization portfolio to
maximize better business outcomes for customers. To meet the growing
demands of technology environments, HP is providing businesses with the
virtualization tools and strategies needed to rethink infrastructure
management, client architectures and barriers to building and
organizing infrastructures.

Check out the complete story at www.hp.com/go/virtualization2008