HP Helps Midsize Customers Reduce Storage Costs and Management Complexity with New Virtualized Array

HP (NYSE:HPQ) today introduced an easy-to-manage virtual storage disk array designed specifically for midsize customers who need to reduce the costs and complexity of implementing a storage-area network (SAN). The HP StorageWorks 4400 Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA4400) offers a combination of high-performance and availability features, virtualization capabilities and advanced provisioning software that makes it ideal for midsize businesses that want to cost-effectively manage large amounts of data in a SAN environment without investing in deep storage experience. Third-party testing has shown that IT managers spend up to 75 percent less time managing the EVA due to its superior ease of use when compared to competing arrays from EMC and NetApp.(1) Midsize customers who adopt server virtualization can further reduce their storage costs and simplify consolidation by using the EVA4400. To validate how much better the user experience is for customers and partners using the EVA4400, HP held a challenge of array products comparing the EVA4400 and EMC’s competing storage array.(2) "After working with both the EVA4400 and EMC products, I would definitely choose the EVA,” said Buzz Kaaz, director of IT at Georgia-based Pattillo Construction, the largest private industrial developer in the southeastern United States. "The interface was easy enough to use that I could do it myself and save the cost of hiring a consultant. With limited resources, Pattillo is forced to make every technology decision align with our business needs. The EVA aids this as a result of its unique virtualization capabilities, which eliminate management complexities. It allows us to aggregate and automate array tasks so we can manage more storage capacity with fewer people.” In a recent survey of current and planned virtualization users by analyst firm Enterprise Strategy Group, 28 percent said they plan to implement server virtualization in the next six months and 42 percent plan to deploy within the next year.(3) The EVA4400 has key virtualization features previously available only on high-end arrays, but now at a price designed for midsize businesses. Specifically, the EVA4400 features a dual-redundant hardware architecture that supports local and remote replication software. This eliminates single points of failure and helps ensure maximum uptime. Storage provisioning also is available with HP StorageWorks EVA Dynamic Capacity Management (DCM) software to help efficiently manage resources and improve overall productivity. "HP continues to invest in and expand its portfolio of entry-level storage solutions to address the specific customer business requirements of all market segments,” said Rick Steffens, vice president and general manager, SAN StorageWorks, HP. "Other SAN environments typically create significant management overhead, but the powerfully simple EVA4400 is the better solution for midsize businesses since it is easier to configure and automates storage provisioning to improve capacity utilization. Plus, it is approximately 20 percent more affordable than higher end systems.” Integration made easy for customers and channel partners The benefits of a complete virtualized storage and server environment can add to a company’s bottom line by using technology more efficiently. Ideal for use with HP BladeSystem, HP ProLiant and HP Integrity servers, the EVA4400 provides customers a complete solution in which storage and servers are managed together.(4) Integrated management tools make the infrastructure easier to manage and faster to deploy and decrease overall management costs. Solution Blocks also are available with the EVA4400 and include pre-tested "blueprint” solutions that combine the right server, storage and application components to reduce time and effort by both customers and channel partners. The Solution Blocks simplify the integration of the most popular midsize business applications, including Microsoft® Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle® JD Edwards EnterpriseOne, Oracle E-Business Suite, VMware ESX Server and HP PolyServe Scalable NAS. New Simple SAN Connection HP also announced today the HP StorageWorks 8Gb Simple SAN Connection portfolio for new SAN customers. It offers the latest in Fibre Channel (FC) technology for the EVA4400 at the same price as 4Gb FC. The Simple SAN Connection portfolio includes software to simplify management, a 20-port capable 8Gb switch and a PCI Express FC host bus adapter (HBA). The single-port 8Gb HBA offers twice the throughput of 4Gb HBAs and includes new advanced features to support virtualization and adaptive power management. Pricing and availability The HP StorageWorks EVA4400 is now available with a U.S. list price starting at $15,000.(5) Unique to the new EVA4400 solution, HP SmartStart software simplifies setup and configuration for customers who want to do it themselves in only a few hours. Alternatively, HP Services offers optional installation and startup services for those who want assistance. More information about the HP EVA4400 is available at www.hp.com/go/EVA4400. About HP HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers – from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world’s largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $107.7 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended Jan. 31, 2008. More information about HP is available at www.hp.com. Note to editors: More news from HP, including links to RSS feeds, is available at www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/. (1) "Edison TCO White Paper: EMC, NetApp and HP Midrange Storage Arrays,” by Barry Cohen and Kalicharan Rakam, the Edison Group, November 2007. (2) "Competitive Testing of Common Administrative Tasks: HP StorageWorks EVA4400 vs. EMC CLARiiON CX3-10,” the Edison Group, February 2008. (3) "Virtualized Storage From HP,” Enterprise Strategy Group, by Mark Bowker and Mark Peters, February 2008. (4) HP ProLiant and HP Integrity servers are available with HP Midsize Business Solutions. More information is available at www.hp.com/go/midsizebusiness. (5) Estimated U.S. list prices. Actual prices may vary. Microsoft is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates. This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. 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