Remember the HP EchoPod we talked about during the HP Discover 2011? A complete datacenter in a deployable container (photos below). It seems HP has now started delivering those beasts:

HP today announced it has completed installation of an HP EcoPOD at its Alpharetta, Ga., next-generation data center (NGDC), extending the company’s leadership in energy efficiency.

The HP EcoPOD—the world’s most-efficient data center—is located on-site and expands the compute space of one of the HP data centers that was a part of the company’s original transformation to consolidate 85 internal IT data centers worldwide to six NGDCs in the United States.

Fully populated, the 40-foot HP EcoPOD will hold 2,000 new HP ProLiant and HP Integrity servers, the compute-capacity equivalent to approximately 20,000 square feet of the company’s existing NGDC space.

“This is a great example of HP’s Converged Infrastructure, covering everything from facilities to networking to servers to software in a self-contained powerhouse unmatched in the industry,” said Ken Gray, vice president IT Infrastructure team. “One of the biggest pain points we hear from our customers is how to add compute space quickly and cost effectively—EcoPODs address that.”

HP also is nearing completion of the installation of a 40-foot HP EcoPOD in a second Atlanta-area data center operated by the HP IT organization, this one in Suwannee, Ga. HP EcoPODs also are under construction at the two data centers in Austin, Texas.

The factory installation and configuration of the servers, storage, network and backup devices within the HP EcoPOD allowed for seamless and rapid integration into the existing data center. The additional compute capacity allows HP more flexibility to refresh the technology of the data center itself.

The HP EcoPODs in the Atlanta area were ordered and preinstalled with 500 terabytes of HP XP P9500 Storage array, as well as HP networking and SAN switches. They also were 25 percent prepopulated with HP BladeSystem c7000 enclosures housing 500 HP Integrity servers.

The rest of the HP EcoPOD will be populated with HP ProLiant Generation 8 (Gen8) servers for additional compute capacity to help operate the HP private cloud.

HP’s enterprise-class, highly available brick-and-mortar NGDCs are more energy efficient than most similar-tiered data centers. The HP EcoPOD, which can reduce energy use by 95 percent when compared to a traditional facility, includes adaptive cooling technology that automatically optimizes the cooling modes between economization (free outside air) and direct expansion (DX) cooling modes.

The HP EcoPOD deployments meet the same enterprise high-availability standards as a traditional data center, while being significantly more energy efficient. The power usage effectiveness (PUE) rating, a measure of data center energy overhead, will be as low as 1.05, compared to a PUE of 2.0 or more for a traditional brick-and-mortar facility.

HP’s hybrid approach means that the HP EcoPOD configuration also uses the same monitoring, service and support processes and procedures as the NGDC it is next to. The entire structure also meets traditional data center requirements, including weather and earthquake ratings for the site in Alpharetta.

Still thinking if you should attend the HP Discover 2012 conference in Las Vegas? Here is another reason to attend the event: US$ 150 towards your HP Cloud account.

Simply register for the HP Discover 2012 now, using our promo code “BLOG” for US$ 300 discount, and receive a US$ 150 discount code to use on HP Cloud. Find more details for this promotion in this PDF.

To save you reading the footnotes: “Once you complete registration, you’ll receive a coupon code you can redeem on or after 1st June 2012 at hpcloud.com. Coupon code must be entered by 15th July 2012. Promotion is valued up to US$ 150 (US$ 25 credit for 6 months of subscription). Equivalent service values listed are based on a $25 monthly credit applied to list pricing. Additional promotional offers may apply.”

Last year at the HP Discover 2011 Las Vegas we were treated to a private Paul McCartney concert at the MGM Grand. It was a world-class experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This year at the HP Discover 2012 attendees will have quite a few Special Events, starting with the Welcome Reception on Monday (4th June) evening, followed by an advanced screening of Madagascar 3 on Tuesday (5th June), thanks to DreamWorks.

The closing event on Thursday (7th June) will be a double concert, starting with Sheryl Crow followed by the legendary founding member of the Eagles, Don Henley.

Registered HP Discover attendees may purchase a Guest Pass for US$125 to bring a friend to the Tuesday evening sneak preview of Madagascar 3 and the Thursday night concert. Guest passes can be purchased pre-event online or on-site at the HP Discover registration counters (The Venetian | The Palazzo, Venetian ballroom).

If you are planning to register for the HP Discover 2012 conference use the promo code “BLOG” for a US$ 300 discount (and perhaps use the discount to buy a Guest Pass for the entertainment?

I am attending the HP Discover 2012 in Las Vegas (4th - 7th June) and would like to extend an invite to you to come too. If you need some help convincing your manager that this is a great conference to attend, here is a list that may help you (and a discount code):

• Vision: Hear the future from Meg Whitman, Dave Donatelli, Todd Bradley, John Visentin, Mike Lynch, and Bill Veghte.
• Strategy: Learn how Converged Cloud, Information Optimization, Security, and Risk Management will shape the next decade of IT.
• Capabilities: See up close how HP helps Jeffrey Katzenberg and DreamWorks create award-winning, state-of-the-art animation.
• Breadth: Take your picks from business and technical sessions in dedicated tracks for Create, Consume and Share; Application Transformation; Converged Infrastructure; Mobility; Software; and Services. Session Scheduler is now live, so book your favorite sessions today.
• Advancement: Save as much as US$875 on HP ExpertONE certification testing by taking up to 5 free exams at the conference. This is a huge conference value with long-term benefits.
• Specialists: HP Discover 2012 Las Vegas is your ultimate networking opportunity of the year. The Meeting Center gives you the chance to rub elbows in an individually tailored discussion with HP specialists.
• Technologies:. Touch and use technologies in the Hands-on Labs, the HP Discover Zone exposition, and Technology Workshops.
• Connections: Exchange ideas, information, solutions, tricks, best practices, and connections with people who share your interests. Vivit, Connect, HP ExpertONE, NonStop – they’ll will all be there.
• Insight: Get the inside scoop on HP innovations. Confidential Disclosure Sessions offer a sneak peek at what HP has in development and the exciting future HP solutions will make possible.
• Enjoyment: Enjoy a private screening of DreamWorks Madagascar 3 and an exclusive concert featuring music legends Sheryl Crow and Don Henley.
• Save: Register now for HP Discover 2012 and save US$300 when you use the promo code "BLOG".

Follow HP Discover on Twitter, visit the HP Discover Facebook page.

HP today made its first public cloud services available as a public beta.

Advancing the company’s Converged Cloud portfolio, HP Cloud Services deliver an open-source-based public cloud infrastructure with business-oriented features that enable developers, independent software vendors (ISVs) and enterprises of all sizes to build the next generation of web applications.

Starting today, HP’s first publicly available beta services, HP Cloud Compute, HP Cloud Object Storage and HP Cloud Content Delivery Network, will be offered through a pay-as-you-go model.

HP Cloud Services offer a public cloud infrastructure along with platform services and cloud solutions. Designed with OpenStack technology, the open-sourced-based architecture ensures no vendor lock-in, improves developer productivity, features a full stack of easy-to-use tools for faster time to code, provides access to a rich partner ecosystem, and is backed by personalized customer support.

HP’s full suite of public cloud services will enable developers to create the next generation of web services to be built, run and scaled on a global basis, backed with a broad selection of analytics, tools and services.

"Whether you are an independent developer, ISV or the CIO of a major organization, the priority is to design your applications for today’s cloud economy,” said Zorawar ‘Biri’ Singh, senior vice president and general manager, Cloud Services, HP. “We will continue to build, integrate and deploy developer-focused features, designed to support a world-class cloud that  enables our customers and partners to run and operate web services at scale, on a global basis.”

Nearly 40 companies have announced their support for HP Cloud Services, from Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) partners to storage, management and database providers. The rich partner ecosystem provides customers with rapid access to an expansive suite of integrated cloud solutions that offer new ways to become more agile and efficient. The partner network also provides a set of tools, best practices and support to help maximize productivity on the cloud.

This ecosystem of partners is a step along the path to an HP Cloud Services Marketplace, where customers will be able to access HP Cloud Services and partner solutions through a single account. With HP Cloud Services, customers will access new partners and markets.

Companies announcing support of HP’s pubic beta today include:

• Applications: Otopy, PXL, SendGrid
• Database: CloudOpt, EnterpriseDB, Xeround
• Development and testing:  SOASTA, Spirent
• Management: BitNami, CloudSoft,  enStratus, Kaavo, RightScale, ScaleXtreme, Smartscale Systems, Standing Cloud
• Mobile: FeedHenry, Kinvey
• Monitoring: New Relic
• PaaS: ActiveState, CloudBees, Corent Technology, CumuLogic, Engine Yard, Gigaspaces
• Security: Dome9, SecludIT
• Storage: CloudBerry Lab, Gladinet, Panzura, Riverbed Technology, SMEStorage, StorSimple,TwinStrata, Zmanda
• Technology: Opscode, Zuora

Pricing is available at http://hpcloud.com/pricing.

Industry Leaders Focus on HP Vision of "Making Technology Work for You"

HP today announced the keynote speakers for its premier customer event, HP Discover 2012, to be held June 4-7 in Las Vegas.

On Tuesday, June 5, Meg Whitman, president and chief executive officer, HP, will deliver her keynote address on "Making Technology Work for You," focusing on the challenges that enterprises face today, and the breadth and depth of HP solutions that help them to address those challenges.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, chief executive officer, DreamWorks Animation, will join Whitman on stage, highlighting DreamWorks' collaboration with HP in delivering some of the most successful animated films in history. Katzenberg will later host an exclusive preview of DreamWorks' upcoming animated film "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted."

Executives from HP partners Intel and Microsoft also will deliver keynote addresses at the event.

The event also will feature keynote presentations by members of the HP leadership team:

• Dave Donatelli, executive vice president and general manager, Enterprise Group, HP;
• Todd Bradley, executive vice president, Printing and Personal Systems, HP;
• Bill Veghte, chief strategy officer and executive vice president, Software, HP;
• Mike Lynch, executive vice president, Information Management, HP; and
• John Visentin, executive vice president, Enterprise Services, HP.

Participants will have the opportunity to attend track keynotes that will focus on key HP solutions areas and industry trends -- including cloud, security and big data.

HP Discover 2012 will take place at the Venetian Hotel and Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas during the week of June 4.

Executive quote
"The world is at an inflection point, changing the way technology is consumed and delivered. HP Discover 2012 represents an opportunity for people to connect with HP, to learn how to capitalize on the cloud, to increase security as well as manage and use information to accelerate their business or their government agency."
-- Martin "Marty" Homlish, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, HP

Resources

• Follow us on Twitter: @HPDiscover.
• Check out our Facebook page.
• Visit our website: www.hp.com/go/discover.
• "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" preview at HP Discover 2012.

More information, including registration details, for HP Discover 2012 is available at www.hp.com/go/discover/.

HP today launched its Network Infrastructure Optimization Services portfolio, designed to help customers evaluate and improve their network flow and infrastructure to ensure a quality user experience.

The increasingly mobile workforce requires instant connectivity to applications and data to effectively do their jobs — regardless of their location. As a result, requests are not only coming from greater distances, but are putting higher demands on network connectivity. To meet these challenges, enterprises need to optimize network resources and reduce bottlenecks to improve the end-user experience.

The HP Network Infrastructure Optimization Services portfolio spans network topology —from within the data center and between data centers to wide area networks (WAN) and local area networks (LAN) — to identify and eliminate inefficiencies, while optimizing infrastructure to make applications run faster.

“With a dispersed workforce and growing connectivity demands, enterprises can no longer revert to traditional singular quick fixes, such as adding bandwidth, to address network issues,” said Imran Khan, vice president, Network Consulting, HP. “HP’s new services pinpoint inefficiencies that can be removed for a greater end-user experience.”

Gaining a holistic view of the network

The HP Network Infrastructure Optimization Assessment lets companies work with HP consultants who analyze traffic across network topology to identify application delays, jitter and bandwidth issues. This comprehensive assessment pinpoints inefficiencies, enabling clients to proactively address potential performance problems at the source and create a strategy for optimizing resources. In addition, HP works with clients to align business and IT needs and identify the right solution for them.

Optimizing application delivery to improve end-user experience

HP, working with partner F5 Networks, is using F5’s BIG-IP platform to ensure applications run faster, and are secure and available. HP services based on F5’s BIG-IP platform include:

• HP Network Application Delivery Controller Services enable clients to optimize network traffic within the data center. After evaluating the network, HP consultants architect a solution that automatically directs incoming client requests to the most available resources in the data center. Requests are processed efficiently, applications run faster and users experience improved response time. The services also include the HP Network Application Delivery Controller Service for Microsoft® to optimize the performance of Microsoft Exchange, Lync or SharePoint 2010 and ensure the deployment adheres to Microsoft reference architecture recommendations. This prevents unnecessary technology investments that may not support future projects.
• HP Data Center to Data Center Network Optimization Service helps improve application delivery in an environment with multiple data centers. HP experts help develop a high-performance global application delivery solution. Clients can efficiently move applications between data centers and automatically direct incoming requests to the closest or most available data center based on computing requirements, location and volume spikes. As a result, application performance scales to service requests and maintains business continuity regardless of where a user or application is located.

Pricing and availability

The HP Network Infrastructure Optimization Assessment and the HP Network Application Delivery Controller Service for Microsoft are now available globally. All other services will be available globally in July 2012. Pricing varies according to location and implementation.

HP today introduced technology that allows enterprises to deliver policy-based orchestration across applications, networks and users, eliminating manual configuration and enabling application deployment in minutes

HP is collaborating with F5, a leader in Application Delivery Networking (ADN), to offer industry-first solutions that converge application and network orchestration. The new solutions provide single-pane-of-glass management through HP Intelligent Management Center and offer clients the ability to meet the speed and agility requirements of the cloud era.

The new solutions are based on the integration of HP Virtual Application Networks technology, which virtualizes networks and automates configuration, and F5 ADN technology, which does the same for application configuration.

“Legacy networks are static, inflexible and require too many manual steps to securely deliver new cloud applications and services to users,” said Joe Skorupa, vice president and distinguished analyst, Gartner. “By moving toward an automated, policy-based management paradigm to ensure the network is optimally configured from the application to network to user, enterprises can speed application deployment considerably while reducing the potential of errors caused by manual configuration.”

Deploying applications in a typical data center takes months of manual, device-by-device configuration across several layers of network infrastructure. Similarly, applications require weeks of configuring details, such as user connection profiles from both company and employee-owned devices. A typical enterprise data-center network may require more than 250,000 manual command line entries for network implementation, and more than 100,000 application configuration steps through manual processes that are time-consuming and error-prone.

As the industry increasingly moves to cloud and other dynamic computing environments, manual command line network and application configuration processes are quickly becoming obsolete.

“IT needs to move at the speed of the organization but legacy application, network and user configuration practices are barriers to achieving this necessary agility,” said Bethany Mayer, senior vice president and general manager, Networking, HP. “Through HP Virtual Application Networks and our collaboration with F5, clients will be able to virtualize and automate the entire configuration process—from application to network to user—based on policy-driven management, enabling them to deploy applications to users in minutes, not weeks or months.”

Transforming the industry with HP Virtual Application Networks and F5 ADN

HP Virtual Application Networks provide organizations with a virtualized and comprehensive view of a network, and enable them to transform a rigid physical enterprise network into a programmable, multitenant and application-aware virtual network. Leveraging software-defined networking technologies such as OpenFlow, HP Virtual Application Networks use templates to characterize application-delivery requirements and deliver an automated, policy-driven approach to network configuration.

F5’s portfolio of ADN solutions enables customers to manage the delivery of applications across their entire IT infrastructure. This allows customers to scale and adapt to business needs on demand, and ensures applications stay secure, fast and available. F5 ADN solutions create a dynamic infrastructure that maximizes the performance and availability of physical and virtual machines to manage application delivery across multiple devices.

HP and F5 are delivering tested and validated solutions for deploying Microsoft® Exchange 2010, server virtualization and disaster recovery across the enterprise in minutes, while increasing the performance of virtual machine mobility tenfold.⁽¹⁾ The benefits enable enterprises to:

• Reduce download time for users, decrease spam by 70 percent and increase administrator efficiency up to 33 percent while ensuring security across the network for Microsoft Exchange 2010.
• Free up to 40 percent of server resources and increase virtual machine density by 60 percent, while accelerating application performance up to three times for server virtualization.
• Reduce the time to move a virtual machine between data centers for disaster recovery from 20 minutes to 38 seconds.

Improving BYOD management across the enterprise

With up to 60 percent of enterprises unsure of the devices being connected to their networks, HP and F5 are simplifying enterprise bring-your-own-device (BYOD) initiatives by delivering solutions that combine user and device authentication and application access control.

The new HP BYOD solution works with F5 ADN technology to unify the on-boarding, provisioning and monitoring of user devices on the corporate network with application access control across the enterprise via a single management platform.

New HP services for speeding and optimizing data-center applications

The new HP Network Infrastructure Optimization Services portfolio enables customers to assess their network traffic and infrastructure to identify potential bottlenecks and ensure a quality user experience.

The HP Technology Services portfolio includes the HP Network Infrastructure Optimization Assessment, HP Network Application Delivery Controller Services for Microsoft and HP Data Center to Data Center Network Optimization Services. These offerings span network topology—from the data center to the campus and branch—to eliminate inefficiencies, while optimizing the infrastructure to speed application deployment.

HP ServiceONE fuels networking partner revenue

New HP ServiceONE Partner Support for Networking increases revenue opportunities for qualified HP Networking channel partners by enabling them to bolster their portfolios with a combination of HP and partner-branded services. HP ServiceONE Partner Support for Networking enables qualified partners to deliver value-added design, management and support services that leverage knowledge and insights from HP support tools, intellectual capital and training.

Pricing and availability

• HP FlexNetwork solutions that integrate F5 BIG-IP are available globally and can be delivered by HP Technology Services as well as HP and F5 channel partners.
• The HP BYOD solution modules for HP Intelligent Management Center 5.1 sp1 is expected to be available in June with a U.S. list price starting at US$2,739.

HP today announced the HP Get Virtual Guarantee Program, enabling clients to improve server virtualization return on investment by doubling physical server virtual machine performance when deploying HP 3PAR Storage in VMware environments.

The HP Get Virtual Guarantee Program promises qualified participants a minimum two times increase in virtual server density by doubling the total virtual machine workload on existing physical servers. This program can reduce the costs of a customer's rapidly growing VMware virtualization environment.

If a two times increase in virtual server density is not achieved, HP will provide participants with the disk capacity and related HP software and support necessary to achieve the guaranteed program results.

A key component of HP Converged Infrastructure, HP 3PAR Storage delivers high storage-performance levels for the unpredictable workloads typically generated in virtual server environments, as well as in public, private and hybrid cloud environments. HP 3PAR Storage is integrated with VMware vStorage technologies and combined with unique built-in features such as the HP 3PAR Gen4 ASIC, automatic load balancing, wide striping and a Mesh-Active clustered architecture, enabling clients to maintain peak infrastructure performance levels as new virtual servers are brought online.

"We needed to significantly boost capacity without adding to the physical or administrative footprint of our virtual server environment," said Gary Collins, founder and director at Intercept, a hosting service provider. "HP 3PAR Storage was the only system that allowed us to support twice as many virtual machines on each of our physical servers while meeting all of our data center upgrade goals."

"To manage exponential data growth, organizations need a storage architecture that can meet their requirements without increasing data center size and maintenance expenses," Gary Green, vice president, Global Strategic Alliances, VMware. "HP's Get Virtual Guarantee Program, leveraging high-performance HP 3PAR Storage and VMware cloud infrastructure, can help our customers maximize physical resource utilization and drive down costs."

Program availability
The HP Get Virtual Guarantee Program is available to clients globally through HP and HP-authorized channel partners. To participate in the program, qualified participants must purchase an HP 3PAR Storage System with HP 3PAR Optimization Suite Software for autonomic load balancing and HP 3PAR System Reporter Software. Clients also must be running VMware vSphere version 4.1 or higher.

HP today made available enhancements to HP-UX designed to enable clients to increase the server efficiency and availability of the most demanding applications for critical business processes.

The new HP-UX 11i v3 capabilities include enhancements to HP Serviceguard and HP virtualization solutions, enabling clients to:

• Ensure availability of critical applications with a wider range of storage and databases, including HP LeftHand P4000 storage, Sybase ASE 15.7 and Enterprise DB, using failover protection from HP Serviceguard solutions.
• Boost server efficiency using HP-UX Virtual Partitions (vPars) software, which allows clients to virtualize mission-critical workloads. Originally available only for HP Superdome—the company’s flagship, high-end HP Integrity server—HP UX vPars is now available across the entire HP Integrity product line to help optimize server resources.
• Simplify management of virtualized workloads with a single graphical user interface now available for HP vPars and HP Integrity Virtual Machines 6.1.
• Optimize resources with increased input/output (I/O) performance for storage-intensive applications, utilizing HP-UX vPars software. By allowing applications to access up to 2,048 disks per virtual partition, HP-UX vPars software scales to support data-intensive workloads, such as business intelligence and data mining.
• Reduce the costs associated with I/O for HP Superdome 2 and HP Integrity server blades by more than 50 percent, with systems now optimized to share I/O cards across virtual partitions.

The ongoing development of HP-UX, combined with the HP suite of technology and service innovations for mission-critical computing, is crucial to the advancement of mission-critical x86 environments. As part of HP Project Odyssey—the company’s strategy to redefine the future of mission-critical computing— proven HP-UX high-availability and performance features will cascade to Linux and Microsoft Windows® operating systems. These advances will deliver investment protection to clients to extend mission-critical reliability, scalability and performance for future x86 workloads.

HP-UX and HP Integrity clients realize cost savings and application stability

Enterprises continue to trust in HP Integrity and HP-UX to gain efficiencies, cost savings and stability for their critical applications.

For example, BayWa Group—a Munich-based company specializing in wholesale, research and service provision for the agriculture, building materials and energy sectors—selected an HP Converged Infrastructure to consolidate and standardize its SAP infrastructure.

The HP Superdome 2 environment enabled BayWa to simplify operational and service processes, increasing SAP Application Performance Standard (SAPS) performance values from 160,000 to 420,000. SAP application users realized a 20 percent improvement in response time and the overall costs of provisioning an SAP performance unit across the entire system was reduced more than 50 percent per unit.