Hewlett-Packard has announced what it claims are
significant achievements in its standards-based server portfolio,
including new features in system design that aim to increase the
workload capacity dramatically and to cut costs for HP Integrity
server customers.
A new dual-processor module, called mx2, is said to feature two
industry-standard Intel Itanium 2 processors on a single module,
which can plug into existing systems and deliver up to 35% lower
acquisition costs than similar IBM systems.
HP’s standards-based, multi-OS server strategy, built on two
foundational architectures, x86 and Itanium, allows the company to
invest in value-added innovation, on top of standard server and
storage components. The announcement of the HP mx2 module was
complemented by new integrity benchmarks, services and partners. HP
also announced record-breaking performance benchmarks for x86-based
HP ProLiant servers.
The mx2 dual-processor module enhancement aims to allow
increased performance, flexibility and investment protection on HP
Integrity servers. Customers can consolidate more workloads onto an
HP Integrity server with an in-chassis upgrade to the module, HP
said. Customers also have additional choices in price, as this
module doubles the processor counts for the existing HP Integrity
server family.
HP Integrity servers aim to offer the opportunity to consolidate
applications from several operating environments, including HP-UX
11i, Windows, Linux, and, later in the year, OpenVMS.
Already claimed to have superior performance characteristics,
the HP Integrity rx4640-8 server with the mx2 dual-processor module
is said to have outperformed all competing servers in the eight-way
two-tier SAP Sales and Distribution (SD) Standard Application
Benchmark as of this month. The SAP Standard Application Benchmark
tests the hardware and database performance of SAP applications and
components.
In the past 11 months, independent software suppliers throughout
Europe, the Middle East and Africa have benefited from the
co-sponsored HP and Intel Developer Forum. As a direct result of
IDF workshops, more than 357 new ISVs have been added to the
growing list of suppliers, already porting their applications to HP
Integrity servers.
Written by
Computing SA staff