P2000 Remote Snap replication and Disaster recovery

We get quite a lot of requests for more information on the Remote snap and Disaster recovery software features on the P2000 G3. Mainly the enquiry’s are around what you would need to do once a failure occurs and how to fail over to your DR site using the Remote Snap Software as this is not an automated feature.

I have taken the following information from one of HP's Technical Whitepapers on the "HP StorageWorks P2000 Array System Remote Snap Software" (You can download from HP here)

If the local site fails, the applications need to switch to the remote site. To bring up the remote site, do the following:

1. Convert the remote volume (destination volume) to an external view volume

• NOTE : During the conversion to an external view volume, the volume is rolled back, or synced, to a replication snapshot. By default, the volume syncs to the latest replication snapshot, but you can choose any of the previous replication snapshots. Any data that has not been replicated is lost. A destination volume can be converted to an external view via SMU or CLI.

2. The new external view volume, which now resides on the remote site, can be mapped to a LUN and used as you would use the original volume.

3. Switch the applications to this external view volume and continue using the application.

Once the failure has been addressed at local site, complete the following steps:

1. At the local site make the original source volume a destination volume using the set replication-external view CLI command or by selecting Destination Volume Overview > Provisioning > Set Replication External view from the SMU page.

Important: A destination volume cannot be mapped, so be sure to unmap source volume before attempting to make it a destination volume.

2. Replicate any data written to the remote volume to the original source volume. This can be performed in a single replication or in multiple replications. Host access to the original volume should be halted. This ensures that all data has been transferred properly.

3. After all the data is replicated back to the local site, convert the source volume at the local site to the external view volume and then convert the remote volume to the destination volume. To set an external view volume to a destination volume on the system that owns the external view volume, set the external view to the other volume in the replication set.

4. Re-establish the replication set to the remote site. Continue using the scheduler for running remote replications in regular intervals.

I hope that this is has been helpful in understanding the steps invlolved for Disaster Recovery on the P2000 using the Remote Snap software, if you wish to read more then please download the Whitepaper here.

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team

For all you Mac users out there !! Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 released

We know that some of our readers use Mac machines, although its nothing to do with Servers, storage and the associated microsoft operating platforms, i thought i would post this up in case you didn’t know (Although i'm sure you do).

Today is the Launch day of Microsoft Office for Mac 2011.

I am sure you are aware of the functionality of Microsoft Office, However if you’re not then here is a link to the Microsoft website where it details information on Office 2011 for Mac (http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/why-office2011)

I have also listed the 4 Office for Mac part numbers below if you need these.

GZA-00136 – Office MAC 2011 Home & Student 1 user pack
W7F-00014 – Office MAC 2011 Home & Student 3 user pack
W6F-00063 – Office MAC 2011 Home & Business 1 user 1 installation
W9F-00014 – Office MAC 2011 Home & Business 1 user 2 installations

If you have any questions please do not hesiate to Contact Us

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team

Useful "One Page" HP Networking Sales guide

We thought it would be a good idea to start posting useful Sales guides that we come across for you to use. This is to help counteract any objections or questions that your customers may have if you are trying to push a HP solution into a customer.

HP Networking Sales guide (Click to Download)

This particular sales guide covers a very basic overview of HP networking. It’s a useful one page document which covers the following topics..

• HP Networking range,
• The different networking solutions that HP offer,
• Industry Tips,
• Responding to Objections

We hope that this will be useful, please comment if you wish to see more material like this?

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team

Would you like the chance to win a LED TV With HP Networking?

HP Networking Solutions and the HP Converged Infrastructure helps organizations harness their network's potential to fuel competitive advantage today and into the future. HP's networking solutions are now more robust than ever before following the recent acquisition of 3Com, with its broad product line.

Play our Spot the Difference quiz and be in with a chance to win a LED TV to really see the difference!

Remember! You will only get a ticket in the draw to win an LED TV if you answer all of the questions correctly.

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team

New Release !! HP StorageWorks 1/8 G2 LTO-5 Ultrium 3000 SAS Tape Autoloader (BL536A)

This new unit has all the usual 1/8 Autoloader features but boasts an LTO 5 drive which means up to a max capacity of 3TB per tape (2:1 compression) and 1.6TB uncompressed.

You will need to purchase a SAS controller card for your backup server (462828-B21) and cable (AE470A). As per usual with HP 1/8 Autoloaders if you want to install them into a rack then you still have to purchase the rack kit (AH166A).

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team

HP introduces new streamlined customer registration process for VMware

VMWare registration always causes a heap of confusion and a bit of a pain, so HP is introducing a new streamlined customer registration process for VMware OEM software products purchased from HP, starting Oct 5th, 2010.

This new process includes:

• Two Step Registration and One Download Site:

• Required registration with HP to receive Partner Activation Code (PAC) and support entitlement.

• Register the PAC at VMware license portal to access both software download and licenses.

• New Registration Site – HP webware (click)

• New Entitlement Certificate – customers will now be receiving an Entitlement Number that entitles them to their VMware Partner Activation Code (PAC) – which they will receive upon registration at the HP Webware site.

• Shortened response time for orders – Entitlement certificate will be print to order.

• Improved entitlement serviceability – This process enables better tracking of customer support entitlement and PACs thus HP can more effectively and readily handle software support needs and software entitlement issues.

As part of this new process, on October 5, 2010, HP created a brand new set of part numbers for their current VMware products. There will be no change to the embedded support offerings, fixed care pack and services, product entitlements nor will this impact our existing customers. No impact to Enterprise License Agreements (ELAs) or sales from SLMS. HP will continue to honor existing part numbers for 2-months until Nov 30th, 2010.
Please begin using the new part numbers as soon as possible.

As a testament to more improvements in this program we will be in introducing electronic delivery on December 1, 2010 with following benefits:

• Faster, easier, more efficient order fulfillment.

• Better tracking for customers in need of help for entitlement, support and lost Partner Activation Codes (PAC).

• Physical delivery will continue to be available for customer needs.

More information on electronic delivery coming soon.

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team

Reminder - Start your Microsoft Journey with Westcoast

Join Westcoast and Microsoft at one of our events and discover how a better understand of Microsoft can boost your business.

Westcoast and Microsoft are hosting a series of events to help you sell more Microsoft, With new afternoon sessions to help broaden your Microsoft knowledge even further, you will leave confident when selling Microsoft to your customers.

The Westcoast and Microsoft Events Timetable
Please Click the below links to register,

• MLSS and Virtualisation - 18th November London
• MLSS Including Academic - 20th January 2011 London
• MLSS Including Academic - 3rd February 2011 Sheffield
• MLSS Including Academic - 8th March 2011 Nottingham
• MLSS and Virtualisation - 17th April 2011 London

Here are the outlines of the sessions below.

MLSS and Virtualisation
The morning of this event is focused on improving your understanding of Microsoft Licensing and will allow you to sit your MLSS exam and become accredited as a Microsoft Licensing Sales Specialist. Achieving this accreditation will ensure customers see you as a trusted Microsoft advisor, and will help boost your bottom line.
In the afternoon there is the NEW Virtualisation session where you will be shown the benefits of virtualisation and the opportunities this opens up.

MLSS including Academic
The morning of this event is focused on improving your understanding of Microsoft Licensing and will allow you to sit your MLSS exam and become accredited as a Microsoft Licensing Sales Specialist. Achieving this accreditation will ensure customers see you as a trusted Microsoft advisor, and will help boost your bottom line.
In the afternoon there is the NEW Academic session where you will learn about Academic licensing and the selling opportunities it presents.

If you have any questions please contact us.

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team

October HP Server and Storage offers

In order for you to have your own copy of this months offers, We can now offer them in a easy downloadable PDF for you.



Please click the image above to open the PDF.

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team

New Release !! HP 450GB and 600GB Small form factor Hot plug Hard drives

Hp have added another couple of SFF drives to their range.
A very useful 450GB and 600GB offering.

Here are the part numbers.

581286-B21 - HP 600GB 6G SAS 10K rpm SFF (2.5-inch) Dual Port Enterprise Drive
581284-B21 - HP 450GB 6G SAS 10K rpm SFF (2.5-inch) Dual Port Enterprise Drive

If you have any questions please do not hesiate to contact us.

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team

HP Networking E2610 Switch and Gbic Offer

If your customer purchases any E2610 series switch they can purchase a Mini Gbic for £1!
Offer runs from the 1st – 31st Oct 2010

Here are the qualifying part numbers.

Switches
J9085A HP E2610-24 Switch
J9086A HP E2610-24-PPoE Switch
J9087A HP E2610-24-PoE Switch
J9088A HP E2610-48 Switch
J9089A HP E2610-48-PoE Switch

Mini Gbic
J4858C HP X121 1G SFP LC SX Transceiver

If you have any questions please do not hesiate to contact us

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team

HP ProLiant Microserver Introductory Offer

Microsoft Operating System for FREE or 3 year Next Business Day Support for only £20

Offer runs from the 1st – 31st Oct 2010

Moving to a first server network just got easier! Designed specifically for small and micro businesses, HP ProLiant MicroServer is the key to eliminating the constraints that restrict your business’ growth. Rather than accept technology that’s too small to get the job done or too big to manage efficiently, HP MicroServer provides Just Right IT - with the right feature set in the right form factor at the right price.

Free Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation Operating System
With this offer, purchase your ProLiant Microserver together with HP Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation, 3 year HW Support and a DVR-ROM between 1st and 31st October 2010, complete the claim form and HP will refund the cost of the Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation.

OR

Free Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation Operating System Offer 2
With this offer, purchase your ProLiant Microserver together with HP Microsoft Foundation OS, 3 year HW Support and a DVR-RW between 1st and 31st Oct 2010, complete the claim form and HP will refund the cost of the MS Foundation OS.

OR

HP Care Pack Offer
Purchase the Microserver with 3 year HW Support and a DVD-ROM and for just £20* you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your Server has 3 years onsite cover. If we are unable to rectify a fault over the phone and need to send out an engineer you will incur no additional - parts and labour are included.

How to Claim

• Complete the claim form

• Attach proof of purchase (reseller invoice(s)) to the claim form, with qualifying products and HP part codes circled and make copies for your records.

• Product must have been invoiced between 1st and 31st Oct 2010.

• Mail to: HP Claims Dept, PO Box 7393, Reading, RG27 7JJ. All submissions must be received by Friday 26th November 2010.

You will then receive an email confirming the rebate due to you and your individual reference number within 7 days of posting. If you do not receive this email then please contacts us at promotions@out-bound.co.uk.

Cheques will be issued within 28 days of receipt of your correct invoice.

For further details on HP Care Packs, please visit www.hp.com/uk/carepack
To learn more about the new HP Microserver visit www.hp.com/go/microserver



Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team

HP P2000 MSA & Free G7 ProLiant Server Offer

Purchase a qualifying P2000 MSA and claim the ProLiant DL360 G7 for free Runs from the 1st – 31th October 2010

Purchase any one of the qualifying P2000 Modular Storage Array Systems, together with the HP ProLiant DL360 G7 (Part Number 470065-373) between 1st and 31st October 2010, then complete this form and HP will refund the cost of the server.

This offer is limited to ONE free server per customer. Terms and conditions and qualifying products apply. Please refer to claim form for further information.

For more information and to download the claim form & terms and conditions please go to www.hp.com/uk/freeproliantserver

How to claim:

• Attach proof of purchase (reseller invoice(s)) to the claim form, with qualifying products and HP part codes circled, keeping copies for your records.

• Product must have been invoiced between 1st and 31th October 2010.

• Mail to: HP Claims Dept, PO Box 7393, Reading, RG27 7JJ. All submissions must be received by Friday 26th November 2010.

• You will then receive an email confirming the rebate due to you and your individual reference number within 7 days of posting. If you do not receive this email then please contacts HP at promotions@out-bound.co.uk

• Cheques will be issued within 28 days of receipt of your correct invoice

**In support of this Free Server offer, attach both qualifying HP Care Pack Services for DL360 and P2000 and HP will refund the cost of the DL360 HP Care Pack For further details on HP Care Packs, please visit www.hp.com/uk/carepack

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team