NEWS : HP ProLiant firmware updates access change

HP are changing the way firmware updates and SSP will be accessed, This will Start in February 2014. Select server firmware on these products will only be accessed through the HP Support Center to Customers with an active support agreement, HP CarePack, or warranty linked to their HP Support Center User ID and for the specific products being updated. 

HP Support material was always provided as part of the terms of a customer’s support contract with HP, usually via Warranty periods or contractual obligations, such as Care Packs and support contacts.  HP terms stated an eligibility requirement for support was purchase of the product and a support agreement for the product.  The only change being implemented is that website access will now align with those restrictions that have always been there.  The fact that HP previously chose to make our support material available publicly through our hp.com website, without checking the entitlement of the user, doesn’t negate nor invalidate the eligibility requirement.

We encourage you to review your current support coverage to ensure you maintain uninterrupted access to firmware updates and SPP for your ProLiant products.

If you need to obtain support coverage, please do not hesitate to contact your account manager at Westcoast.

Regards

Westcoast EG Solutions Team 

HP Smart Array P22x / P42x Series cards now support Raid 6 without needing to purchase a license.

HP have just launched a Firmware update for their Smart Array controllers that will upgrade your Smart array card to be able to run Raid 6* without having to purchase the Smart Array Advanced Pack as this is now part of the base firmware.

This effects the following Smart Array controllers, P220i, P222, P420i, P420, P421, P721m, and P822

You will still need an additional license key to use HP SmartCache.

*You still will need to have a minimum of 512mb a Cache on the controller.

So How do you get it? Go to this link where there is a download section and instructions.

If you have any questions or need help with a HP server solution then please do not hesitate to get in contact with us and we will be happy to help.

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team   

Purchase a HP BladeSystem Starter kit and get the c7000 enclosure for £1

Based on HP BladeSystem, the world’s most advanced blade infrastructure with Gen8 technologies, increase business demand for instant access from anywhere to any service in real-time to drive the needs for virtualized environment. HP will support your BladeSystem environment by offering you the HP c7000 Platinum Enclosure for only £1.

Choose one of the three HP BladeSystem Starter Kits that will perfectly fit your business needs and get the HP c7000 Platinum Enclosure for £1.

Each starter kit comes with 2x ProLiant Gen8 blades, 2x Virtual Connect modules E-LTU and Proactive Care Services. Three types of configurations are available.

Entry Level
Ideal Workloads: Web Hosting/Services in the Enterprise space; Single Application on a single server; basic infrastructure applications:

2 x HP BK 420c Gen8 E5-2450 2P 24GB Svr
2 x HP BLc VC Flex-10/10D Module Opt
2 x HP Insight Control ML/DL/BL Bundle E-LTU Proactive Care Services

Converged
Ideal Workloads: Virtualisation and consolidation, IT infrastructure, web infrastructure, High Performance Computing. Choice of two packages:

Server set A
2 x HP BL460c Gen8 E5-2660 2P 64GB Svr
2 x HP BLc VC FlexFabric 10GB/24-port-Opt
2 x HP Insight Control ML/DL/BL Bundle E-LTU Proactive Care Services

Server set B
2 x HP BL465c Gen 8 6380 1P 1gG Svr
2 x HP BLc VC FlexFabric 10GB/24-port Opt
2 x HP Insight Control ML/DL/BL Bundle E-LTU Proactive Care Services

Scale up
Ideal Workloads: Virtualisation and consolidation, business processing (ERP, CRM, batch, etc), database, application development, industrial R&D, data warehouse:

2 x HP BL660c Gen8 E5-4650 4P 128GB Svr
2 x HP BLc VC FlexFabric 10GB/24-port Opt
2 x HP Insight Control ML/DL/BL Bundle E-LTU Proactive Care Service

If you have any questions with regards this offer or help with a solution using the HP BladeSystem then please do not hesitate to get in contact with us and we will be happy to help.

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team   

NEW HP Releases: New Gen8 Server models, C-Class Interconnects, Racks, Microsoft Server 2012, Software, Graphics & Memory

Well there has been a lot of new HP releases, covering new Gen8 Servers, Microsoft Server 2012, new HP networking for C-class blades, racks, management software, VMware, SSD's, Graphics and Memory.

Here are some of the details on the new products.

HP ProLiant DL320e Gen8 Server series 
New Ideal single-application and IT infrastructure server
What’s new?

• Double memory capacity (32GB max) and higher performing 1600MHz DDR3 memory 
• HP Common Slot Platinum Plus Power Supplies for up to 94% power efficiency 
• HP Smart Array drives with up to 50% increase in storage capacity (12TB) 
• Enhanced serviceability with fast access PCIe riser solutions and HP SmartMemory 

 
HP ProLiant ML310e Gen8 Server series 
New Essential availability and expansion in a 1P tower
What’s new?

• Up to four PCIe 3.0 and Gen2 slots for additional I/O performance 
• Double memory capacity (32GB max) and higher performing 1600MHz DDR3 memory 
• Choice of hard drive cage and hot plug drives for 50% increase in storage capacity (up to 12TB) 
• iLO Management Engine (iLO 4) for enhanced manageability and reduced operational costs

HP ProLiant ML350e Gen8 Server series 
Essential performance with room to grow
What’s new?

• HP Hot-Plug 4LFF Shield Metal FIO Kit Factory integrated option kit allows 4LFF hot plug drives to be used in the 6LFF chassis with embedded controller.

HP 6125G and HP 6125G/XG Ethernet Blade Switches 
New Product
Features?

• Intelligent Resilient Framework (IRF) combines multiple switches into a single virtual switch at the enclosure, rack or data center level 
• Full layer 3 routing with IPv6 support for excellent investment protection 
• Comware operating system provides for a common level of management, features, and security form edge to core 

HP Intelligent Series Racks 
Achieve more compute power with limited space, power and cooling resources
What’s new? 

• New SKUs offer new dimensions and configurations with latest features 
• HP Location Discovery Services sends the rack identification number and precise U location to the servers
• HP Power Discovery Services eliminates configuration errors and precisely tracks power usage by rack and by server Reduce error-prone manual processes

HP Location Discovery Kit 
New Automated location awareness of installed servers in HP Intelligent Series Racks
What’s new?

• Provides exact U location of servers in the rack and synchronises with HP Intelligent PDUs and Insight Control to graphically show location with power topology 
• Eliminates human errors from inefficient manual documentation processes 
• Accurate location information combined with graphical power, temperature, and performance data in Insight 
• Control enables optimised workload placement Reduces unplanned downtime due to mis-wired servers in the wrong place 

Microsoft® Windows Server® 2012 
New HP and Microsoft combine the intelligence of HP ProLiant Gen8 with the virtualization and scalability of the Microsoft Windows Server 2012 product family
What’s new?

• Scale and secure workloads, cost-effectively build a private cloud, and securely connect to cloud services 
• Efficiently manage infrastructure while maximising up time and minimising failures and downtime 
• Build on an open and scalable web platform that supports applications across premises 
• Support a mobile and flexible work style 

HP Insight Control for VMware vCenter Server 7.1 
Full Interoperability with VMware’s latest version - vSphere 5.1
What’s new?

• One installer delivers both the .NET and New Web Client Graphical User Interface (NGC) 
• Active management for 3PAR arrays 
•  In context launch of HP management ecosystem tools (iLO, On board Administrator, Virtual Connect, HP Storage Management)

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for HP ProLiant & BladeSystem Servers
HP and SUSE combine for highly available computing environments
What’s new?

• SUSE has changed its packaging / pricing and HP is replacing its entire SUSE Portfolio 
• Now available for 2, 4 and 8 sockets and Physical or Virtual environments with 24x7 HP bundled support 
• HP offers greater coverage (more years/more support for less money) 

VMware vSphere from HP 
New VMware products for HP CloudSystem solutions
What’s new?

• VMware vCloud Suites Bundle of multiple VMware products such as vSphere Enterprise Plus, vCloud Director, vCenter Operations Manager, vCloud Networking & Security Suite, vCenter 
• Site Recovery Manager Offers comprehensive value for Cloud Deployments, as opposed to purchasing individual products within the bundle VMware vCenter Operations Enterprise and Enterprise Plus 
• The vCenter Operations Management Suite enables IT organisations to proactively ensure service levels, optimum resource usage, and configuration compliance in dynamic virtual and cloud environments 

HP Smart Bundles for Microsoft Hyper-V 
Pre-designed, preconfigured solutions: Servers, Storage, Networking, Management, and Software
What's new?

• New versions that Include new Microsoft® Windows® Server 2012 Essential Tower, Essential Rack HA, and Scalable Rack 
• HA Improved performance and admin productivity with new HP ProLiant Gen8 servers 
• Deploy with confidence, no worries about trying to integrate multiple vendor tools 

HP Smart Bundles for VMware 
Pre-designed, preconfigured solutions: Servers, Storage, Networking, Management, and Software
What's new?

• New versions of HP Smart Bundles for VMware Essential Tower, Essential Rack HA, and Scalable Rack HA 
• Improved performance and admin productivity with new HP ProLiant Gen8 servers 
• Deploy with confidence, no worries about trying to integrate multiple vendor tools 

HP 6G SAS Enterprise Mainstream Endurance 2.5-in SSDs 
Next generation of solid state drives using SLC NAND flash technology
What’s new?

• For HP G6, G7, and Gen8 servers and HP storage products 
• 25% more performance and 3X more endurance 10%-20% lower pricing than previous generation 
• Small form-factor (SFF) 
• Supported with SMARTSSD Wear Gauge 

 
NVIDIA Tesla K10 Dual GPU PCIe Module 
New PCIe module with two GPUs optimised for single-precision performance
What’s new?

• Available as option for HP ProLiant SL250s and SL270s servers 
• Dramatically reduces computational time for single-precision parallel applications 
• High density decreases the physical footprint required High performance per watt reduces the carbon footprint per unit of computation 

 
HP SmartMemory 
Industry first and unique technology for HP ProLiant BL460c Gen8 Server
What’s new?

• First to introduce 3 Rank DDR3 technology 
• New 24GB 3 Rank DIMM works at 1.35v @1333 MT/s Gives select HP ProLiant Gen8 Blade servers 384GB capacity at high speed and lower price 

If you need help with any additional details about any of the new releases above or need a HP server solution then please contact us and we will be happy to help you.

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team

AMD Powered ProLiant servers, a good alternative...

As many of you know HP have a range of servers which use AMD Processors.
There are many reasons why you should consider an AMD based server.

The newer AMD processors boast a brand new 16-core architecture for the next generation of scalable business critical applications, these processors feature an innovative design that drives more core density and greater throughput with up to 160% more cores than the competition.

AMD Processors also have Greater Efficiency in what AMD are calling "C6 Power State" This is when a core is halted and its workload is then exported to system memory, the voltage needed to run this core is then removed therefore saving power. In times where efficiency is paramount this technology really saves you money.

Greater Scalability - AMD Turbo CORE Technology - Allows processors to independently boost their clock speed to respond to the need for more application performance. The industry’s best full-core boost - up to 500 MHz.

AMD is also traditionally cheaper than their competition, this means that the power vs pounds trade off is better with AMD. 

The Current ProLiant range of AMD based servers is as follows,

BL465 G7 - For use in the C3000/C7000 Blade Chassis.
BL685 G7 - For use in the C3000/C7000 Blade Chassis.
DL165 G7 - 1u Standalone Rack server
DL385 G7 - 2u Standalone Rack server
DL585 G7 - 4u Standalone Rack server
SL335s G7 -HP ProLiant SL Scalable System
SL165s G7 - HP ProLiant SL Scalable System
SL165z G7 - HP ProLiant SL Scalable System
HP Microsever - Single Small footprint Tower server

As you can see there is a HP AMD based solution for every type of enviroment, 
Please click on the links above to find out more information on the ranges of HP AMD based servers.

If you are interested in building a solution around HP AMD ProLiant servers or need more information on the range of servers then please do not hesitate to contact us.

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team

Product Spotlight : Cisco Fabric Extender for HP BladeSystem

The Cisco Fabric Extender for HP BladeSystem (Model B22HP) provides an extension of the Cisco Nexus switch fabric to the HP server edge. Logically, it behaves like a remote line card to a parent Cisco Nexus 5000 series switch with the Fabric Extender and the parent Nexus together forming a distributed modular system.

The Cisco Fabric Extender for HP BladeSystem forwards traffic to the parent Cisco Nexus 5000 Series Switch over eight 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks. Low-cost uplink connections up to 10 meters can be made with copper Twin-ax cable, and longer connections up to 100 meters can use the Fabric Extender Transceiver. Standard 10Gb optics such as SR and LR are also supported.

Downlinks to each server are auto-negotiating and work with all HP Ethernet and CNA modules allowing customers a choice of Ethernet, FCoE or iSCSI connections. Being a seamless extension of a Nexus 5000 allows traffic to be switched according to policies established by the Nexus 5000 Series Switch with a single point of management.

Performance

• Sixteen 1Gb/10Gb downlinks
• Each Ethernet downlink supports FibreChannel over Ethernet (FCoE), Datacenter Bridging (DCB), and iSCSI
• Each Ethernet downlink can autonegotiate to 1Gb to support legacy NICs and/or Wake On LAN Eight 10Gb uplinks
• Each Fabric uplink carries both Ethernet and FibreChannel over Ethernet (FCoE) traffic
• Fabric uplinks support .5m/1m/3m/5m/7m/10m twinax, Fabric Extender Tranceiver (FET-10G), 10Gbase-SR, and 10Gbase-LR optics
• Up to 24 Fabric Extenders can be managed by a single Nexus 5000 series switch
• Ports support Ethernet, iSCSI and DCB protocols

Management

• Centralized Management - All configuration & monitoring performed on parent Nexus switch
• Up to 24 Fabric Extenders can be managed by a single Nexus 5000 series switch
• Supported by CiscoWorks and Cisco Data Center Network Manager
• Support for SNMP V1, V2, V3
• XML (Netconf) support.

HP ProLiant Servers Supported

• HP ProLiant BL2x220c G7
• HP ProLiant BL280c G6
• HP ProLiant BL460c G7
• HP ProLiant BL460c G6
• HP ProLiant BL465c G7
• HP ProLiant BL465 G6
• HP ProLiant BL490c G7
• HP ProLiant BL490c G6
• HP ProLiant BL495c G6
• HP ProLiant BL620c G7
• HP ProLiant BL680c G7
• HP ProLiant BL685c G7
• HP ProLiant BL685 G6
• NOTE: Some servers listed above may be discontinued.

• HP Integrity BL860c Server Blade
• HP Integrity BL860c i2 Server Blade
• HP Integrity BL870c Server Blade
• HP Integrity BL870c i2 Server Blade
• HP Integrity BL890c i2 Server Blade

Cisco Network Switches

• Cisco Nexus 5010
• Cisco Nexus 5020
• Cisco Nexus 5548
• Cisco Nexus 5596

For some more in-depth specs of this new Fabric Extender then please click "here".
If you need help with a HP Blade solution then please contact us and we will provide a solution to your customers needs.

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team

Save Time and Money by using the HP Bladesystem Matrix

HP are the first manufacture to offer the industry’s first converged infrastructure solution which delivers the major benefits of shared services. This solution is called the HP BladeSystem Matrix. This new solution allows you to provision complex infrastructure and applications in minutes rather than months and cuts the total cost of ownership up to 56%!! versus traditional infrastructure.

The HP BladeSystem Matrix is designed to decrease the complexity associated with the deployment of applications and services. The HP BladeSystem Matrix optimizes IT capacity across physical and virtual environments and ensures predictable delivery and service levels. It includes an integrated service designer, self-service portal, auto-provisioning capabilities, and all the tools to manage and optimize the resources pools as well as a recovery management solution.

HP BladeSystem Matrix is a pre-integrated hardware, software and services solution which is built on the industry proven HP BladeSystem, and associated technologies such as Virtual Connect, Insight management software, ProLiant and Integrity blade servers and HP's fibre channel SAN's.

To see how much of a ROI you can achieve please go to the HP BladeSystem Matrix ROI Calculator

So how do i go about Ordering a HP BladeSystem Matrix??

The method for purchasing HP BladeSystem Matrix is simple.
You need to start by ordering a HP BladeSystem Matrix Starter Kit (please contact us for details) which contains the infrastructure needed for a fully-working environment supporting up to 16 HP ProLiant half-height server blades (or 8 Integrity blades)

If you need to increase the size of your Matrix you will simply have to add Expansion Kits.
The central management server host implemented in the Starter Kit simply extends its domain to manage additional infrastructure that might be added by adding Expansion Kits.

If you would like to know more information on the HP BladeSystem Matrix then please contact us and we will be more than happy to help you.


Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team