March 2010

Monthly Technical & Sales Updates from HPM Networks

Main Website | HP expanded ProLiant portfolio

ProLiant DL and ML Series Servers and Options
HP ProLiant DL165 G7
HP ProLiant DL160 G6
HP ProLiant DL170h G6
HP ProLiant DL180 G6
HP ProLiant DL320 G6
HP ProLiant DL360 G6
HP ProLiant DL380 G6
HP ProLiant ML330 G6
HP ProLiant ML350 G6

ProLiant SL6000 Scalablem Systems
HP ProLiant SL165z G7
HP ProLiant SL160z G6
HP ProLiant SL170z G6
HP ProLiant SL2x170z G6

ProLiant BL Series BladeSystem Servers and Options
HP ProLiant BL280c G6 Server Blade
HP ProLiant BL2x220c G6 Server Blade
HP ProLiant BL460c G6 Server Blade
HP ProLiant BL490c G6 Server Blade
HP ProLiant WS460c G6 Workstation Blade

HP Insight Software
HP Integrated Lights-Out 3 (iLO 3)
HP Insight Control v6.1
HP Insight Control for Linux v6.1
HP Insight Foundation suite for ProLiant v8.40
HP Insight Remote Support and HP Active Chat

HP Third-Party and Other Software Offerings
HP Client Virtualization with Citrix XenDesktop
USB Flash Media Key for ESXi

To see all updates and links Click Here

HP StorageWorks LTO-5 Ultrium Tape Drives NEW
The new HP StorageWorks LTO-5 Ultrium Tape Drive models, capable of storing up to 3 TB per cartridge, provide a 6Gb/sec SAS interface allowing direct connect to SAS-based servers

Enhancements/New Features

Hardware Support
*        Added support for the HP BLc7000 2400W Platinum Power Supply
Firmware Additions
*        Added support for IPv6.
*        Added support for Virtual LAN (VLAN) networking within the c-Class enclosure.
*        Added support for Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2 Level 1.
*        Added support for Internet Explorer 8 in compatibility mode only.
*        Added support for Mozilla Firefox 3.5.
*        Added support for logging blade correctable and uncorrectable memory errors on G6 server blades only.
*        Added a new CLI command that retrieves and displays a server blade's iLO 2 Event Log.
*        Modified the SHOW ALL to also include the iLO 2 Event Log for all installed server blades.
*        Enhanced the handling of previously cached browser pages when upgrading the Onboard Administrator.
*        Self-signed certificates generated with v3.00 now use a SHA1 signature instead of the less secure MD5 signature.
*        Enhanced Enclosure Bay IP Addressing (EBIPA) to support individual network settings for each bay instead of global network settings which encompass all bays.
*        The method used to determine duplicate EBIPA IP addresses within OA 2.60 and earlier has been found to be unreliable and at times indicates duplicate IP addresses that were in fact not duplicate, thus duplicate IP address checking has been removed from the OA 3.00.

HP BladeSystem Firmware Maintenance

BladeSystem Matrix Compatibility

The HP Insight Control extension for VMware vCenter Server delivers powerful HP hardware management capabilities to virtualization administrators, enabling comprehensive monitoring, remote control and power optimization directly from the vCenter console. In addition, Insight Control delivers robust deployment capabilities and is an integration point for the broader portfolio of infrastructure management, service automation and IT operations solutions available from HP. Key capabilities integrated into the vCenter console include:

• Combined physical and virtual view: From a single pane of glass, monitor status and performance of virtual machines and the underlying host systems that support them.
• Integrated troubleshooting: Receive prefailure and failure alerts on HP server components and invoke HP management tools, such as Systems Insight Manager and Onboard Administrator, in-context, directly from the vCenter console
• Powerful Remote Control: Remotely manage and troubleshoot HP ProLiant and BladeSystem servers using HP Integrated Lights Out Advanced capabilities directly from the vCenter console.
• Proactive power management: Get the most out of your existing power envelope by comprehending and proactively managing power for hosts and pools of virtual machines across hosts
  
  
• HP Insight Control for Vmware vCenter server 6.0 is now available!
  Click here to download

Introducing the new H-series portfolio and HP StorageWorks SN6000 Stackable Fibre Channel Switch

Introducing the new H-series portfolio and HP StorageWorks SN6000 Stackable Fibre Channel Switch
The new H-series portfolio includes the new HP StorageWorks SN6000 Stackable 8Gb Fibre Channel Switches and the HP StorageWorks 8/20q Fibre Channel switch, which was HP’s first 8 Gbps Fibre Channel switch. Both models include unique features that give HP and HP partners a decisive and unique advantage.

More Information here

Protecting data in a virtualized environment means you have to think about two things:

• Protecting the virtual machine, and
• Protecting the application data INSIDE the virtual machine

However, using the traditional backup methods in virtual environments can severely impact server and storage performance or may even leave your application data unprotected.

By pairing HP Data Protector software with HP StorageWorks P4000, a highly available and optimized for virtual servers SAN solution, you can implement affordable enterprise-class data protection that utilizes application integrated snapshots with Zero Downtime Backup using VSS provider. And both the software and hardware scale to suit your availability needs.

The integration between HP Data Protector software and StorageWorks P4000 SANs delivers:

• Required levels of data availability and protection
• Reduced performance impact on your virtual server
• Complete application protection
• Affordable acquisition and maintenance costs

Watch the demo and download the white paper to learn how to implement the solution in your environment.

Save the date June 21-24!

Join thousands of IT professionals from around the world at HP’s premier technology conference—four valuable days of hard-hitting content, training, demos, hands-on labs, and emerging technologies. This is The Event for learning how to harness the power of best-in-class technologies and services from HP and its partners.  Partners and Customers read up at the event website

More Info Here

Nexus 1000V on HP BladeSystem: A Reference Architecture for optimal VMware vSphere design using HP BladeSystem (w/Virtual Connect) and Cisco Nexus network infrastructure
This Technology Brief is designed to better educate the reader on the use of HP BladeSystem (and Virtual Connect) with Cisco Nexus technology.  The document reviews all the VMware virtual switch technologies and it specifically addresses the potential issues surrounding the use of VNTag and the Cisco Nexus 1000V vDS.

This document is written in plain, easy to understand terms and it will help you have an informed discussion with your customers about these technologies.  This document does not review any future technology.  It is designed to inform the reader about current technologies. 
Click Here to View

Title: HP BladeSystem Reference Architecture: Virtual Connect Flex-10 and VMware vSphere 4.0
The Reference Architecture outlines several configuration scenarios deploying HP Virtual Connect and ESX vSphere technologies.  Discussed are some best practices to install and configure virtual connect Flex-10 and VSphere 4 Networking.
Click Here to View

Title: HP BladeSystem ProLiant firmware management best practices - General overview
The document details firmware best practices for HP c-Class BladeSystem products including:
• What firmware to update
• Which tools to use
• What dependencies to consider for the update process
• How to deploy firmware update

Click Here to View

Configuration best practices for HP StorageWorks Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA) family and VMware vSphere 4
Download Here

Best practices for deploying the HP XP24000 Disk Array with VMware vSphere 4(includes use of both ProCurve and Virtual Connect)
Download Here

HP reference configuration for virtualization - HP ProLiant BL490c G6 servers and VMware vSphere 4 (includes use of Flex-10, Virtual Connect and MSA2300fc)
Download Here

HP reference configuration for virtualization - HP ProLiant BL495c G6 servers and VMware vSphere 4 (includes use of Flex-10, Virtual Connect and MSA2300fc)
Download Here

ISS Technology Update Volume 9

• Recently published industry standard server technology papers
• How many bytes are in a GB?
• Disabling AMD® processor cores in ProLiant 300 series G5 and G6 servers
• Quick tip: Efficient deployments—Sun Solaris 10 for x86/x64 Systems
• Meet the Expert—Siamak Tavallaei

HP Power Advisor Utility: a tool for estimating power requirements for HP ProLiant Rack-Mounted Systems, Technology Brief

HP has created the HP Power Advisor utility to provide more accurate and meaningful estimates of power needs for HP ProLiant BL, DL, and SL systems so that IT infrastructure designers can determine the most efficient hardware configuration. This technology brief identifies factors affecting power requirements, explains how the Power Advisor works, and provides an example of how it can be used.

Here is a great blog written by one of our NZ SE’s about troubleshooting PCoIP .  The URL is http://myvirtualcloud.net/?p=751

The ThinApp Windows 7 Migration Promotion offers 75% off of ThinApp Client licenses (minimum 500 licenses) from 4/1/2010 – 9/15/2010.  The objective of this promotion is to save customers time and money when they migrate their OS to Windows 7 and it provides VMware an opportunity to seed the market for desktop virtualization.