HP (NYSE:HPQ) today introduced an easy-to-manage virtual storage disk
array designed specifically for midsize customers who
need to
reduce the costs and complexity of implementing a storage-area network
(SAN).
The HP StorageWorks 4400
Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA4400) offers a combination of
high-performance and availability features, virtualization capabilities
and advanced provisioning software that makes it ideal for midsize
businesses that want to cost-effectively manage large amounts of data in
a SAN environment without investing in deep storage experience.
Third-party testing has shown that IT managers spend up to 75 percent
less time managing the EVA due to its superior ease of use when compared
to competing arrays from EMC and NetApp.(1)
Midsize customers who adopt server virtualization can further reduce
their storage costs and simplify consolidation by using the EVA4400.
To validate how much better the user experience is for customers and
partners using the EVA4400, HP held a challenge of array products
comparing the EVA4400 and EMC’s competing
storage array.(2)
“After working with both the EVA4400 and EMC
products, I would definitely choose the EVA,”
said Buzz Kaaz, director of IT at Georgia-based Pattillo Construction,
the largest private industrial developer in the southeastern United
States. “The interface was easy enough to use
that I could do it myself and save the cost of hiring a consultant. With
limited resources, Pattillo is forced to make every technology decision
align with our business needs. The EVA aids this as a result of its
unique virtualization capabilities, which eliminate management
complexities. It allows us to aggregate and automate array tasks so we
can manage more storage capacity with fewer people.”
In a recent survey of current and planned virtualization users by
analyst firm Enterprise Strategy Group, 28 percent said they plan to
implement server virtualization in the next six months and 42 percent
plan to deploy within the next year.(3)
The EVA4400 has key virtualization features previously available only on
high-end arrays, but now at a price designed for midsize businesses.
Specifically, the EVA4400 features a dual-redundant hardware
architecture that supports local and remote replication software. This
eliminates single points of failure and helps ensure maximum uptime.
Storage provisioning also is available with HP StorageWorks EVA
Dynamic Capacity Management (DCM) software to help efficiently
manage resources and improve overall productivity.
“HP continues to invest in and expand its
portfolio of entry-level storage solutions to address the specific
customer business requirements of all market segments,”
said Rick Steffens, vice president and general manager, SAN
StorageWorks, HP. “Other SAN environments
typically create significant management overhead, but the powerfully
simple EVA4400 is the better solution for midsize businesses since it is
easier to configure and automates storage provisioning to improve
capacity utilization. Plus, it is approximately 20 percent more
affordable than higher end systems.”
Integration made easy for customers and channel partners
The benefits of a complete virtualized storage and server environment
can add to a company’s bottom line by using
technology more efficiently. Ideal for use with HP
BladeSystem, HP ProLiant
and HP Integrity servers,
the EVA4400 provides customers a complete solution in which storage
and servers are managed together.(4)
Integrated management tools make the infrastructure easier to manage and
faster to deploy and decrease overall management costs.
Solution Blocks also are available with the EVA4400 and include
pre-tested “blueprint”
solutions that combine the right server, storage and application
components to reduce time and effort by both customers and channel
partners. The Solution Blocks simplify the integration of the most
popular midsize business applications, including Microsoft®
Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle®
JD Edwards EnterpriseOne, Oracle E-Business Suite, VMware ESX Server and
HP PolyServe Scalable NAS.
New Simple SAN Connection
HP also announced today the HP StorageWorks 8Gb Simple SAN Connection
portfolio for new SAN customers. It offers the latest in Fibre Channel
(FC) technology for the EVA4400 at the same price as 4Gb FC.
The Simple SAN Connection portfolio includes software to simplify
management, a 20-port capable 8Gb switch and a PCI Express FC host bus
adapter (HBA). The single-port 8Gb HBA offers twice the throughput of
4Gb HBAs and includes new advanced features to support virtualization
and adaptive power management.
Pricing and availability
The HP StorageWorks EVA4400 is now available with a U.S. list price
starting at $15,000.(5)
Unique to the new EVA4400 solution, HP SmartStart software simplifies
setup and configuration for customers who want to do it themselves in
only a few hours. Alternatively, HP
Services offers optional installation and startup services for those
who want assistance.
More information about the HP EVA4400 is available at www.hp.com/go/EVA4400.