HP INDIA
automated to check the active health of the system. The other part of the system is that it has taken care of data integrity for performance and big data because there is where the whole world is moving. For this the company has worked on dynamic work load acceleration in the system. Adds Vikram, “There is a lot of algorithms and intelligence built in the system because we have historically seen that the processors’ combined performance have been significantly increased whereas the I/O has not quite kept pace and one way of addressing that problem is to have solid state discs but to bridge the gap further, a lot of work goes into it. Hence the large workloads and the acceleration of that work load have been built into the system. So, this product delivers six times faster solid state storage performance versus previous generations.” The third dimension is that how power is used and consumed for cooling and where exactly the location of the server is. Towards this, HP has built intelligence to the Gen8 Server to increase the amount of computing for a given power usage. Vikram adds, “Let us assume one kilowatt is the base and HP Location Discovery Services self-identify and inventory servers to optimize workload placement—without the need for tedious, error-prone manual asset collection and tracking. And all the while, HP Power Discovery Services with the HP Intelligent PDU automatically track power usage and document configurations to increase system uptime and reduce the risk of outages.” And lastly, the Gen8 Server combines proactive service support and offers information. So if one likes to get the complete history of the server, the portal can give him/her the entire history. HP ProActive Insight architecture helps one reclaim the time of the system administrators with servers so intelligent they redefine the service experience. Along with Gen8 Server innovation, HP also did few announcements around the time. The first one was on the project Moonshot, which is basically to address the big data, and after that is Odyssey, which provides the high-available aspect to the x86 platforms. The objective of the company is to create the entire HP’s enterprise server, storage and network architecture to revolve around Converged Infrastructure. Along with Gen8 Servers, from the business critical server perspective, project Odyssey converges onto this, from the storage perspective products like 3PAR converges onto this. Even the Moonshot project also converges onto this. Starting from single processor units, Gen8 Servers are available across all ranges - till the high
TREND SETTER
FAISAL PAUL, HEAD - MARKETING & SOLUTION, ALLIANCES, ENTERPRISE SERVERS, STORAGE & NETWORKING – ENTERPRISE BUSINESS, HP INDIA
“OUR PARTNERS ARE ENABLED IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY, SALES, DOCUMENTATION AND LOOK AND FEEL BEFORE WE REACH OUT TO THE CUSTOMERS.” end, high-availability space. So, it offers the choice to the customers to choose from the entire range. Another point here is that the customers can upgrade the server without replacing the existing servers. For example, if they have blade encloser, it can easily accommodate Gen8 servers whereas in case of Gen 3-4 servers, if the customers needed to upgrade they would have to replace it. On top of the ease of migration process, HP also integrates its finance services to provide value to the existing infrastructure and help them to transition to the Gen8. It has been two months since the product got launched. As per Vikram, it is the feedback of the partners and customers that they are really excited about it. Of course, the partners are gung-ho about this product launch but has the company enabled them to take up the big challenge. Faisal Paul, Head (Marketing & Solution, Alliances, Enterprise Servers, Storage & Networking – Enterprise Business), HP India, says, “Partnering is in the DNA of HP. We understand the role of partners is very critical for us hence our partners are enabled in terms of technology, sales, documentation and look and feel before we reach out to the custom-
ers. Besides we do market demand generation, awareness campaign, everything that is required for the partners.” HP has a calculated strategy as to how to address the market place, partners being an integral part of that. Besides HP is strengthening its inside sales force big time this year to reach out to those customers where the partners cannot reach. Last year HP focussed on geo expansion and this year the company plans to strengthen its strategy to reach the smaller cities. Faisal adds, “Overall we have a very strong brand which makes our life much easier in terms of marketing because our product speaks for its performance. We take a lot of our customers’ feedback for our R&D while designing the product. So when we do the selling it becomes incidental. We just position the products.”
Finally… With a wonderful product launch, HP will focus on developing partners’ skill sets, driver demand generation and continue to sell open systems so that it reduces the cost for the customers.
SME CHANNELS 69 JUNE 2012
Trend Setter_HP ESSN.indd 69
19/06/12 8:56 AM