All about HP Server

With its growing portfolio of accelerated iSCSI solutions and multi-function NICs—including the new HP NC382T Dual Port Multifunction Gigabit Server Adapter and HP Accelerated iSCSI Licensing Pack for Embedded Multifunction Gigabit Server Adapters—HP is ideally positioned to help your organization realize the benefits of iSCSI on the HP ProLiant server platform. Simplicity HP accelerated iSCSI solutions simplify server-to-storage connectivity. These solutions use multi-function NICs, based on technology from Broadcom, that can assume the roles of both a conventional Gigabit network adapter used for LAN connectivity and an HBA used for SAN connectivity—all from a single connection. This means you need just one card to connect your HP ProLiant servers to multiple networked resources, including iSCSI-enabled storage systems. So you can now connect your servers to networked storage systems over the same wire that connects your servers to your company’s LAN. What’s more, you can manage your entire infrastructure as a single, unified fabric using the same tools you use to manage your HP ProLiant servers. HP multi-function network adapters, for instance, are integrated and tested with the SmartStart and HP Systems Insight Manager software used with HP ProLiant servers. A common set of management tools makes it easy to get assistance on deployment, operation, and updates. It also simplifies remote management tasks. Using HP tools, you can remotely access and monitor your multi-function adapter—anytime, anywhere.

Flexibility HP accelerated iSCSI solutions give you greater flexibility in the way you deploy and manage IT infrastructure. You can now combine accelerated networking and storage networking in a single, all-in-one adapter, and then consolidate ports, converge functions, and centralize IT management. Want to do only basic networking? You’re all set if you have an HP multi-function network adapter in an HP ProLiant server. Want to set up a storage network today or sometime down the road? You’re ready for that too with the same HP multi-function NIC with accelerated iSCSI capabilities. Or you can do both— connect to a LAN and connect to networked storage. Cost savings HP accelerated iSCSI solutions can help you reduce infrastructure complexity and lower the costs of deploying and managing network storage. Because iSCSI SANs use Ethernet rather than Fibre Channel to transport data, they are simpler to set up, manage and maintain, and less expensive to deploy. In addition to avoiding costly upgrades and the initial costs of HBAs and Fibre Channel cables, you can avoid the ongoing need for Fibre Channel experts to operate your networked storage environment. Instead, you can leverage your existing infrastructure and in-house knowledge of TCP/IP and Ethernet networks. When it comes to management, you can avoid the costs associated with the purchase and maintenance of stand-alone management tools—because you can manage your multi-function network adapter and storage resources with your HP ProLiant tools. In addition, HP accelerated iSCSI solutions support diskless booting, which allows you to boot servers from a SAN—and avoid the need for a hard drive in each server. What’s more, you gain the confidence that comes with HP ProLiant server testing and certification, HP support and an adapter warranty that matches the warranty of the ProLiant server the adapter is installed on. That helps you hold the line on operations costs.