HP adds to Adaptive Enterprise line-up

Hewlett Packard (HP) yesterday unveiled new additions to its print, server and storage portfolios to strengthen its 'Adaptive Enterprise' line-up.

Similar to IBM's On-Demand Computing, HP's Adaptive Enterprise aims to create a responsive IT infrastructure to cope with the needs of a rapidly changing organisation.

HP has extended its Integrity server range with mx2, a new dual-processor module allowing two 64-bit Itanium chipsets to be plugged into existing systems on a single module for 128-bit processing power.

Nora Denzel, HP's senior vice president and general manager of the adaptive enterprise and software business unit, claimed that as a result, HP Integrity servers could be competitively priced at a third less than equivalent IBM machines, "turbo-charging your environment for datacentre consolidation".

HP also unveiled its StorageWorks Reference Information Storage System (RISS), an archiving and retrieval system for storing, referencing and indexing unstructured content.

Based on its acquisition of Persist Technologies last year, HP said RISS forms a key management component of its information lifecycle management portfolio aimed at freeing up computing power, storage capacity and IT maintenance.

It also comes pre-integrated with applications such as Microsoft Office, and can be accompanied by HP design and integration services as well as hardware to optimise storage utilities for regulatory compliance.

HP also promised to increase efforts for its total print management (TPM) programme in Europe.

TPM aims to streamline an organisation's printing and imaging costs through consolidating resources and utilising high-end multifunction printing devices instead of a mix of copiers, printers and fax machines.

The vendor has been showcasing TPM at its Bracknell site in the UK, inviting business managers and top-level resellers to discuss how it can best be implemented.

HP believes TPM can reduce support and operational costs by up to 30 per cent, but there are significant change management issues for businesses to address.

Enterprises often need to bring together their IT department (printers), facilities department (copiers and device removal) and individual business managers (print orders) to successfully change and implement the new print strategy.