HP Blade Systems Matrix Technology

As the need for ever larger data centers grow, the demand for a scalable server infrastructure grows. One should be able to put together the initial solution quickly and then scale up as needed.HP BladeSystem Matrix uses off the shelf solutions available to create this modular solution. rather than a mere collection of components the Matrix puts together tried and tested components proven in the marketplace to
provide value in demanding datacenter environments. Matrix also incorporates the offerings of
leading application, management, network, and storage partners. Making it easy to fit customer environments and continues to work with all traditional application workloads.

HP BladeSystem Matrix is supplied as a factory configured solution. that has the c7000 enclosure, server blades, shared storage, management software for provisioning, optimizing and protecting the infrastructure. Implementation and training is also included to get customers a quick start. Full range of HP ProLiant and Integrity full-height and half-height server blades are supported and one could create over 1500 managed systems of virtual and managed machine instances.
http://resources.idgenterprise.com/original/AST-0003909_Understanding_the_HP_Bladesystem_Matrix_technology.pdf

There are Servers and Servers

Servers have tended to become more and more powerful as does the desktops in an user organization. Thus, quite often, a powerful desktop can actually take the burden of managing a few clients. The essential requirement for fulfilling a server role is just that. A server should have enough capabilities to service the client needs. There is no need for looking for a box that is called a server! Yet lot of people will actually try to buy a box called server even though it is not called for at all.

I saw this first hand a while back. There was a set up required for managing just 5 clients. The need was for these clients and the server to run a library management set up. The clients were recently obtained desktops that had Core 2 Duo and 2 GB memory and so on.  While these desktops cost below Rs.40,000 but what was being proposed was a so called "server" costing at least 3 times more! Strange how people seem to go by names rather than by capability and functionality required!

Cisco Acquires Pure Digital

Pure Digital is the maker of Flip Video cameras, very affordable video cameras. They have released a new high definition version too. One of the reason for their popularity besides the low price is that you can directly hook up on USB and upload the video to the sharing sites. Cisco has just completed a deal to acquire the company.

Combine it with the announcement that they are moving into the blade server space with their California offerings and it starts to look like these are bets against the recession by diversifying the portfolio. Thy'll have to go head to head against companies like IBM, Sun and so on. So the product they are going to offer better be good. Not only that, to be able to break into existing market they'll have to offer very clear differentiating features on their products. Interestingly IBM seems to be bent on acquiring Sun for a price of somewhere between $6.5 to $8.x billions!

Both are growth areas despite the recession. Particularly the video segment, the video share segment is growing hugely. Servers also should be growing. There's speculation Cisco is interested in personal/home video conferencing. Let's see how all this plays out!