HP Converged System Converged Platforms for Virtualization

In December 2013, new integrated HP Converged Systems virtualization platforms were announced. This is a major upgrade of the system, fully ready for deployment of virtual machines, based on components from one vendor. Each system uses innovative HP components, which will be discussed below.

HP Converged Systems is a portfolio of products that can meet the three main challenges facing IT departments today: reducing prices, reducing the time to implement solutions and reducing the risk of losses for businesses in the event of an unstable IT infrastructure.

HP ConvergedSystem simplifies the implementation and operation of various virtualization platforms through the use of pre-prepared, configured and tested complexes: servers, storage systems, networks, management systems and services. Combined, these components have created a wide range of solutions for a large number of tasks of IT departments: cloud technologies, virtualization and processing of large data arrays.

All HP Converged Systems components were originally created with the idea of ​​convergence. The result of this approach are:
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• short commissioning of systems,
• managing the entire infrastructure from a single tool that significantly reduces the complexity of IT service,
• availability of a single point of contact for service maintenance of the entire complex system.

HP Converged Systems Solution Portfolio includes:

virtualization solutions:
• HP ConvergedSystem for Virtualization ;
• HP ConvergedSystem for Client Virtualization ;
cloud solutions:
• HP CloudSystem
solutions for processing large data arrays ( Big Data ):
• HP ConvergedSystem for Vertica (HAVEn)
• HP ConvergedSystem for SAS Visual Analytics
• HP ConvergedSystem for SAP HANA ;
• HP Converged Infrastructure for Microsoft SQL .

HP ConvergedSystems are assembled and tested at the HP factory, so the deployment process at the customer’s site takes minimal time. Thus, HP ConvergedSystem allows customers to speed up the implementation of virtualization projects and efficiently manage resources, instantly allocating them at the request of users. ConvergedSystem for Virtualization meets tasks of various scales — configurations are available that serve from 24 to more than 1,000 virtual machines (VMs).

The main advantages of HP ConvergedSystem solutions are:
• choice of virtual environment - Microsoft Hyper-V, VMware vSphere;
• using pre-tested solutions for a specific workload;
• full readiness for work immediately after delivery;
• integration with virtual environment management tools;
• use of unified, convergent components;
• included in the solution support in 24x7 mode for three years, as well as installation and integration services with the existing equipment of the customer;
• Support for the entire solution, including third-party software, is provided from HP Support Center

The HP ConvergedSystem for Virtualization for VMware virtualization platform can be supplied in three configurations - CS300 , CS700 , CS700x . The choice of configuration depends on the scale of the virtualization problem being solved - the higher the configuration number, the more powerful hardware is included in the solution and the greater the number of virtual machines the complex can support. Each solution includes an HP 42U server rack with HP Converged System airbrushing.

The HP ConvergedSystem CS300 complex is designed for use in the SMB segment and the initial Enterprise segment, the complex is available for order in two versions: Standard (up to 128 typical virtual machines) and Enterprise (up to 320 virtual machines). The complex in the initial delivery includes 3 server units, a virtual storage system HP Virtual SAN Appliance and network switches HP of different performance, further development is possible by buying up to 5 expansion units (8 server units in the final configuration).
The HP Virtual SAN Appliance is a new component in the HP portfolio that implements the industry's first software-defined storage system . This approach allows using any server with disk resources as a full-fledged data storage system with the functionality of a modern storage system: snapshots, replication, multi-level storage, multi-site fault tolerance, management from a single console. Since November 2013, with any HP DL 360/380, ML and BL server there is a free license for 1TB, for a period of 3 years, so that anyone can try the convenient software-defined storage from HP. Also, you can download a demo license via the link: www.hp.com/go/tryvsa .


The Converged System 300 Standard complex includes the following components:
• DL380p Gen8 server unit (with E5-2640v2 processors, 96GB RAM);
• 12 300GB 15k hard drives on each server;
• HP StoreVirtual VSA storage system;
• HP 2900 series switches;
• HP Insight Control software;
• HP Insight Control Server Module plug-in for vCenter software;
• VMware vSphere Enterprise Plus v5.1U1 and VMware vCenter Standard software.

The Converged System 300 Enterprise complex includes the following components:
• HP ProLiant DL380p Gen8 v2 server unit (with Intel Xeon E5-2680v2 processors, 192GB RAM);
• 16 300GB 15k hard drives on each server;
• HP StoreVirtual VSA storage system;
• HP 5900 series switches;
• HP Insight Control software;
• HP Insight Control Server Module plug-in for vCenter software;
• VMware vSphere Enterprise Plus v5.1U1 and VMware vCenter Standard software.

If Microsoft or VMware licenses are already available at the customer, they can optionally be removed from the delivery of HP ConvergedSystems.
The following releases will announce the Converged System 300 for Microsoft WS2012R2 + Hyper-v, as well as the migration from HP Insight Control to HP OneView .

HP OneView is a new management software for servers, storage systems, and the entire customer infrastructure, replacing HP Insight Control. The advantages of OneView include: a simplified management interface, a simple infrastructure deployment, a quick search for errors.



The HP ConvergedSystem CS700 suite focuses on the Enterprise segment and supports the simultaneous operation of 512 virtual machines in VMware and Microsoft environments (soon). The complex in the initial delivery includes a blade shelf with two FlexFabric modules and 4 HP ProLiant BL460c Gen8 v2 blade servers, an HP 3PAR 7200 storage system with 36 SAS 300GB 15k 15k drives, 3 management servers, and high performance HP network switches. Further increase in performance is possible by purchasing up to 3 expansion units, each consisting of 4 blade servers and 36 SAS 300GB 15k disks (16 HP ProLiant BL460c Gen8 v2 server blocks and 144 SAS 300GB 15k disks in the final configuration).

The HP ConvergedSystem CS700 includes the following components:
• HP BladeSystem c7000 Blade Chassis ;
• 4-16 HP ProLiant BL460c Gen8 v2 servers (with Intel Xeon E5-2670v2 processors, 256GB RAM);
• 3 HP ProLiant DL360p Gen8 v2 servers (management station), are in primary delivery;
• storage system HP 3PAR 7200, 2 active / active controller;
• 3PAR software included: advanced reporting, thin volume software, software for snapshots, software compatible with VMware images, Virtual Service Processor;
• HP 5900 Series Switches;
• FlatSAN connection modules (without SAN switches) HP Virtual Connect FlexFabric;
• HP Insight Control for vCenter software, optionally available for purchase of Matrix Operation Environment orchestration software;
• VMware vSphere Enterprise + and VMware vCenter Standard software.

The HP ConvergedSystem CS700x is designed for use in large corporations and service providers and supports simultaneous operation of up to several thousand virtual machines in a VMware or Microsoft environment (soon). A distinctive feature of the HP ConvergedSystem 700x is its high flexibility: you can order blade systems (from 4 to 64 blade servers) with flexible configurations of CPU and RAM and storage systems of various scalability (from 36 to 1440 disks of various types).
The CS700 has implemented an interesting approach to connecting local blade servers to the storage system — HP FlatSAN , which allows you to simplify SAN configuration, reduce infrastructure costs, and reduce delays in storage communication with servers.


HP ConvergedSystem CS700x includes the following components:
• 1-4 HP BladeSystem c7000 Blade Chassis;
• 4-64 HP ProLiant BL460c Gen8 v2 servers (with Intel Xeon E5-2670v2 processors, 256GB RAM);
• 2-6 HP ProLiant DL360p Gen8 v2 servers (management station);
• HP 3PAR storage system to choose from 7200/7400/10400/10800 with various types of disks;
• 3PAR software included: you can order any 3PAR licenses.
• HP 5900 Series Switches;
• HP SAN 6000B switches for large installations;
• HP Virtual Connect FlexFabric connection modules that work with FC / FCoE / Ethernet traffic;
• HP Insight Control for vCenter software, optionally available for purchase of Matrix Operation Environment orchestration software;
• VMware vSphere Enterprise + and VMware vCenter Standard software.

Any HP ConvergedSystem platform can be supplemented with the necessary components to create an HP CloudSystem complex on its base and quickly transition from simple virtual environments to the cloud model of IT infrastructure organization.

	HP ConvergedSystems 700 / 700x	HP ConvergedSystems 300 (Standard)	HP ConvergedSystems 300 (Performance)
Architecture	VMware virtualization, (Microsoft Plan), 4-16 blade servers in the C7000 chassis (CS700), 4-64 blade servers in the C7000 chassis (CS700x), 36-144 disks in 3PAR 7200 (CS700), 36-1440 disks in 3PAR 7200/7400/10400/10800 (CS700x), 5900 Series Switches, VMware ESXi, Integrated Control Insight Control for VMware	3x DL380p 25SFF, 2xE5-2640, 96GB RAM, 12x 300 GB SAS drives, HP Virtual SAN Appliance storage, 2920 Series Switches, VMware ESXi, Integrated Insight Control for VMware Management	3x DL380p 25SFF, 2xE5-2680, 192GB RAM, 16x 300 GB SAS drives per server, HP Virtual SAN Appliance storage, Switches 5900AF-48G, Series, VMware ESXi, Integrated Insight Control for VMware Management
Application segments and benefits	Small to Medium Enterprise (CS700) to large corporations and service providers (CS700x): Initial virtualization or expansion of the current infrastructure; Turnkey solution with easy scaling Easy management and integration into the current infrastructure	SMB segment and initial Enterprise segment Remote office / branch Turnkey solution with easy scaling Price-quality ratio.
Scalability	128-1000 +, general purpose virtual machines	24- 128 virtual machines	30 - 320 virtual cars

What approach was used to estimate the number of virtual machines? For each physical core, it is supposed to use 1-2 virtual machines with a disk subsystem performance of about 30-50 IOPS 60/40 r / w @ 20ms each.
The FlexFabric network of each blade server (20Gb) is divided into 4 subnets, using HP best practices:
• 4Gb vMotion and FT traffic, and within one basket, vMotion traffic does not use external switches, but uses the internal fast bus of the blade basket;
• 1Gb Management;
• 7Gb Production VM;
• 8Gb FCoE.

The HP ConvergedSystem 100 for Hosted Desktops uses the HP Moonshot, a new hyper-scalable server architecture, as the hardware basis. In particular, the model was based on server cartridges with on-chip server-on-board systems — up to 4 AMD chips per cartridge, up to 180 cartridges per 4.3U chassis.

Each system has the full capabilities for computing, graphics and data storage and is a replacement for a working computer demanding user performance. The solution architecture allows you to save up to 44% on the total cost of ownership and up to 63% on electricity, as well as to deploy workplaces 90 times faster (compared to using desktop computers). The principle of providing resources is HDI (Hosted Desktop Infrastructure), which means that each user will be allocated his own AMD chip on a cartridge. The speed of access to a remote desktop on average is 6 times higher than when using desktop virtualization (VDI).
Configuring and deploying the HP ConvergedSystem 100 is very simple and fast — the number of PC-on-chip is similar to the number of users, installation of hypervisors and SAN configuration is not required. The software foundation of the system is Citrix XenDesktop.

And how it will look through the eyes of the end user (note the smooth scrolling of the text and the graphics work):