Oracle Gives HP Blade Matrix Servers a Boost

Under terms of the deal, the two companies will optimize Oracle software for delivery on HP’s BladeSystem Matrix integrated servers. Those servers integrate server, switch and storage technologies under a common management framework based on HP’s Insight software.

Although Oracle is expected to eventually build its own set of integrated servers following the merger with Sun, the alliance with Oracle is a boost for HP as it tries to fend off competition in this new server category from Cisco Systems and Intelicloud.

Cisco and Intelicloud have been arguing that the need to reduce the total cost of computing in the enterprise requires a new approach to server design. Dell, IBM and Sun, thus far, have argued that in these troubling economic times, the better part of valor is to deliver integrated software frameworks that accomplish the same basic goals without requiring customers to adopt an entirely new server architecture. HP, meanwhile, is trying to give customers both options in the form of BladeSystem Matrix servers or opting to deploy its existing suite of Insight management software separately.

Either approach to what industry analysts refer to as data center convergence will eventually create some management challenges for IT organizations as it becomes easier for IT staff to control a larger set of IT functions that once required dedicated specialists. IT organizations, in theory, could opt to eliminate the need for some IT infrastructure specialists in favor of redeploying those resources elsewhere, or simply benefit from increased cooperating across server, storage and networking disciplines.

HP, meanwhile, sees the Oracle alliance as a testament to its advantages over the Cisco Unified Computing System and Intelicloud approaches. HP officials argue that the BladeSystem Matrix system is more tightly integrated in terms of network, storage and server integration, and that the company has developed a unique advantage by working with software vendors such as Oracle to optimize their software offerings for the HP BladeSystem Matrix system.