Hewlett-Packard has refreshed its portfolio of midrange and flash-optimized HP 3PAR StoreServ systems, a mainstay of the company’s storage line. The company made the announcement Dec. 2 at its annual Barcelona partner/customer conference.
Thanks to the HP 3PAR File Persona software, the new systems can handle all block, file and object storage in the HP 3PAR StoreServ 7440c Converged Flash Array, which provides a hybrid storage environment with encryption as needed. It also provides flat backup and protection of 3PAR StoreServ snapshots to StoreOnce Backup, fully orchestrated through HP OneView for VMware vCenter Server.
All block, file and object-access management is integrated within a new 3PAR StoreServ Management Console, which simplifies administration via a search-enabled dashboard and the HP OneView console.
Additional benefits for shared workloads include lower expenses through consolidation of home directories, file shares and cloud applications coexisting alongside virtual servers, databases and other workloads; greater performance from access to all-flash at the same cost per usable GB as disk drives; and reduced risk with Tier-1 data services, such as replication across synchronous, asynchronous and multisite configurations.
While HP as a corporation has experienced a leveling-off in profitability, the storage division has had a good year. During the 12 months ending June 30, 2014, HP grew external storage systems revenue faster year over year than any of the other top five vendors, according to industry researcher IDC.
HP also gained the highest market share during the same 12 months within the worldwide external midrange storage market and was the top provider of midrange storage area network arrays in the EMEA region.
Overall, HP saw whopping 600 percent year-over-year growth in its all-flash sales offerings.