Hewlett-Packard is buying RLX Technologies, a pioneer in the blade server field that in December of last year shed its hardware business to focus on its Control Tower management software. HP plans to merge that software with its own HP Systems Insight Manager suite.
The deal is expected to close within 30 days. No financial details were disclosed. The acquisition is the latest by HP as it tries to bolster its software business. It recently bought Peregrine Systems and AppIQ.
Control Tower, which was built with open-source software, is particularly good for Linux environments, HP said.
RLX is credited with rolling out the first blade server in 2000, but the economic downturn and its decision to use chips from Transmeta conspired against the company.