HP/3Com - When networks and servers combine

Like with most sectors, the servers market wasn’t spared during the financial crisis of 2008-2009, leading to drastic reductions in company spending.

HP, in the world’s Top 3 server manufacturers (and global leader during the first half of 2010 in both volume and value according to Gartner), like others saw reduced activity during this period, while also witnessing the arrival of new players with global economic models, offering more than sales of servers and applications, but also network components.

Companies also started to become increasingly interested in server virtualisation during the financial crisis, hoping that this would help reduce costs. Rather than developing their own infrastructure, which is expensive and requires in-depth research and development, numerous companies instead turned to expert service providers in this field who were able to offer return on capital and systems that could be quickly adapted to their infrastructure and immediate needs.

To seduce clients in this context, nothing was more attractive than "end to end" solutions which could be provided ready to go, with all management to be handled by the providing company leaving enterprise to decide on which resources are necessary to them.

3Com, the missing piece to HP’s Converged Infrastructure
While HP already mastered the aspect of servers and virtualisation, they were missing network management. The acquisition of 3Com has provided this piece, allowing the group to present in April 2010 a new HP Networking offer which brings together the "best of HP ProCurve and 3Com products", detailed within the vast HP Converged Infrastructure strategy which is aiming to delete dedicated server equipment in favour of virtualised resources.

With their HP Networking offer, the company is promising to optimise infrastructure by eliminating redundant equipment by combining cabled and wireless equipment, allowing for the creation of a highly adaptable networks with end to end security (through the TippingPoint solutions, also developed by 3Com), while being adaptable so as to meet the needs of small companies and international groups.

This management will allow for finer control of resources and less complicated administration thanks to its unique console allowing all operations: configuration, deployment, supervision, security policy application and task automation.