HP introduced an easy-to-manage virtual storage disk array designed specifically for midsize customers who need to reduce the costs and complexity of implementing a storage-area network (SAN).

The HP StorageWorks 4400 Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA4400) offers a combination of high-performance and availability features, virtualisation capabilities and advanced provisioning software that makes it ideal for midsize businesses that want to cost-effectively manage large amounts of data in a SAN environment without investing in deep storage experience.

To validate how much better the user experience is for customers and partners using the EVA4400, HP held a challenge of array products comparing the EVA4400 and EMC’s competing storage array.

The EVA4400 has key virtualisation features previously available only on high-end arrays, but now at a price designed for midsize businesses. Specifically, the EVA4400 features a dual-redundant hardware architecture that supports local and remote replication software.

Storage provisioning also is available with HP StorageWorks EVA Dynamic Capacity Management (DCM) software to help efficiently manage resources and improve overall productivity.

Integration made easy for customers and channel partners

The benefits of a complete virtualised storage and server environment can add to a company’s bottom line by using technology more efficiently. Ideal for use with HP BladeSystem, HP ProLiant and HP Integrity servers, the EVA4400 provides customers a complete solution in which storage and servers are managed together. Integrated management tools make the infrastructure easier to manage and faster to deploy and decrease overall management costs.

Solution Blocks also are available with the EVA4400 and include pre-tested “blueprint” solutions that combine the right server, storage and application components to reduce time and effort by both customers and channel partners. The Solution Blocks simplify the integration of the most popular midsize business applications, including Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne, Oracle E-Business Suite, VMware ESX Server and HP PolyServe Scalable NAS.

New Simple SAN Connection

HP also announced today the HP StorageWorks 8Gb Simple SAN Connection portfolio for new SAN customers. It offers the latest in Fibre Channel (FC) technology for the EVA4400 at the same price as 4Gb FC.