Windows Server 2003 on HP ProLiant Servers : Introduction to ProLiant Servers (part 1)

A Brief Look at ProLiant History

When someone mentions the history of Industry Standard Servers, it inevitably includes ProLiant Servers and Windows. These are two distinguished brands whose stories are prominently woven throughout the Industry Standard Server revolution along with many great American technology companies. As the industry has evolved, the corporate landscape has changed dramatically, and so has the Industry Standard Server marketplace. One thing an analysis of its history proves is that producing great technology has not guaranteed success. It takes more than great technology to survive. The ability to adapt and change to meet the needs of the market is essential to survival, not only for technology vendors, but also for any business. In this rapidly changing industry, ProLiant and Windows have not only adapted, but also have driven the industry forward, exceeding the expectations of business with their capability to increase productivity through technological innovation.

The legendary heritage of ProLiant servers began in September, 1993, when Compaq announced the ProLiant 1000 as the first of a new brand of computer that would soon become a leader within the emerging Industry Standard Server category. At the time, many thought of x86 servers as toys that offered no real challenge to the big iron of the day, but history tells a different story. The Industry Standard Server category grew at an amazing rate. In just two years, Compaq grew to achieve the number one worldwide PC market share position and became the fifth largest computer company in the world.

ProLiant servers became a benchmark for quality and innovation as sales grew at record rates. The ProLiant 1000 was built upon the EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture) bus architecture with eight EISA bus-master expansion slots and one management modem slot. The system board had an integrated Fast-SCSI-2 controller and an integrated SVGA (Super Video Graphics Array) video controller. It shipped with 16MB of RAM, expandable to 144MB on Pentium models using industry-standard SIMMs (Single Inline Memory Modules). The system included a preinstalled Ethernet controller and CD-ROM drive.

With its first ProLiant, Compaq would lead with new and effective technology. Compaq and another industry-standard leader, Hewlett-Packard, pioneered the 32-bit EISA bus architecture as an improved solution to ISA and IBM's proprietary Micro Channel Architecture.

After collaborating with HP, Compaq continued to drive the Industry Standard Server category with industry partnerships championing standards and the development of new technologies for ProLiant.

The History of Innovation on ProLiant Servers

Innovation of new features and technologies are a hallmark of ProLiant. Maintaining continuity across the platform is also a mainstay of the platform that has simplified integration as technology moves forward, making upgrades and transitions easier year after year. This commitment to innovation is shown in this historical retrospective:

• 1993: SMP (Symmetrical Multiprocessor) architecture, offline backup processor with automated recovery, 2MB Transaction Blaster, Fast Wide SCSI, Advanced Error Checking & Correcting memory, SMART array controller, and Hot Plug drives.

• 1994: PCI bus architecture, integrated Ethernet controller, integrated 1024 x 768 video, and Insight Manager.

• 1995: Integrated 32-bit Ethernet controller, standby recovery server, and online recovery server

• 1996: Pentium Pro four-processor capability, second generation SMART-2 array controller, integrated dual peer PCI bus architecture, redundant 10/100 Ethernet Network Interface Controller technology, redundant processor power modules, 4GB of memory, Error Checking & Correcting memory data bus and L2 cache, Automatic Server Recovery-2, Fast Wide SCSI 2, server health log, and Remote Insight board.

• 1997: Hot Plug PCI, 64-bit PCI, redundant Hot Plug power supplies, redundant Hot Plug system fans, redundant cableless SMART 3100ES array controller, integrated dual-channel Wide Ultra SCSI-3, gigabit upgradeable Network Interface Controller, first 3U (U=1.75 inches) low-profile space-saving rack server, and small business tailored servers.

• 1998: 100MHz GTL (Gunning Transistor Logic) bus architecture, Fibre Channel Array Storage, Ultra2 LVD (Low Voltage Differential) SCSI, 100MHz FSB, and 3U rack server optimized for ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and corporate data centers the ProLiant 1850R.

• 1999: Profusion architecture introduced for eight-way ProLiant servers, integrated array controller, simplified package cluster systems, and Task-Smart appliance caching servers.

• 2000: 1U rack mount server with 133MHz front-side bus, dual integrated 10/100 Wake On LAN Network Interface Controller, 72.8GB drives, Ultra3 SCSI, and simplified ProLiant product line ML and DL servers.

• 2001: PCI-X, online spare redundant memory, Hot Plug tape drives, intelligent SCSI backplane, Integrated ATA RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks), Advanced Data Guarding RAID, and Itaniaum 64-bit development server.

• 2002: Hot Plug mirrored and Hot Plug RAID memory, blade servers, iLO (integrated Lights-Out) management processor, and integrated dual gigabit over copper Network Interface Controllers.

• 2003: Two-processor and four-processor blade servers, 4U ultra-dense eight-way DL560 server, 2U ultra-dense four-way DL560 server, SMART array sixth generation controllers, Ultra320 SCSI, DDR RAM, 533MHz front-side bus, and CD-RW/DVD-ROM

• 2004 and beyond: X-86 64-bit extensions extend the memory space of the X-86 platform beyond the 4GB memory limit with AMD Opteron and Intel EM64T Xeon processors, processor cache size reaches 4MB, and advanced blade servers enable space optimization and accelerate the rate and ease of adaptability, which simplifies deployment and allows businesses to become more agile.

Along with technological innovation and updated feature sets, one of the outstanding attributes of innovation in the ProLiant platform has been the continuity of operations across the platform and ease of transition to new or updated features. SmartStart has been a standard since the first ProLiant, and although new features have been added over the years, the basic look and feel of operation and functionality are the same for each model of ProLiant server. This continuity of operation exists with SMART array controllers, Hot Plug drives, and other server functionality that simplifies operations across the ProLiant line and shortens the learning curve when IT staff transition to the new generations of ProLiants as technology is refreshed. This allows personnel more time to focus on business operations.

HP, Compaq, and the Evolving IT Industry

Throughout ProLiant history, many things have changed. Perhaps one of the most significant changes in recent history has been the HP/Compaq merger. As the ProLiant nameplate passed from Compaq to HP, two great heritages joined forces to continue the vision of the Industry Standard Server and the ProLiant name. As the new HP emerged, so did a new ProLiant team, founded upon decades of experience focused on the best total customer experience and innovation driven by customer demand. Tasked to create the building blocks for an adaptive enterprise, the ProLiant team continues working to push modularity, simplicity, adaptability, and automation forward.

The ProLiant and Windows Partnership

HP and Microsoft continue a long relationship as partners in innovation in the industry standard marketplace moving the Windows and ProLiant server platforms forward. Their partnership has provided continued growth in industry-standard technologies that are driving down cost and increasing overall performance, reliability, and fault tolerance while simplifying management and operations. The benefits of the relationship are obvious as both the Windows and ProLiant server platforms continue to lead the marketplace by providing “bottom line” proof of customer confidence in both platforms.

HP and Microsoft Eat Their Own Cooking

ProLiant and Windows go together like soup and a sandwich. For years, Microsoft Windows Server and HP ProLiant servers have been the platform of choice for many for very good reasons. Microsoft and HP continue driving optimization and productivity forward with their partnership. Windows Server 2003 on ProLiant servers provides a strong combination of features to accelerate innovation, adaptability, and business productivity. Their commitment is demonstrated with both HP and Microsoft using Windows Server technology and ProLiant servers as the primary server and OS in the infrastructure at each company. The integration of both platforms within each company spans their global networks and infrastructure, creating an incredible proof-of-concept environment for the two platforms. Their enterprisewide integration with Windows Server 2003 and ProLiant servers demonstrates a clear and compelling message about the commitment at Microsoft and HP for the two platforms. It also provides undocumented intangible benefits for Windows Server and ProLiant customers.

Each company's commitment to quality assurance and maintenance of each platform is realized in-house. It should also help customers sleep better at night knowing HP and Microsoft are deeply invested in their own products at home.

Customer Case Studies

Giving customers the tools and technology to simplify IT operations while increasing productivity drives their success and has kept customers coming back to Windows Server and ProLiant. The customers' need is the most important aspect of building the Windows and ProLiant tradition. Not all innovations take off to proliferate. Customers tell you what they want, and you work to deliver. The reward is when customers share their success. Their success stories are a tribute to Windows Server 2003 and ProLiant servers. Both Microsoft and HP provide success stories from their customers, which may be reviewed at their Web sites. Customer case studies from HP and Microsoft customers are used as a reference to illustrate how Windows Server 2003 on ProLiant has been a preferred solution. When planning or considering the transition, it can be helpful to read the cases including the details of the business problem and benefits the solutions delivered.

case study: The HP and Compaq Merger

It makes sense after touting the HP and Microsoft relationship, to provide some insight into HP's implementation of Windows Server 2003 on ProLiant servers and how it has provided a robust solution to challenges faced in merging HP and Compaq.

The HP and Compaq case presented the challenge of combining the IT organizations and infrastructure for one of the largest corporate mergers on record. The merger not only presented a huge challenge, but also an opportunity to gain valuable experience in planning and managing such a large integration. In reviewing case study details, we see the challenge and benefits ProLiant and Windows Server 2003 provided.

Business Challenge

Although the newly merged HP-Compaq company hit the ground running in terms of product roadmaps and organizational structure, the integration of the two corporate entities would take time. One of the first objectives for the newly combined company was to forge a common IT infrastructure and directory architecture, which would help unite the two IT giants. With a combined workforce of more than 140,000 in 160 countries, this internal integration was a huge, but essential, challenge the companies needed to meet quickly and efficiently. HP and Compaq each brought multiple operating environments and divisions to the merger. Fortunately, both companies had a lot of experience in mergers and divestitures with the Digital/Compaq merger and HP/Agilant divestiture, which management leveraged when planning the IT infrastructure integration.

The newly merged HP achieved early momentum at the IT level by developing a common directory services architecture based on AD and Windows 2000. As a strategic partner with Microsoft for more than 20 years, HP always participates in new product development and testing with the software leader. HP joined the Joint Development Program (JDP) for Windows Server 2003 to help test and guide development of the critical new environment. Through its JDP involvement, the HP team realized early that Windows Server 2003 offered many benefits that would help unify and streamline their newly combined company. These benefits included improved security, easier collaboration, faster server deployment, and vastly improved AD services. The fact that Microsoft developed the Windows 2003 operating system (OS) on the HP ProLiant platform made migration even easier than expected.

“The Microsoft Windows Server 2003 platform offers many improvements over Windows 2000,” says Wook Lee, design engineer with HP's Managed Services organization. “We already had a significant Windows 2000 environment, which we needed to expand to accommodate the new corporation. The scalability improvements offered by Windows Server 2003 gave us a compelling reason to migrate our environment.”

By April 2003, all HP servers running AD worldwide, including GC and DCs, were migrated to Windows Server 2003.

Benefits

By adopting the Windows Server 2003 OS early through JDP participation and an aggressive test-and-implementation process, HP met many of its internal integration goals, plus gained valuable experience that the company can now use to help its customers migrate to the new environment. “We made it a top priority to get involved early to help Microsoft refine Windows Server 2003 for our customers, and for ourselves,” notes Bert Quarfordt, HP Manager of Core Computing Solutions. “We needed to test it, break it, fix it, and generally make sure the new operating environment was ready for the real world. We had to be in a position to not only use it ourselves, but to help our customers integrate it and benefit from it.”

According to Quarfordt and others at HP, the new Windows Server 2003 offers major improvements in the areas of security, scalability, and manageability. “We are very pleased with the new Microsoft operating system so far,” says Quarfordt. “We have essentially built HP on the Windows Server 2003 and HP ProLiant platform. The improvements in AD have been dramatic. Our new directory infrastructure is far more secure, scalable, and flexible than ever before. We can accommodate changes more easily, which is essential in managing a global enterprise such as HP where changes are frequent.”

In summary, the benefits are highlighted below with the bulleted points with short descriptions and comments by HP design and implementation team members.

• Improved performance: At almost every level, Windows Server 2003 is faster than its predecessor, particularly in the area of AD support.

• Better manageability: AD allows easier schema changes to accommodate changes in organizational structure. “We can easily rename domains, create links among Active Directory forests, and support multiple company and division names.”

• Enhanced security: “We are better able to parcel our permissions and control access, particularly in Active Directory where that's critical,” Lee explains. Windows Server 2003 also makes it easier to encrypt sensitive data and enforce software restrictions to help prevent damage from viruses and other malicious code.

• Faster deployment and integration: New infrastructure components, such as servers, storage, and network hardware, are easier and faster to implement under Windows Server 2003 than ever before. “Changes that used to take an entire weekend or several days to make on a global basis now take just a few hours.” That's huge.

Microsoft's Systems Architecture

Planning and implementing IT solutions and infrastructure capable of leveraging the power of the internet is a complex process. Knowing where to begin and how to plan and build it is a huge and challenging process for even the experienced IT planners and managers. A good place to start is the Microsoft Systems Architecture Internet Data Center (MSA IDC), hereafter referred to as IDC. Microsoft makes this comprehensive documentation set available at its Web site. Because this is a modular architecture, aspects of the documentation set can be used as required. The IDC is a solution that covers how to envision, assess, plan, build, deploy, operate, and support a secure, highly available, scalable, and manageable configuration by best utilizing Microsoft and partner technologies. It enables an organization to fully realize the benefits of an Internet-facing infrastructure in a cost-effective manner.

The architecture is based on industry best practices created in coordination with product vendors, Microsoft product teams, leading consulting organizations, and customer feedback.

The IDC architecture consists of the following components:

• Microsoft platform technologies

• Hardware network devices, servers, and storage devices

• Partner management software

The IDC architecture provides guidance on how to create this infrastructure at a reference level by using a functional definition of hardware devices, as well as at a prescriptive level, where the design incorporates specific partner products.

The major benefits that an organization achieves by using the IDC blueprint for building an Internet Data Center are:

• Security, scalability, availability, and manageability

• Integration: All Microsoft and vendor components are known to work together

• Standardization: A common architecture exists across operation, development, support, and vendors

• Reduction of risk

• Known cost and time to build and deploy

• Reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

• A blueprint for change increasing agility

• Customization to an organization's needs

• Modularity: Only needed components may be implemented