HP Expands BladeSystem Portfolio with Integrity Blade for Large Data Center Workloads

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
HP (NYSE:HPQ) has expanded the HP BladeSystem portfolio with an
Integrity blade designed to handle memory-intensive data center
workloads while helping businesses lower cost, save energy and space,
and decrease deployment time.

As the company's first four-socket Integrity server blade, the HP
Integrity BL870c combines the modular infrastructure and energy
efficiency of HP BladeSystem with the business-critical capabilities
of Integrity servers.

The new server can help businesses of all sizes realize power
savings of up to 25 percent. Space requirements also are reduced
because 2.5 times as many BL870c server blades fit into the same space
as a comparable rackmount configuration.(1)

To help take the guesswork out of building an Integrity blade
solution, HP also has created Solution Blocks for its Integrity
servers. These HP-tested configurations allow customers and resellers
to quickly deploy business-critical applications on the HP
BladeSystem.

"The BL870c expands the BladeSystem portfolio into the heart of
the business-critical market, combining the benefits of blades around
cost, time, change and energy, with the proven scalability and
availability of Integrity systems," said Mark Potter, vice president,
BladeSystem, HP. "With this server, we now address the broadest
spectrum of workloads with a blade infrastructure in the industry. Our
commitment to innovation is unmatched and we'll continue our 'blade
everything' strategy where it helps customers align their technology
with the needs of their business."

Business-critical computing advantages

The HP Integrity BL870c addresses more application workload
demands by expanding the Integrity server blade portfolio for the HP
BladeSystem c3000 and c7000 enclosures. The addition of the BL870c to
the HP BladeSystem family will allow businesses to deploy and manage
Integrity or ProLiant servers in a single blade enclosure with a set
of common management tools.

The BL870c builds on the strength of HP's first c-Class Integrity
blade, the BL860c, by offering twice the processing power and twice
the memory capacity. It provides the choice of Microsoft Windows(R),
HP-UX 11i v2, HP-UX 11i v3, OpenVMS, RedHat or SuSE operating systems.
Its large memory capacity makes the BL870c well-suited for
high-performance computing applications. With the BL870c, businesses
requiring the highest levels of availability and greater scalability
can better streamline operational expenses to drive business growth.

Open Systems Technologies, an HP Platinum Certified solutions
provider and systems integrator based in Grand Rapids, Mich., has
successfully helped many organizations move business-critical
applications to an HP bladed environment.

"Many of our customers are looking for a high-performing UNIX
server that also offers space and energy efficiency, as well as ease
of management. Integrity blades are an ideal solution," said Jim
VanderMey, vice president, Technical Operations, Open Systems
Technologies. "As products become denser and blade enclosures become
pervasive, I foresee that a majority of the entry to the mid-tier UNIX
servers will be based on blade technology. Organizations with certain
business-critical applications will be able to take advantage of a
bladed infrastructure with the new BL870c."

HP Solution Blocks simplify deployment

HP Solution Blocks for Integrity server blades simplify the
deployment of enterprise applications and optimize the use of the HP
BladeSystem enclosure to save time and money. Each Solution Block
includes combinations of Integrity blades, application software, HP
storage and interconnect technology -- all HP-approved based on best
practices or testing.

Initial Solution Blocks available for Integrity blades include
enterprise resource planning (ERP), service-oriented architecture
(SOA), application integration and product data management.

The Oracle(R) PeopleSoft Solution Block for PeopleSoft Enterprise
9.0 is one example. With this Solution Block, businesses have the
option of configurations for basic, medium and high availability. They
include combinations of Integrity BL860c, BL870c and ProLiant BL460c
server blades, and a range of storage options. Using a
high-performance, highly reliable and modular infrastructure, HP helps
Oracle customers build long-term IT strategies that can dynamically
change as the business environment evolves.

"The Oracle PeopleSoft Solution Block makes it easy for our
customers to get their IT systems up and running quickly so they can
focus on the most important aspect of their business -- driving
growth," said Doris Wong, group vice president, PeopleSoft Enterprise
at Oracle. "This is the latest way in which HP and Oracle are teaming
to address today's business challenges by enabling the synchronization
of infrastructure, applications, services and business processes to
help companies be successful."

Availability and pricing

The HP Integrity BL870c server blade and Solution Blocks for
Integrity server blades are currently available. Pricing for the
BL870c starts at just under $8,000.(2) Pricing for the Solution Blocks
for Integrity server blades is available through HP and its channel
partners, and varies based on the configuration.

More information about HP Solution Blocks for Integrity blades is
available at www.hp.com/go/solutionblocks, while more information
about the HP Integrity blade portfolio is available at
www.hp.com/go/integrityblade.

About HP

HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its
customers -- from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With
a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software,
services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world's largest IT
companies, with revenue totaling $104.3 billion for the four fiscal
quarters ended Oct. 31, 2007. More information about HP is available
at www.hp.com.

Note to editors: More news from HP, including links to RSS feeds,
is available at www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/.

(1) Based on internal HP testing compared to standard rack
servers.

(2) Estimated U.S. street prices. Actual prices may vary.

Windows is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. Oracle
is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve
risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties
materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and
its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and
assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact
are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements,
including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and
objectives of management for future operations; any statements
concerning expected development, performance or market share relating
to products and services; anticipated operational and financial
results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements
of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties
and assumptions include the execution and performance of contracts by
HP and its customers, suppliers and partners; the achievement of
expected results; and other risks that are described in HP's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited
to HP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Oct. 31,
2007. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these
forward-looking statements.

(C) 2008 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information
contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only
warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express
warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing
herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP
shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions
contained herein.

Hewlett-Packard Company
Judy Erkanat, +1-408-447-4023
judy.erkanat@hp.com
HP Media Hotline, +1-866-266-7272
pr@hp.com
www.hp.com/go/newsroom
or
Burson-Marsteller for HP
Emily Dunlop, +1-415-591-4011
emily.dunlop@bm.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008