HP merges management software lines

Hewlett-Packard is merging several management tools into a single product code-named Nimbus--a move that could boost its utility computing effort as well as a strategy that relies on Intel's Itanium processor. Nimbus will present a unified way for administrators to control systems that run Windows, Linux or HP's version of Unix, called HP-UX, according to HP presentations CNET News.com has seen. The software, due to arrive by the end of 2003, includes components taken from both HP and Compaq Computer, which HP acquired in 2002.

Managing multiple operating systems is important for HP, because its Itanium servers can simultaneously run Windows, Linux and HP-UX, which means that the company doesn't have to design as many different types of computers. And glossing over the differences between the systems could make it easier to overlay the more sophisticated management software of HP's utility computing plan, called Adaptive Enterprise. Indeed, Nimbus likely will be featured Tuesday when Peter Blackmore, executive vice president of HP's enterprise systems group, talks about developments with the Adaptive Management component of its broader vision.

Eliminating the management headaches of dealing with different operating systems gets HP closer to "something that actually benefits customers as opposed to HP's development costs," said Gordon Haff, an analyst at Illuminata. HP has high hopes for Nimbus as a way to reduce one of the biggest costs customers face today: managing servers and migrating from one server design to another. Migration costs are a big concern for HP as it tries to steer Unix customers with servers based on HP's PA-RISC processor to the new HP Itanium-based Integrity line.

View: The full story