Insight Dynamics updated with virtualisation features

New virtualisation software in HP's Adaptive Infrastructure portfolio aims to reduce IT costs by simplifying physical and virtual server management.

The new software and features are add-ons to Insight Dynamics -- Virtual Server Environment (VSE), which manages both physical and virtual resources within data centres. In addition to easing server management burdens, HP says that its new features can also reduce IT costs.

HP's new features for Adaptive Infrastructure

The new Insight Orchestration option for Insight Dynamics --VSE gives IT design templates that specify the infrastructure required to run different applications on servers, storage and networks.

With the software, physical and virtual resources can be automatically assigned and configured based on templates' specifications. Insight Orchestration includes a self-service portal and workflow engine that all data centre departments can use.

This software option is available now on HP ProLiant servers and will be available on HP Integrity servers later in 2009.

Also new is Insight Recovery software for Insight Dynamics – VSE, which restarts applications running on physical and virtual servers at a disaster recovery site from a remote site.

Insight Recovery is integrated with HP StorageWorks Enterprise Virtual Array-based products running Continuous Access data-replication software with HP ProLiant servers.

Designed to ease server consolidation projects by saving time on manual data collection and analysis, HP Insight Dynamics – VSE has been updated as well. HP added the ability to automatically collect and analyse server utilisation data from Dell, IBM and other Windows-based x86 servers.

HP added the feature not to help heterogeneous data centres improve server utilisation rates on non-HP servers, but rather to encourage data centres to migrate from competitive systems onto HP BladeSystem and ProLiant servers. HP assumes its servers offer better utilisation rates than the competition.

Now HP Insight Dynamics – VSE also supports Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, VMware ESXi, VMware ESX and HP Integrity virtual machines.

New options for HP VSE for Integrity servers include online migration for HP Integrity Virtual Machines and the ability to move additional workloads onto physical Integrity blade servers with drag-and-drop ease.

Reduced ROI

HP says the new products will reduce IT costs– but these add-ons aren't exactly cheap. The return on investment – in terms of man-hours saved with automation and streamlining systems for better efficiency – makes the software a smart investment though, according to HP's Mark Linesch, VP of marketing, Insight Software, enterprise storage and servers.