HP's Extreme Scale Out Computing: Vendor innovation on a commoditized scale

HP's introduction of the HP ExSO is a study in vendor innovation in x86-based server scale out. It allows businesses to scale their data centers, while lowering costs and being able to deploy systems quicker and more efficiently.

The ExSO portfolio uses the new ProLiant SL Extreme Scale-Out server family to build modular architecture that will allow users to reduce their power consumption in their data centers.

The servers available in the SL6000 family include:

• The HP ProLiant SL2x170z G6 Server, which has two servers per 1U tray.

• The ProLiant SL170z G6 Server, which has as many as six Serial ATA or Serial Attached SCSI hard drives.

• The HP ProLiant SL160z G6 Server, which has expansion capabilities and as many as 18 DIMM slots and two PCIe slots.

The servers are managed from the ExSO center and also include the HP Data Center Environmental Edge, which lets users create an energy-aware grid from the computer room air conditioners to the server rack and ceiling. The Edge uses wireless sensors to establish a consistent energy level.

With ExSO, HP also provides services to help users deploy server networks and can deliver the ExSO in a Performance-Optimized Data Center – the pod data center that is wheeled into a customer's location.

According to HP's claims, the new G6 servers use 28% less power than other rack-mounted servers. The SL160z is intended for use in memory and I/O intensive environments, while the SL170z is primarily a storage system built on the ProLiant architecture.

Introduced last month, the ExSO is intended for Web 2.0, cloud and high-performance computing environments. The ProLiant servers used in ExSO are 'skinless' meaning they use an architecture that replaces the traditional chassis and rack form factors with a lightweight rail and tray design that allows for energy savings and acquisition costs.

HP's ExSO truly represents the advantages of commoditization of x86 servers. For service providers or others who want to deploy literally thousands of servers and save on energy consumption, the ExSO is really the way to go.