HP Adds Model 4400 to EVA Line

HP introduced a virtual storage disk
array designed specifically for midsize customers who need to
reduce the costs and complexity of implementing a storage-area network
(SAN).

 
The HP StorageWorks 4400
Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA4400) offers a combination of
high-performance and availability features, virtualization capabilities
and advanced provisioning software that makes it ideal for mid-size
businesses that want to cost-effectively manage large amounts of data in
a SAN environment without investing in deep storage experience.

Third-party testing has shown that IT managers spend up to 75 percent
less time managing the EVA due to its superior ease of use when compared
to competing arrays from EMC and NetApp.
Mid-size customers who adopt server virtualization can further reduce
their storage costs and simplify consolidation by using the EVA4400.

To validate how much better the user experience is for customers and
partners using the EVA4400, HP held a challenge of array products
comparing the EVA4400 and EMC’s competing
storage array.(2)

“After working with both the EVA4400 and EMC
products, I would definitely choose the EVA,”
said Buzz Kaaz, director of IT at Georgia-based Pattillo Construction,
the largest private industrial developer in the southeastern United
States. “The interface was easy enough to use
that I could do it myself and save the cost of hiring a consultant. With
limited resources, Pattillo is forced to make every technology decision
align with our business needs. The EVA aids this as a result of its
unique virtualization capabilities, which eliminate management
complexities. It allows us to aggregate and automate array tasks so we
can manage more storage capacity with fewer people.”

In a recent survey of current and planned virtualization users by
analyst firm Enterprise Strategy Group, 28 percent said they plan to
implement server virtualization in the next six months and 42 percent
plan to deploy within the next year.

The EVA4400 has key virtualization features previously available only on
high-end arrays, but now at a price designed for mid-size businesses.
Specifically, the EVA4400 features a dual-redundant hardware
architecture that supports local and remote replication software. This
eliminates single points of failure and helps ensure maximum uptime.

Storage provisioning also is available with HP StorageWorks EVA
Dynamic Capacity Management (DCM) software to help efficiently
manage resources and improve overall productivity.

“HP continues to invest in and expand its
portfolio of entry-level storage solutions to address the specific
customer business requirements of all market segments,”
said Rick Steffens, vice president and general manager, SAN
StorageWorks, HP. “Other SAN environments
typically create significant management overhead, but the powerfully
simple EVA4400 is the better solution for mid-size businesses since it is
easier to configure and automates storage provisioning to improve
capacity utilization. Plus, it is approximately 20 percent more
affordable than higher end systems.”

HP also announced today the HP StorageWorks 8Gb Simple SAN Connection
portfolio for new SAN customers. It offers the latest in Fibre Channel
(FC) technology for the EVA4400 at the same price as 4Gb FC.

The Simple SAN Connection portfolio includes software to simplify
management, a 20-port capable 8Gb switch and a PCI Express FC host bus
adapter (HBA). The single-port 8Gb HBA offers twice the throughput of
4Gb HBAs and includes new advanced features to support virtualization
and adaptive power management.

Pricing and availability
The HP StorageWorks EVA4400 is now available with a U.S. list price
starting at $15,000.

HP EVA4400