HP announced new additions to its recently updated portfolio of servers, storage, software and services -- driving more business value into Microsoft virtualization environments.

The unveilings offer:

• Immediate interoperability of Microsoft virtualization technologies with HP enterprise hardware and software offerings -- including HP ProLiant and HP BladeSystem servers, HP StorageWorks and HP Thin Client products, and HP software.
• Strategy, design, transition, operation and continual improvement services for new Microsoft virtualization technologies in HP and heterogeneous environments.
• Customized training to prepare customers for Microsoft virtualization products and solutions.

HP and Microsoft are expanding the Microsoft Technology Center in Reston, Va., with an increased focus on the manageability, security and sustainability advantages of joint HP and Microsoft virtualization solutions. This center is targeted to the U.S. federal market.

"Customers are increasingly using virtualization to deliver lower costs and reduced risks to the business as virtualization moves from being a tactical technology toward becoming a key transformation strategy," said Sean Hehir, vice president, Microsoft Strategic Alliance, HP. "HP has worked extensively with Microsoft to develop products and services across our portfolio that not only help customers realize the full value of Microsoft virtualization technologies, but also help them accelerate the growth of their businesses."

"HP and Microsoft have a proven track record of delivering strong results for our customers based on our combined technology experience and industry credibility; and we deliver solutions, products and services that solve real-world business problems and provide undisputable customer value," said Bob Kelly, corporate vice president, Infrastructure Server Marketing, Server and Tools Business, Microsoft. "HP is both a key partner and valued customer for Microsoft, and together we are helping customers obtain the full value of their Microsoft virtualization investment."

Reduce costs, increase security and simplify management

• HP ProLiant, HP BladeSystem servers and HP StorageWorks broadly support Microsoft virtualization technologies, including Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V and Microsoft Hyper-V Server. HP ProLiant is one of Microsoft's development platforms for testing and development of Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V.
• Microsoft Hyper-V Server is a stand-alone server virtualization product that will be supported on a wide range of HP ProLiant servers, providing a cost-effective solution for consolidating existing workloads.
• HP Insight Dynamics -- VSE, along with Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 (SCVMM), will provide a comprehensive physical and virtual systems management environment for advanced management of Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V running on HP ProLiant and BladeSystem servers.This support is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2009.
• HP Insight Control Environment delivers integrated and easy-to-use life cycle management for server and storage infrastructure across an entire Windows Server 2008 environment. HP Insight Control Software complements and extends the capabilities of the Microsoft System Center suite of products.