By Andre Carpenter, @andrecarpenter, Consulting Solutions Architect, HP Enterprise Group

As you may or may not know, HP 3PAR boasts a sexy array-based software feature set. You’ve probably heard me rave on about it in other posts and podcasts I have done. I’ve worn this fan-boy cap for a while now and spoken about our leading thin suite. Some 3PAR software features perhaps don’t get as much limelight as our thinning capability or wide striping but they are extremely supportive and tell a great benefit story, especially in the area of high availability (HA) or business continuity (BC

These array-based features: peer persistence, peer motion, persistent ports and persistent cache have names with similar words but they mean different solutions so let’s take a look at one of these concepts and how they work particularly with the vSphere platform—starting with peer persistence.

By Priyadarshi (Pd), Sr. Product Manager, HP 3PAR Storage

I have to say I’m excited to be kicking off this blog series focused on flash-optimized storage. To help introduce me to you, Calvin and I first recorded a quick podcast. Give it a listen: I talk a little bit about my background and get the conversation going on four key flash design requirements (which I’ll be talking about in more detail in subsequent posts).Then I follow up with a quick primer on flash—to lay the foundation for further discussion on flash design requirements.

From the beginning

If you already know what HP StoreEasy Storage is, skip down to the sub-heading "So what's new?".  We announced HP StoreEasy Storage in November of last year,  Prior to that you may have known it as the X1000 and X3000.  Start with our HP ProLiant DNA, layer on Windows Storage Server 2012, and a few HP additions and you start to get the idea.  One of the first ChalkTalks I did was about StoreEasy - so if you want to get a bit more on what it is, check that out. 

So what's new

I'll just quickly summarize what's new and let you watch the ChalkTalk I have. 

• Wizard-driven storage provisioning tool
• Single interface for launching management tasks and utilities
• Built-in snapshot management for files
• Choice of Server Core headless mode (shrinks active OS code, reducing virus vulnerability and OS patching)
• Optional onboard HP Data Protector for hybrid cloud backup/recovery
• Wizard-based easy gateway clustering for file services with SANs

On Wednesday, I will be hosting (well, I should say introducing) another webcast, this time with our VP and Chief Technologist Milan Shetti.  Milan lives in New Hampshire and as they say in New England is "wicked smart".  His webcast is titled "Hot storage trends that will transform your enterprise". 

Join us if you can!

Earlier today (ok, really yesterday now), we announced the new MSA 2040, the 4th generation of the very successful MSA family.  I think the ChalkTalk I did, which I'll include again in this post, is a good high-level overview and you definitely need to check it out if you haven't already. 

But I was getting a few questions on Twitter about getting more technical details on the MSA 2040.  We won't have those details to share until June - but I did get an early look at the QuickSpecs and wanted to share a few things from it with you.

Here is what the MSA 2040 Small Form Factor (SFF), Large Form Factor (LFF), and rear view with two SAN controllers installed looks like. 

I've got more details on this blog post so click over to it for more.

I've got news to share with you today and I've put it into a couple of ChalkTalks.  At a high level, the news today is:

• We're introducing the MSA2040, the fourth generation of the MSA that is up to 4X faster than the MSA2000 G3 and competitive entry arrays.  It's the first entry SAN with 16Gb FC and has very cool data in-place upgrade capabilities.
  
• There are enhancements to our HP StoreEasy Storage - this is file and application storage based on Windows Storage Server 2012.  Then enhancements include a new provisioning wizard that makes HP StoreEasy Storage even easier!
  
• HP Simply StoreIT is a channel-exclusive program focused on helping SMBs with solutions for virutalization, file sharing, Microsoft Exchange and SQL Server, and backup and data protection.

Here's the overview ChalkTalk but be sure to check the blog post as there's more details there.

Lastly, I want to invite you to join me and Sr VP and GM of HP Storage David Scott.  Today at 10:30 AM PDT (that's 1:30 PM EDT), I'll host a live webcast with David and we'll talk about this announcement today.  I'm again partnering with my friends at Watchitoo.com; you can download a calendar reminder or if you miss the live broadcast, watch the replay at www.hp.com/go/SimplyStoreIT. 

The topic of Software-Defined Storage (SDS) got hotter this week with vendor announcements and claims of “World’s First SDS” product. World’s first, really? In order to claim anything a product must be code complete, known to work and at the very least have aknown GA date. I think all the other vendors out there will agree that software-based storage products have actually been shipping for many years and most of those fit into the new category of Software-Defined Storage. But I have a question. Does this new product actually fit the mold of software-defined storage?

I’m talking about EMC’s ViPR product and what doesn’t appear to be a storage product but actually a storage orchestration and management tool. Correct me if I’m wrong, but from what I’ve read and the demo videos I’ve watched this is a software product that needs a fully functioning storage product already in the data center. It’s touting of virtual storage arrays are nothing but a grouping of physical arrays to create a shared storage resource for a service catalog. Does it follow the VMware standard of Abstract, Pool and Automate…it seems so, but what else does it do? If you have orchestration software that connects to in-place storage hardware doesn’t that make it software-managed storage?

By Britt Terry, product marketing and resident HP Storage expert for small and midsize business

Last week I talked about the challenges that keep you up at night. Today I wanted to take a few minutes to introduce a “maturity model” concept which we’ll be using to help you address the specific challenges you are facing and the one just over the horizon.  Through a set of solution-based maturity models, we’ll help you address not only today’s challenges but also to foresee the next wave of issues before they even hit.  Sounds a bit like a crystal ball but it’s not.

In today's post, I point to some of the video interviews we did at NAB - we did over 20 interviews during our two days there

I have a few favorites and the interview Andy McCaskey from SDRNews.com did with indie film maker Ryan Brown is a favorite of mine.  Ryan used to be an Apple/Mac guy but now is all in on HP hardware for making his films.   Checkout what Ryan had to say.

I also think the interview with Dr. Jeff Cornelius from HP Autonomy talking about IDOL and extracting meaning from words was really interesting.  I need to get Jeff on a podcast and go deeper on this topic. 

I have a few more videos on the blog post so check it out!

By Britt Terry, product marketing and resident SMB storage expert, HP Storage

Here I am—as promised in last week’s Around the Storage Block post. Today, I’m kicking off my blog series by delving into the challenges that keep you from getting a good night’s sleep. Now the three categories of challenges I’m going to talk about here are something every business faces, regardless of size. But for small or midsize business like yours, tackling them day in and day out has its own special set of issues. Do they sound familiar? Or are other issues rising to the top of your list? Weigh in here.