HP and Cisco Enhance HP BladeSystem Capabilities with Integration of C

HP and Cisco Enhance HP BladeSystem Capabilities with Integration of Cisco Switch Technology

    Business Editors/Technology Editors

    PALO ALTO & SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2005--

Standards-based HP blade architecture aligned with Cisco Business Ready Data Center eases deployment, management for customers
    HP (NYSE:HPQ)(Nasdaq:HPQ) and Cisco Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CSCO) today announced that they will integrate Cisco's industry-leading network switch technology into the HP BladeSystem architecture, enabling customers to optimize network and blade system performance, reliability and ease of ownership.
    The enhanced HP BladeSystem with the new Cisco Gigabit Ethernet Switch Module can reduce overall costs by increasing efficiencies across customers' data center infrastructures.
    With the integrated Cisco Gigabit Ethernet Switch Module, and alignment with the Cisco Business Ready Data Center network architecture, the HP BladeSystem delivers increased value through consistent network services including high availability, security, quality of service and manageability.
    "By incorporating Cisco advanced switching technology into our blade offerings, HP continues to offer the industry-leading standards-based solution our blade customers demand, simplifying network and management integration while reducing complexity and cost," said Rick Becker, vice president and general manager, BladeSystem Organization, HP. "Today's announcement with Cisco is another important step from HP to help accelerate BladeSystem adoption and allow enterprise customers to achieve the performance, scalability and security they demand."
    Expected to be available in February, only through HP and its reseller channels, the Cisco Gigabit Ethernet Switch Module integrated with the HP BladeSystem enclosure enables customers to extend the Cisco network from the server through the data center infrastructure to gain the benefits of advanced network services and features. The new Gigabit Ethernet Switch Module has been designed by Cisco to be fully compatible with existing HP BladeSystem p-Class enclosures.
    "Cisco is pleased to extend our long-standing strategic alliance with HP through this latest innovation," said Pierre-Paul Allard, vice president of enterprise marketing, Cisco. "Customers require a standard approach to connect data center resources to the network with the same network features and functionality that are part of their current infrastructure. The integration of Cisco network switch technology into the HP BladeSystem platform reinforces our commitment with HP to deliver advanced solutions for the data center market and extend the benefits of the Cisco Business Ready Data Center network infrastructure."
    The new Cisco switch for the HP BladeSystem will provide a wire-once, virtualized solution that can dynamically scale and re-provision resources without re-wiring individual components. The switch fits seamlessly into a customer's current Cisco network infrastructure without incurring additional operating expenses or the need to learn a new network operating system.
    The integrated HP BladeSystem approach based on industry-standards delivers lower infrastructure costs - often 16 percent less expensive upfront than the company's traditional rack-mount infrastructures with automated control, and lower annual support costs.
    "One of the hurdles facing large-scale growth in the blade market is the lack of standards around blade design," said Kelly Quinn, senior research analyst, IDC Research. "HP and Cisco's joint efforts to incorporate network switch standards into blade design should help lay the groundwork for further standardization, which, in turn, will help promote market adoption."
    More information about the solutions and services described in this announcement is available at www.hp.com/go/bladesystem.

    About Cisco

    Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, this year celebrates 20 years of commitment to technology innovation, industry leadership and corporate social responsibility. News and information are available at www.cisco.com.

    About HP

    HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended Oct. 31, 2004, HP revenue totaled $79.9 billion. More information about HP is available at www.hp.com.

    This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they ever materialize or prove incorrect, could cause the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including the expected development, performance or rankings of products or services; statements of expectation or belief; and any statement of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the development, performance and market acceptance of products and services and other risks that are described from time to time in HP's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including but not limited to HP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Oct. 31, 2004. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

    (C) 2005 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

--30--EB/sf*

CONTACT: HP Elizabeth Phillips, +1-408-447-4534 elizabeth.phillips2@hp.com or Burson-Marsteller for HP Rebecca Beyer, +1-212-614-5112 rebecca_beyer@nyc.bm.com or Cisco Rebecca Noriega, +1-408-853-5819 rnoriega@cisco.com Jackie Pigliucci, +1-408-853-6389 jpigliuc@cisco.com

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: HARDWARE SOFTWARE COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS NETWORKING PRODUCT MARKETING AGREEMENTS INTERNET SOURCE: HP

Copyright Business Wire 2005