HP BladeSystem

HP BladeSystem. It was a comprehensive line of blade server hardware and integrated infrastructure solutions developed and sold by Hewlett-Packard. Introduced to consolidate and simplify data center operations, the system combined servers, storage, and networking into a single, modular chassis managed as a unified entity. The product line was a major competitor to similar offerings from IBM BladeCenter and Dell PowerEdge and represented a significant evolution in Hewlett-Packard's enterprise computing strategy.

Overview

The HP BladeSystem platform was designed to address growing data center challenges related to server sprawl, power consumption, and cabling complexity. It centered on a shared enclosure, the HP BladeSystem c-Class chassis, which housed modular server, storage, and networking blades. This architecture allowed for high-density computing, where resources like power supplies, cooling fans, and management modules were shared across all installed blades, improving efficiency. The system was widely adopted in corporate data centers, web hosting environments, and for running applications like Microsoft Exchange Server and Oracle Database.

Architecture and Components

The core architectural component was the HP BladeSystem c-Class enclosure, typically holding up to 16 half-height or 8 full-height server blades. Key shared infrastructure within the chassis included Onboard Administrator modules for management, HP Virtual Connect fabric modules for networking, and redundant power and cooling subsystems. Server blades, such as the HP ProLiant BL series, contained Intel Xeon or AMD Opteron processors, memory, and local storage. Networking was streamlined through integrated Ethernet and Fibre Channel pass-through or virtual connect modules, which reduced cable counts by connecting to external Cisco Systems or HP ProCurve switches.

Models and Generations

The primary server blade families were the HP ProLiant BL2x220c, BL4xxc, and BL6xxc series, with model numbers indicating processor sockets and generation. Early generations utilized Intel Xeon 5100 and 5400 series processors and DDR2 SDRAM. Subsequent iterations evolved through the Intel Xeon 5500, 5600, E5-2600, and E5-2600 v2 series, incorporating technologies like DDR3 SDRAM and later PCI Express. The HP Integrity BL8xxc series blades ran the HP-UX operating system on Intel Itanium processors. The final generation supported the Intel Xeon E5-2600 v4 family before the platform was succeeded.

Management Software

Unified system management was provided by HP Systems Insight Manager, a web-based platform for monitoring and updating hardware. For the HP BladeSystem, the specialized HP Insight Control software delivered advanced capabilities for deployment, power capping, and thermal monitoring. The HP Onboard Administrator provided embedded, out-of-band management for each chassis through a dedicated web interface or command-line interface. Integration with broader frameworks like Microsoft System Center and VMware vCenter allowed administrators to manage the blade infrastructure alongside their virtual machine environments.

Integration and Ecosystem

The HP BladeSystem was designed as a core component of larger Hewlett-Packard converged infrastructure solutions. It formed the compute foundation for the HP ConvergedSystem and HP CloudSystem portfolios. Storage integration was achieved via HP StorageWorks blades or direct-attach solutions like the HP P2000 G3 MSA array. A significant ecosystem of technology partners included VMware for virtualization, Red Hat and SUSE for Linux distributions, and Microsoft for the Windows Server platform. Networking partnerships with Cisco Systems, Brocade Communications Systems, and HP Networking ensured broad fabric compatibility.

Market Impact and Legacy

Upon its launch, the HP BladeSystem quickly captured significant market share, intensifying competition with IBM and Dell in the blade server segment. It was recognized for innovations in power and cooling efficiency, often highlighted in reports by industry analysts like Gartner and IDC. The platform's design philosophy directly influenced Hewlett-Packard's subsequent composable infrastructure vision. Officially discontinued in 2020, its functions and customer base were transitioned to HPE Synergy, the flagship platform of the independent Hewlett Packard Enterprise company formed after the split of Hewlett-Packard. Category:Blade servers Category:Hewlett-Packard hardware Category:Computer-related introductions in 2006