HP Manageability Integration Kit

HP Manageability Integration Kit
Name	HP Manageability Integration Kit
Developer	Hewlett-Packard
Operating system	Microsoft Windows, Linux
Genre	Systems management
License	Proprietary software

HP Manageability Integration Kit. It is a software suite developed by Hewlett-Packard to bridge its hardware management technologies with third-party enterprise management platforms. The kit provides standardized interfaces and modules, enabling centralized monitoring and control of HP ProLiant servers and other infrastructure. Its primary function is to extend the capabilities of tools like Microsoft System Center and IBM Tivoli by integrating deep hardware telemetry and control.

Overview

The HP Manageability Integration Kit emerged as a strategic solution from Hewlett-Packard to address heterogeneous data center environments. It serves as a critical middleware layer, translating proprietary hardware data into formats consumable by major enterprise frameworks. This approach allows IT administrators to manage HP BladeSystem components alongside other vendors' equipment from a single console. The development aligned with industry trends towards unified management, competing with solutions from Dell EMC and Cisco Systems.

Components and Architecture

The architecture is modular, centering on providers and management packs. Key components include the HP Insight Management provider, which interfaces directly with hardware via the Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) technology. It also features specific integration modules for platforms like Microsoft System Center Operations Manager (SCOM). These modules utilize standard protocols such as Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) to communicate health and status information. The underlying data model is based on the Common Information Model (CIM) schema.

Integration with Management Tools

The kit provides certified management packs for deep integration with Microsoft System Center, including System Center Configuration Manager and System Center Virtual Machine Manager. For environments using VMware vCenter, it offers plugins to monitor server health alongside virtual machine performance. Integration with IBM Tivoli Netcool and CA Technologies suites is also supported, allowing event correlation and alerting. These connectors enable features like automated incident ticketing in ServiceNow and proactive fault management.

Supported HP Hardware and Software

Supported hardware primarily encompasses the HP ProLiant server family, including HP ProLiant DL rack servers and HP ProLiant ML tower servers. It also manages components within the HP BladeSystem c-Class enclosure, such as the HP Onboard Administrator. Storage products like the HP StorageWorks MSA series and HP LeftHand SAN are included. On the software side, it integrates with HP Systems Insight Manager (SIM) and requires specific firmware levels for Integrated Lights-Out and system ROM.

Deployment and Configuration

Deployment typically begins with installing the foundational provider software on a management server running Microsoft Windows Server or a supported Linux distribution. Administrators then import the relevant management packs into their console, such as System Center Operations Manager. Configuration involves defining discovery scopes for IP address ranges and credentials for iLO access. Post-deployment, tasks include setting alert thresholds and configuring automated responses through Windows PowerShell scripts or Orchestrator runbooks.

Use Cases and Benefits

A primary use case is consolidated monitoring, where alerts for hardware failures—like a CPU fault or RAID array degradation—appear directly in Microsoft System Center. This enables faster mean time to resolution by linking hardware events to virtual machine management in VMware vSphere. Benefits include reduced tool sprawl, improved compliance reporting for audits, and enhanced energy management through integration with HP Thermal Logic technology. It effectively creates a single pane of glass for infrastructure overseeing diverse assets from Hewlett-Packard.

Category:Hewlett-Packard software Category:Systems management