HP has announced a new blade platform designed to help service providers reduce costs and efficiently expand capacity.
As a foundation for wireless and wired networks, the HP Integrity NonStop NB50000c-cg Carrier-grade (CG) BladeSystem features the 24/7 availability of HP NonStop systems, as well as providing the modular flexibility of the HP c-Class BladeSystem platform.
The new system provides significant performance gains over its predecessors while occupying less physical space; an important benefit in crowded telecom "central offices" and data centres. Compared to the HP Integrity NonStop NS5000CG server, it delivers twice the performance in half the physical footprint, while next to equivalent HP NonStop S-Series carrier-grade servers, it offers up to four times the processing capacity in half the footprint.
The platform's blade architecture provides a lower initial cost compared to similar NonStop servers, while providing flexibility to scale up as the business requires. Its smaller footprint, reduced power consumption and more efficient cooling combine to deliver a lower total cost of ownership over the long term.
In addition, the platform supports many Intelligent Network applications, including network enablers for text and multimedia messaging as well as location services. Business and operations support systems (BSS and OSS) can also be hosted on the HP Integrity NonStop CG Platform. To support advanced services, the platform is ready for networks that include Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) technologies, such as the HP OpenCall Home Subscriber Server, which handles core mobility functions.
"Operators will be able to modernize their networks to meet rapid growth in voice, data and multimedia usage with this new platform," said Winston Prather, vice president and general manager, NonStop Division, HP. "Backed by the company's telecom heritage and advanced blade engineering, the HP Integrity NonStop CG BladeSystem delivers an unprecedented combination of high performance, extreme reliability and low cost."
The platform also has a commercial, enterprise-class counterpart that is optimized for IT applications, providing a common foundation that can support both telephony and IT.
The new system features a telecom-specific input/output (I/O) infrastructure that leverages standards-based processing engines called Cluster I/O Modules (CLIMs). By offloading specific processing tasks from the host HP NonStop server, the CLIMs increase performance and reduce I/O and storage processing costs.
The new platform ships with three carrier-grade CLIMs, with others to follow in 2009:
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An IP CG CLIM for system networking protocols, IPSec and Ethernet connectivity;
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A Storage CG CLIM for various HP storage disks and arrays; and
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A Telecom CLIM that handles the M3UA layer for Signaling System 7 messages over a digital, IP-based system.
The HP platform is designed to meet specific requirements of carrier-grade environments:
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NEBS Level 3 rack certification - a telecom industry standard that ensures hardware platforms provide high levels of reliability in all conditions
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Power supply - NEBS-certified - 36 to -72 volt direct current for central office use
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More info: www.hp.com/go/nonstop/
bladesystem/telco
