HP Unveils Global Storage Virtualization Strategy; Also Extends Customer Access to Virtualization with Feature-rich Solution

Business Wire, April 1, 2002

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

PALO ALTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 1, 2002

Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HWP) today unveiled its storage virtualization strategy and announced the midrange HP StorageApps sv3000 appliance, which extends customer access to virtualization with a variety of new features.

HP's strategy focuses on two primary elements: increasing storage efficiency by optimizing the way storage is used and the importance of the combined role that management and virtualization play within storage architectures. When customers fuse management with virtualization, they are then free to use storage from multiple vendors and manage complex storage environments through one "pane of glass."

The strategy also emphasizes HP's ongoing efforts to develop its investment in fabric-based storage appliances, which complement existing array-based virtualization technology.

The HP StorageApps sv3000 appliance enables customers to pool, view and manage legacy and newly added physical storage resources from different vendors and then share those resources across different servers. Customers may scale their storage, upgrade functions and add services as needed.

"Virtualization without management is useless. By giving our customers a logical way to view and manage their data -- and by freeing them from having to invest in software from each array vendor -- we're taking storage management to a new level," said Nora Denzel, vice president and general manager, HP Network Storage Solutions Organization. "This is the key to our FSAM, or Federated Storage Area Management, strategy to allow customers to increase the efficiency of their storage environment without adding more people."

"HP is a leader in delivering proven virtual storage solutions and positions virtualization as a cornerstone to their FSAM strategy," said Steve Duplessie, analyst, Enterprise Storage Group. "With the addition of the HP StorageApps appliance, the benefits of virtualization are brought to the masses."

New features in the HP StorageApps sv3000 include:

-- Enhanced data protection through improved replication and failover
protection;

-- Improved data use from compacted point-in-time imaging;

-- Linux operating system support;

-- Support for Compaq StorageWorks, EMC Symmetrix, Hitachi Data Systems and
Dell storage arrays;

-- N-way fibre channel and many-to-one mirroring; and

-- iSCSI ready.

Base features include: heterogeneous host support; support for Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000 and NT(R), Sun Solaris and HP-UX; storage virtualization of HP arrays; local fibre channel mirroring; LUN access control; 14 available fibre channel ports; 2 GB/sec fibre channel support; and remote monitoring. Point-in-time imaging, remote IP replication and heterogeneous storage support are optional features.

The HP StorageApps sv3000 is expected to be available in May. Estimated U.S. pricing starts at $125,500.(1)

More information about HP's storage virtualization strategy and the HP StorageApps sv3000 appliance is available at http://www.hpnsso.onlinepresskits.com

About HP

Hewlett-Packard Company -- a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services -- is focused on making technology and its benefits accessible to all. HP had total revenue of $45.2 billion in its 2001 fiscal year. Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.

(1) Actual prices may vary.

Microsoft, Windows and Windows NT are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. HP-UX Release 10.20 and later and HP-UX Release 11.00 and later (in both 32- and 64-bit configurations) on all HP 9000 computers are Open Group UNIX 95 branded products. UNIX is a registered trademark of the Open Group.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the possibility that the market for the sale of certain products and services may not develop as expected; that development of these products and services may not proceed as planned; 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, as amended on January 30, 2002, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2001, and subsequently filed reports. If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes or any of these assumptions proves incorrect, HP's results could differ materially from HP's expectations in these statements. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.