HP CloudSystem Matrix is an infrastructure as a service (IaaS) solution for private and hybrid cloud deployments, built on proven HP Converged Infrastructure technologies, such as HP BladeSystem, Matrix Operating Environment and Cloud Service Automation for Matrix.
CloudSystem Matrix is an integrated hardware, software, and services solution that helps you realize the full value of cloud as quickly as possible. The core elements of a CloudSystem Matrix solution are:
The Matrix Operating Environment includes an integrated service designer, self-service infrastructure portal, and auto-provisioning capabilities; the tools to manage and optimize the resource pools; multi-tenancy; and a recovery management solution for ProLiant. Recovery management for HP-UX is available with HP Serviceguard. Using included Cloud APIs, you can easily customize the operating environment to your specific requirements, enabling chargeback and billing integration, integration into approval processes, and other process automation tasks. CSA for Matrix, an optional component, integrates basic application provisioning, monitoring, and patch and change management. And because it is vital to get started down the right path, CloudSystem Matrix also includes a comprehensive Implementation Service performed by HP trained experts. The CloudSystem Matrix Implementation Service provides you with a project manager to manage the technical preplanning, installation, configuration, testing, demonstration and orientation of your integrated Matrix package solutions (including all enclosures and blades which are part of the Matrix Starter Kit order). This service is an integral part of the full Matrix solution and is included in each Starter Kit order.
There is also an upgrade path for future HP BladeSystem purchases as IT needs grow, all while protecting the existing HP BladeSystem investment. To get started right away, just ask us for an initial assessment. The HP CloudSystem Matrix Conversion Services provide a cost-effective way to start realizing the benefits of shared services and a private cloud today.
CloudSystem Matrix is available as a small, medium, or large configuration, which can be expanded with additional hardware and software from HP or third parties. See the table below.
To learn more, read the technical white paper.
| Recommended Configurations for CloudSystem Matrix for ProLiant and CloudSystem Matrix with HP-UX | |||
| SMALL | MEDIUM | LARGE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ProLiant configurations | |||
| Servers | Matrix Starter Kit 8 ProLiant Server Blades DL360 CMS |
Matrix Starter Kit 16 ProLiantServer Blades DL360 CMS |
Matrix Starter Kit 3 Expansion Kits 64 ProLiant Server Blades DL360 CMS |
| Storage | EVA P6300 5.4 TB* | 3PAR F200 9.5 TB* | 3PAR F400 48 TB* |
| Software | Matrix Operating Environment CSA for Matrix* 3rd Party Extensions: VMware or MS Hyper-V* |
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| Services | CloudSystem Matrix Implementation Service CloudSystem Matrix Enablement Service** Cloud Consulting & Implementation Services** |
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| Integrity configurations | |||
| Servers | Matrix Starter Kit with HP UX & FlexFabric 4 BL860c i2 DL360 CMS |
Matrix Starter Kit with HP UX & FlexFabric (fully populated) 4 BL870c i2 DL360 CMS |
Matrix Starter Kit with HP UX & FlexFabric (fully populated) Expansion Kit with HP-UX (fully populated) 4 BL890c i2 DL360 CMS |
| Storage | EVA Storage 5.4 TB* | 3PAR F400 55 TB* | 3PAR F400 111 TB* |
| Software | 8 VSE OE or DC-OE licenses with Matrix OE & HPVM Server Automation Starter Edition* SiteScope* |
16 VSE OE or DC-OE licenses with Matrix OE & HPVM Server Automation Starter Edition* SiteScope* |
32 VSE OE or DC-OE licenses with Matrix OE & HPVM Server Automation Starter Edition* SiteScope* |
| Services | CloudSystem Matrix Implementation Service CloudSystem Matrix Enablement Service** Cloud Consulting & Implementation Services** |
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*Optional components, may require additional hardware
**Optional services
Below are some of the questions we thought you might have. You can also try our technical forums to get more specifics from our technical experts in our technology forum, or sign up to connect with members of the global BladeSystem community
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| Q1. | What is in CloudSystem Matrix? Are there any new or unique technologies in CloudSystem Matrix that I can’t already buy from HP? |
| A1. | CloudSystem Matrix utilizes proven technologies such as BladeSystem, Virtual Connect, Insight Management software, shared storage such as Fibre Channel SAN, and HP Networking products. CloudSystem Matrix converges these capabilities together in powerful infrastructure-as-a-service solution with factory integration and implementation services. Matrix efficiently delivers standardized yet flexible infrastructure in “building blocks”. Additionally, CloudSystem Matrix is much more efficient to buy than individual components and is faster to implement. |
| Q2. | What are the supported components? |
| A2. | See the CloudSystem Matrix Compatibility Chart here. |
| Q3. | What is the purchasing and implementation experience for CloudSystem Matrix? |
| A3. | CloudSystem Matrix is a fully integrated infrastructure that is delivered and implemented in your environment with a single complete service. The estimated delivery and fulfillment time is approximately one month for an implementation of a basic single rack full of resources. The order process is simple and straightforward, and the step by step details can be found in the QuickSpecs at this website. |
| Q4. | Is CloudSystem Matrix available for HP Integrity blades? |
| A4. |
Yes, customers can order the HP CloudSystem Matrix with HP-UX Starter Kit and then add HP CloudSystem Matrix with HP-UX Expansion Kits. In addition, customers who have purchased a Matrix for ProLiant blade servers can add Integrity server blades into their Matrix configuration, then provision HP-UX on these Integrity blade servers. |
| Q5. | What’s new for version 7.0? |
| A5. |
Matrix 7.0 adds the following new capabilities: Matrix is introducing a new bursting capability, specifically with the service provider Savvis. Cloudbursting will allow an IT administrator to provision services beyond the "private cloud" managed by Matrix by "bursting" into a public cloud for a specific template-defined service. The resources in the public cloud are paid for only when used, and released when the usage is complete, offering optimized cost as well as flexible use when needs require resources beyond the scope of the private cloud. Additionally, Matrix will introduces improvements in scalability by allowing provisioning of VM's up to 10,000 via the federated CMS architecture that was first enabled in Matrix 6.3. In the area of multi-tenancy, Matrix 7.0 provides enhancements in the management of VLANs, specifically allowing secure multi-tenancy through better separation of VLANs between different private cloud users. Matrix 7.0 supports the HP ProLiant Gen8 servers. In the area of storage, CloudSystem Matrix 7.0 offers enhancements to storage provisioning by offering the ability to automatically provision storage LUNs during the deployment of a service. This capability will is offered for both EVA and 3PAR FC storage arrays, and is built on enhancements to the existing Storage Provisioning Manager interface introduced in version 6.3 and is included with Matrix. In terms of disaster recovery, Matrix 7.0 offers integration with 3PAR storage replication for automated recovery management of server profiles, in the same fashion that Matrix already supports EVA and XP storage replication. Finally, Matrix continues to offer additional best-practice solutions via the CloudMaps program, including templates, workflows and sizers for key application providers utilizing the Matrix solution. Additional APIs have been introduced, supporting key customer and partner requests.
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| Q6. | What is an HP Cloud Map and how does it help me deploy infrastructure and applications with CloudSystem Matrix? |
| A6. |
Cloud Maps is an easy-to-use navigation tool to build your own service catalog, saving days or weeks of time architecting infrastructure for applications and services. They include tested and proven best practice templates and workflows for your specific infrastructure and application, which can be imported into Matrix and integrated into your environment. |
| Q7. | Does Matrix support iSCSI storage? |
| A7. |
Matrix does support the use of iSCSI SAN storage, specifically for VM boot and data storage for VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V environments. Physical support of iSCSI SAN storage solutions is currently not supported by Matrix. Any iSCSI SAN solution which is formally supported by the hypervisor vendor (VMware or Microsoft), or qualified by the storage vendor for either Hyper-V or vSphere, can be utilized within this Matrix VM data store environment. Testing is done with certain HP iSCSI SAN environments, such as the HP P4300 and P4500 G2 SAN solutions, ensuring that storage sold by HP is included in qualified Matrix environments. |
| Q8. | Can I convert my existing on-site HP BladeSystem hardware into a Matrix environment? |
| A8. |
Yes. You can support a conversion of existing HP ProLiant hardware to Matrix by using the new HP CloudSystem Matrix Conversion Services. These services, performed by HP Services experts, let you move from the HP ProLiant BladeSystem investment you already have, to a complete, fully supported HP CloudSystem Matrix environment. For more information, please see the data sheet. |
| Ordering | |
| Q1. | How do I order CloudSystem Matrix? |
| A1. | Ordering CloudSystem Matrix involves first ordering a Starter Kit, which includes everything to get started with a fully functioning environment. It includes a fully-redundant c7000 enclosure, Virtual Connect, Insight management software licenses, an implementation service, and other options, including a StorageWorks EVA4400 array. At the time of ordering your Starter Kit or at any time later, you can add more infrastructure and capacity to your Matrix environment by buying one or more Expansion Kits. The Matrix Starter Kit can be configured with either Virtual Flex10 or VC Fibre Channel connectivity. For Matrix on ProLiant blades, you can also choose Flex Fabric Virtual Connect connectivity. See the QuickSpecs at this website for step by step ordering guidelines for the Starter and Expansion Kits. |
| Q2. | What is included in CloudSystem Matrix, and what are the compatible options? |
| A2. | See the QuickSpecs at http://www.hp.com/go/matrix and CloudSystem Matrix Compatibility Chart. |
| Q3. | What is a central management server (CMS) and how do I order one with the Starter Kit? |
| A3. | If you order a Starter Kit, a specially configured rack-based HP ProLiant DL360 CMS functions as your Microsoft Windows-based CMS, or management software host. If you prefer another server to host your CMS, it can be de-selected and replaced with another ProLiant server, or removed entirely from the order. A CMS server host must be provided though, and it must meet the requirements as detailed here. The CMS can manage both ProLiant and Integrity blades that, in turn, support various operating systems and hypervisors. |
| Q4. | Do you offer special lease options, pay as you grow, or instant capacity programs? |
| A4. | Yes, HP CloudSystem Matrix may now be ordered through the HP Utility Ready Computing program which allows customers pay-per-use access to Matrix that resides on their site. This program ensures you have server capacity as your demand grows, eases procurement and aligns costs with usage. HP Financial Services offers 0% lease options to ease the upfront investment costs. |
| Q5. | I already have a Fibre channel SAN array. Do I have to buy the StorageWorks EVA4400 array option that is recommended for the CloudSystem Matrix infrastructure? |
| A5. | As long as your existing FC SAN array is certified and supported with HP BladeSystem c-Class and Virtual Connect (see this website), HP CloudSystem Matrix will also work with it. The FC SAN should be configured for boot from SAN. If you purchase the EVA4400 with your Matrix order, we will optimize its configuration for boot from SAN and even pre-provision LUNs per your requirements. |
| Services | |
| Q1. | What are the Starter and Expansion Kit implementation services? Who performs these services? |
| A1. | The implementation services are project-managed services that will receive at your site your pre-racked/cabled CloudSystem Matrix infrastructure, and further set up and configure it in terms of networking, storage connectivity, and management software, through to the point of being in full operation and provisioning of your first few managed or target servers, integrated with your data center infrastructure. The service will conclude with knowledge transfer and demonstrations. The Starter Kit and Expansion Kit services are implemented only by specifically identified, qualified, and experienced delivery specialists from HP and our valued partners. |
| Q2. | What is the warranty on CloudSystem Matrix? |
| A2. | Three years for all components is standard. For simplified management and tracking, we offer warranty Care Pack “uplifts” for the entire CloudSystem Matrix solution (all hardware and software components) to extend your warranty and support beyond the standard three years to four or five years. |
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