HP Service Pack for ProLiant

HP Service Pack for ProLiant is a comprehensive systems software and firmware release offered as a solution on all HP ProLiant SL/ML/DL 300, 500, 700, and 900 series servers and HP BladeSystems series servers that are supported with Insight Foundation suite for ProLiant version 8.70. Support for HP ProLiant ML/DL/SL 100 series servers is limited to ML110 G7 and DL120 G7. It is now available with HP SUM 5 which is the new architecture for the Service Pack and has a new user Interface and CLI. Using HP SUM 5, BladeSystem enclosures can be updated much faster because it preloads only what is needed so that updates are more efficient.

The Service Pack for ProLiant is delivered as a family of deliverables with a full ISO and six subset ISOs broken out by operating systems and ProLiant server types. Each subset version of the full ISO includes needed software and firmware smart components required for its specific audience and allows for a customized solution and faster download. The ISOs available are:

1. HP Service Pack for ProLiant
2. BladeSystem Red Hat Enterprise Linux Pack
3. BladeSystem SUSE Linux Enterprise Server Pack
4. BladeSystem Microsoft Windows Server Pack
5. ProLiant ML/DL/SL Red Hat Enterprise Linux Pack
6. ProLiant ML/DL/SL SUSE Linux Enterprise Server Pack
7. ProLiant ML/DL/SL Microsoft Windows Server Pack

Advantages:

• Replaces Insight Foundation suite for ProLiant to provide:
• Faster, online updates for all ProLiant servers
• Dramatic improvements in OA and VC update times
• Support for HP CloudSystem
• Single step update
• Simplified delivery of HP ProLiant systems software and firmware into PXE bootable ISO images to reduce customer:
• Qualification cycles
• Resource usage
• Maintenance windows
• Downtime

• Removes issues due to firmware and software interdependencies
• Repackages firmware, drivers, utilities, agents and other utilities required to keep pace in today's rapidly expanding technology infrastructure
• Provides same online (interactive) and offline (automatic and interactive) modes as the previously used Smart Update Firmware DVD

Extended Support Duration

Because HP is offering 3-5 Service Pack for ProLiant releases per year, customers requiring optimal performance, resiliency, and features have the ability to update when needed but are not forced to update.

Customers are supported on up to 5 SPP releases within a year and may choose to update their SPP from one version to a later version within a 12-month support period. This means that customers may update their SPP by skipping up to 3 releases within a 12-month period, thus the update is direct from first release to the 5th release in the year and allows customers to bypass versions 2, 3, and 4.

You can tell when your support period ends by the version number of the release. For example, if you have installed the content of SPP 2011.09.0, your support would end the last day of September, 2012 based on version 2011=year, 09= month, 0=full release id number.

For Operating System support, please check Service Pack for ProLiant QuickSpecs.

Version SPP v2012.01.0 contains these new features:

Built with HP SUM 5 whose new User Interface, CLI, and architecture results in much faster server and BladeSystem enclosures updates due to preloading only what is needed so that updates are more efficient. OA and VC update times area also improved due to HP SUM enhancements.

Ideal for...

Small, Medium and Enterprise IT Environments where:

• HP ProLiant and BladeSystem servers have been deployed locally or remotely
• New HP servers need to be deployed and configured quickly
• Existing servers need to be updated with the latest software support files, management agents, and firmware
• Limiting disruptions due to firmware and software updates is important
• Automated capabilities mask out any complexities in updating firmware and software

Key Applications:

• Data centers and IT organizations that want to reduce complexity by creating more consistent configurations for each server.
• IT Administrators that need to deploy or update specific HP components on multiple remote and local servers, such as the HP System Management Homepage, Insight Diagnostics or other HP hardware drivers.
• Scripted deployment and configuration of ProLiant support software in a server farm.

Increases Ease of Server Management

• More efficient enclosure updates because of enhancements to HP SUM
• Consolidated sets of tested firmware and HP System Software (drivers, agents, utilities)
• Enhances IT staff productivity while reducing downtime
• Interdependency testing of drivers and firmware
• Monitor baseline compliance for groups of servers through HP Smart Update Manager (HPSUM) or the Version Control Repository within HP Systems Insight Manager

Integral Part of the HP Server Experience:

• Offered from the web for all HP ProLiant Insight Foundation version 8.70 based servers to provide convenient access to the suite of Intelligent Manageability products that are the essential management tools designed to simplify IT management in a dynamic and demanding 7x24x365 environment

Provides Reliable Configuration:

• By assisting with server installations, integrating server support software and firmware, and minimizing configuration and update issues; it ensures consistency and maximizes reliability and system uptime

Leverages the Power of HP Smart Update Manager (HP SUM).

• HP SUM is the deployment engine that allows system software and firmware updates, standardization, and/or restoration of specific system software and firmware versions on supported ProLiant servers and server options and has been significantly enhanced to provide for more efficient server and enclosure updates.

Simplified Delivery of ProLiant Software and Firmware for Reduced Customer:

• Qualification cycles
• Resource usage
• Maintenance windows
• Downtime

Flexible and Controlled Remote Software Updates:

• Deploy, maintain, and update efficiently using HP Smart Update Manager (HP SUM)
• Establish consistent server configurations deployed from a centralized software repository
• Graphical and scripted command line options for deploying complete bundles or individual components
• Software component updates contain details of critical fixes, new features and software revision history
• Log files provide a convenient way to access the software installation history of the server, including deployment successes and failures

Evolution of Insight Foundation Suite for ProLiant

• Radically simplified with a single step installation process containing both firmware and systems software with drivers packaged together
• Consolidation – single solution for all supported ProLiant servers
• Proven process improvement