HP moves to integrate open source, commercial software

Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) has introduced what it claims to be "industry first" offerings of hardware, software, and services to simplify the integration of open source and commercial software.

The HP open source integrated portfolio (OSIP) is designed to accelerate the adoption of open source software in data centers, and provides customers with a way to deploy a range of open source, commercial and hybrid applications across Linux, Windows, and HP-UX.

HP leveraged its open source engagements with customers to bring standardized, heterogeneous open source offerings to a broader market using an SOA-based approach.

With the introduction of HP OSIP, which includes new HP open source middleware stacks (OSMS), HP aims to provide customers with "single source accountability" for integrated stacks, according to the company.

HP's open source and Linux organization vice president Christine Martino said there is a growing demand for integrated open source and commercial solutions on multiple operating systems, and customers want one trusted source of accountability.

"The HP open source integrated portfolio provides that confidence to companies making open source a part of their overall strategy to be more adaptive in the marketplace," Martino said.

HP's OSMS gives customers three new ways to integrate open source technology on HP platforms.

HP open source building blocks are HP-supported software components that enable customers to easily buy and implement open source middleware using a single source for sales, subscriptions and support. Packages include the JBoss application server and enterprise middleware suite, and Symas Corporation's distribution of OpenLDAP, the Connexitor Directory Services.

HP open source blueprints are workload-specific recipes for customers to design and implement their own integrated, HP-supported middleware stacks with HP configuration guidance. Initial blueprints include Web and J2EE application serving.

The third part is HP's open source services aimed at bringing everything together.

IDC systems software research director Al Gillen said HP was an early proponent of identifying and supporting layered open source software that complements the Linux operating system and the company's past efforts have empowered customers to deploy these technologies with confidence.

"The announcement of the HP Open Source Integrated Portfolio extends the richness and breadth of the company's open source solutions and delivers a key building block for today's IT customer," Gillen said.