IT Consolidation with Linux

Posted by petanidigital on January 22, 2008

White Paper
Table of contents
Overview
Why Consolidate with Linux?
Risks
Benefits
Linux Consolidation Methods
HP Utility Data Center
Running Linux on HP Integrity Superdome
VMware .
Wine and Bochs
Ensim .
Workload Management
TCO studies
Comparing Linux/Mainframe to Linux/Intel
Case Studies
Conclusion
For More Information

Recent press leads some to believe that Linux is too risky for the enterprise data center. Hogwash. Linux is more than ready to go, and waiting means only one thing: cheating your company of the savings that come from moving
UNIX workloads to Linux on Intel. Ted Schadler, Linux Is More Than Ready for the Enterprise, Forrester Research Inc., June 24, 2003iii Overview
If your company exhibits these symptoms, you may need a more adaptive enterprise and a flexible infrastructure. HP s vision of the adaptive infrastructure enables your Companies today are struggling with how to grow their enterprise to become more responsive to changing businesses, drive new revenue streams and compete while business conditions by creating a dynamic IT environment dealing with merg ers, acquisitions, divestitures and
that fits with your evolving needs, reduces risk and
economic downturn. They are seeking ways to optimize
complexity and delivers real-world return on your informa-
and revitalize their internal IT infrastructures, making them
tion technology investments. This allows you to drive
more simple with improved service levels and able to
business responsiveness and focus more on your business
adapt quickly to changing business conditions. They must
issues.
consciously balance the levels of risk and costs associated
A consolidated environment that is easier to manage fits
with any change and ensure the quickest possible return
this bill nicely. IT consolidation has become a way to
on investment. In addition, they must also deal with the IT
reach your goals, cut costs, increase agility, align your IT
challenge of �server sprawl� � the proliferation of
with your business goals and move toward an adaptive
individual, geographically distributed, single-purpose
enterprise. IT consolidation is the reduction or centraliza-
servers throughout the enterprise. In many distributed
tion of disparate hardware and software to decrease
environments, applications are deployed on multiple
operating costs and improve business continuity, security
systems, each of which requires an operating system,
and manageability; it seeks to reduce the hidden costs of
application software and support. In addition, each
configuring, managing and supporting distributed
application typically requires a development and test
environments. Companies dealing with a patchwork of
server environment, further increasing cost and
hardware, software and operating systems�such as those
complexity. When each hardware unit is dedicated to a
that have recently undergone a merger or acquisition�
specific application, with its own gigabytes of storage,
are particularly good candidates for IT consolidation, as
utilization levels are low. There may be servers that sit idle
are organizations with geographically distributed systems
until application maintenance or testing is required, as
and multiple data centers. However, any company with
well as terabytes of underused storage on hundreds of
isolated or task-specific servers or multiple, distributed
servers that other applications cannot access. As a result,
storage systems should consider consolidation�s potential
what�s needed is improved manageability, reduced costs,
benefits.
increased agility and proof that IT investments will have a
favorable return.
3

�Every OS environment has a set of accelerators and
inhibitors to its deployment. When the inhibitors
overwhelm the accelerators, environments eventually
fade and die. In the case of Linux, the accelerators
currently in importance and value outstrip the inhibitors.
We have not perceived any major obstacles to Linux.�
�George Weiss, Gartner Symposium/ITxpo, October 2003
Why consolidate with
systems current capabilities. The issue of support for Linux
continues to be debated. Because Linux is maintained
and enhanced by a community of loosely coupled
Linux?
developers, it may be difficult to receive guaranteed
support. However, because the code is available to all,
Linux, with its flexibility, scalability and cost savings, can
anyone can provide support, and self-support becomes a
help overcome the obstacles and yield lasting infrastruc-
lower-cost and more viable option. There are other risks
ture improvements. In building for the future, Linux is an
involving the management of intellectual property
architect�s dream: It is reliable, adaptable, cost-effective
because you may need to establish new business
and open. Standing alone or mixed with other operating
processes. Some companies do provide support; HP
systems, Linux architecture is a solid foundation for
provides Linux support at a level as high as its critical
building an adaptive enterprise.
systems support.
According to a recent surveyi, IDC expects worldwide
Many companies are discovering that managing these
server market revenue to remain relatively flat, with a
risks responsibly is well worth the economic returns that
slight decline of 0.3 percent in 2003 to about $49.2
Linux brings. Along with the risks, open source brings a
billion. The five-year CAGR from 2002 through 2007 is
wealth of new opportunities to increase productivity and
expected to be 2.8 percent to $56.6 billion at the end of
refocus your energy to the core value you bring to your
the forecast period. This represents a period of modest
customers. Moreover, HP is reducing these risks by selling
growth in factory revenue for the overall server market,
and supporting the major distributions.
although some market segments, such as the Linux,
Benefits
Windows� and blade server market segments, are
expected to grow at faster rates. In particular, IDC
There are many significant benefits to using Linux. One
forecasts that Linux will grow from its 2002 market share
benefit via the software licensing terms is the ability to
of 4.6 percent to 16.1 percent by the end of 2007 and its
access and modify the source code, which can be
revenue increase from 2002�s $2,295M to $9,128M by
important if you need to make changes to fit your needs.
the end of 2007 � a 31.8 percent CAGR.ii
The fact that Linux can be freely copied, subject to reason-
able license terms, without payment of royalties is one of
Risks
the main business advantages of Linux. Affordability is a
Linux is just twelve years old, and with its relative newness
key factor; even though the initial negligible price of Linux
comes some risks and the question �Is it enterprise
software puts it in a class by itself, initial price isn�t the
ready?� � which translates into �Does it have the broad
only consideration. Ongoing operational expenses,
range of tools and capabilities to manage large environ-
licensing fees and support costs can make the initial costs
ments available with UNIX� or Windows?� HP and other
seem insignificant. The open source code makes Linux
hardware and software vendors are working diligently to
simple to administer, users have no licensing fees to pay
increase Linux features and tools to meet other operating
and support can be inexpensive via the experts or the
4

Linux Consolidation
Linux community or by fixing it on your own through the
open source code. Many argue that Linux is backed by
expert support and can be easily customized to meet
Methods
specific operating needs. In the enterprise, Linux has a
proven track record when it comes to solid availability in
IT consolidation takes many different forms, depending on
areas such as web serving and edge services, at a much
the existing infrastructure and business objectives.
lower cost than other environments. Servers running Linux
Because of its flexibility, you can apply Linux to any of
have been known to run for months, even years, without
several different types of consolidation:
needing to reboot.
� Collocation. Gathering widely distributed systems into
Control is another notable benefit. Because Linux
fewer locations is often the quickest way to realize the
resembles UNIX, the transition to Linux can be an easy
financial benefits of consolidation. Management and
and welcome one. And while security on any system
operation costs decrease while security, usage and
depends on the IT staff�s attentiveness and oversight, Linux
availability increase.
excels as a secure operating system, due to the many
additional security related software packages bundled
� Hardware, application and data integration. Server inte-
with it. For maximum security and performance, you can
gration reduces the number of systems when more
custom-tailor services and even the operating system
powerful servers of the same architecture host a single
kernel itself with minimal effort.
application or multiple instances of a single application.
Centralizing storage and reducing the number of servers
With limited resources, companies are often reluctant to
enables you to lower operating costs while improving
allocate money for large-scale projects that don�t show
performance and maximizing the availability of applica-
clear and immediate ROI. Linux consolidation can provide
tions and data. Switching from numerous applications
additional savings that can help justify your consolidation
accessing multiple databases to Linux solutions running
project, and the savings on software licensing fees can
on fewer servers can help you standardize systems and
bolster the business case for IT consolidation.
applications. Combining different workloads on one
Established in June 2001, The Shared Hierarchical
server can reduce your total cost of operation (TCO)
Academic Research Computing Network (SHARCNET) is
and combining data of different formats onto Linux can
Canada�s largest high-performance computing (HPC)
reduce hardware needs.
research facility. SHARCNET is a consortium of five
� IT utility. Self-configuring components and the dynamic
Southwestern Ontario universities and two community
allocation of resources can dramatically boost server
colleges that provides HPC resources, at no cost, to the
and storage utilization for maximum cost-effectiveness.
Canadian and international research community. In
January 2003, SHARCNET implemented a 64-bit two-
Additionally, HP offers unique consolidation options that
way Intel� Itanium� 2 processor cluster with Linux, to
combine some of the above consolidation methods. HP
meet the demands for cluster computing of a growing
can help you build an infrastructure for an adaptive
research community, which is producing increasingly
enterprise by simplifying, streamlining and optimizing IT
larger, more complex sets of data. Based on positive
environments, making them more agile and able to adapt
results, and premised on a successful proposal to the
dynamically. The result is a more powerful, flexible
Canada Foundation for Innovation, SHARCNET plans to
platform that provides continuous and secure operations
implement an Itanium-based XC solution across its
and lowers the cost of managing change.
computing sites.
HP Utility Data Center
�We wanted to maintain a 64-bit architecture because
research applications, especially those with large,
The HP Utility Data Center (UDC) is a highly integrated
complex data sets, are better suited to this for floating-
and consolidated environment that you can efficiently
point operations,� said Gary Molenkamp, system
manage to furnish IT services on demand. Data center
administrator, SHARCNET. �The implementation of the
virtualization via HP�s UDC offers a higher-level abstrac-
Itanium 2-based servers provided an excellent migration
tion of resources in which groups of servers, storage and
path from the Alpha-based technology upon which
network elements can be provisioned or reallocated on
SHARCNET�s original compute infrastructure was established.
the fly to meet the needs of a new IT service or handle
The Alpha is now an end-of-life technology, and, since
dynamically changing workloads and reduce operational
many high-end UNIX servers (such as HP Superdome
costs. The HP UDC is unique in offering a master software
systems) are migrating to the Itanium processor, the
environment, known as Utility Controller Software, which
implementation of this cluster allows researchers to
can manage all of the virtualized environments � server,
develop and test code on this platform now, instead of
storage and networking � in a coherent and integrated
two years from now. For SHARCNET, the Itanium 2-based
manner. The HP UDC with Utility Controller Software
HP solution was one of forwarding thinking.�
creates and runs virtual IT environments as a highly
5

CalPERS: Building a model adaptive
meeting capacity needs with a service approach rather
than a box approach through IT consolidation with HP
infrastructure
Superdome technology.
With assets of more than $150 billion, the California Pub-
When the decision was made to host new front-end web
lic Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) is the nation�s
applications on the Linux Red Hat operating system,
largest pension fund, providing retirement and health
CalPERS�s new adaptive infrastructure made it easy to roll
benefits to 1.4 million members and more than 2,500
this cost-effective platform on HP ProLiant servers. With
employees. Its clients are active and retired employees
some fine-tuning for Linux, CalPERS could use most of the
and their families from state and local government, school
standards, processes and procedures already established
districts, and public agencies.
for the HP-UX environment. With a streamlined, more
As with many distributed enterprises, CalPERS had man-
manageable infrastructure and a highly professional IT
aged growth by adding servers for each new major
service operation, CalPERS has kept staff and costs at a
application. When the data center reached the limits of
minimum while improving service levels, increasing
capacity and floor space with eight HP-UX T600 and
uptime and supporting roughly three times the number of
three K-class systems, HP recommended a new strategy�
applications that it did five years ago.
Running Linux on HP Integrity
automated service. Simplified delivery of that service
optimizes asset utilization and reduces staffing loads.
Superdome
Once wired, your infrastructure can be reconfigured
As early as 2002, HP demonstrated its Intel Itanium 2-
flexibly and dynamically with minimum effort to respond
based HP Superdome server running multiple operating
quickly to windows of market opportunity. Total cost of
environments � HP-UX, Windows and Linux � concur-
ownership is reduced dramatically through process
rently within a single system in three separate partitions.
automation, standardization, simplification and improved
This highlights HP�s ability to deliver multi-OS functionality
resource utilization. And overall QoS improvements are
on the industry-standard Intel Itanium architecture to meet
realized through rapid, automated resource provisioning.
the diverse customer workload requirements typical of
The HP UDC�s simple design allows you to wire your
today�s enterprise computing environments. As businesses
infrastructure just once. Any reallocation of resources can
look to improve operational efficiencies and reduce costs,
now be done with drag-and-drop simplicity. As a result,
consolidating applications and workloads on their
this new programmable data center approach lets you
enterprise servers represents an effective means for
manage more IT resources with less IT staff. The HP UDC
increasing the return on their technology investments. By
with Utility Controller Software reduces costs and
allowing multiple applications and operating systems to
improves IT flexibility through:
run in a partitioned environment, the highly available HP
Superdome server provides the benefits of better manage-
� Virtualized network resources, permitting drag-and-drop
ability, scalability and flexibility. A 64-way HP
�rewiring� of servers and related assets to create entire
Superdome system can run HP-UX 11i, Windows and
virtual IT environments.
Linux operating environments concurrently in three
� Virtualized storage resources, for secure, effective stor-
different hardware partitions. The configuration of the
age partitioning.
server includes:
� Advanced data center management software, allowing
� Four-way partition running HP-UX 11i with the Oracle�
resources to be automatically reassigned in response to
9.2 database and HP-UX Systems Administration
changing business and IT requirements.
Manger.
� Twenty-way partition running an RC2 version of
Microsoft� Windows .NET Server 2003 Data center
Edition, 64-bit Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise Edition,
and Windows System Resource Manager.
� Four-way partition running Linux with Linux desktop
applications.
6

First Trust Corporation: Threefold performance improvement for rapid growth
database administrator for First Trust. �They allow us to
As one of the nation�s largest independent trust
deploy databases faster and to scale up quickly as our
companies for self-directed retirement plans, First Trust
business demands it.�
Corporation handles transactions equaling millions of dol-
lars per day on behalf of financial intermediaries. �At First
Another major advantage of moving to the HP, Red Hat,
Trust, we process transactions for financial intermediaries
and Intel solution is that it provides an industry-standard
that have extremely high expectations for service levels,�
architecture that can accommodate the multiple solutions
says Jeff Knight, vice president of technology and vendor
First Trust needs to deploy. A standard Itanium 2�based
relations for First Trust. �High availability and the ability
platform allows the company to choose from a broad
to recover in seconds are absolute requirements for
range of software, solutions and components. The ability
remaining competitive and ensuring client satisfaction.�
to run multiple operating systems on a single platform by
taking advantage of the unique Intel Itanium 2
First Trust�s business is expanding rapidly, especially in
microarchitecture is also benefiting First Trust. The compa-
the area of equities transaction processing. The company
ny uses VMware virtualization software on Windows for
wanted to improve the performance and scalability of its
development and quality assurance for its transaction pro-
trading support system to accommodate more
cessing system, but its production environment is Linux. As
transactions and more clients. In addition to these require-
a result, First Trust is able to achieve a higher return on
ments, uptime was critical to ensure 24×7 customer
investment by moving to a single hardware platform for
support, security and failover capabilities. To remain com-
both testing and quality assurance. �With the HP and
petitive with other financial services organizations, one of
Intel solution, we can consolidate our development and
First Trust�s requirements was having a cost-effective solu-
deployment processes onto one standard platform, reduc-
tion to meet its immediate and long-term goals.
ing costs and simplifying development and system
To create a state-of-the-art equity and mutual fund trans-
administration,� explains Garner.
action processing system, First Trust deployed a cluster of
In the financial services world, many companies are mov-
four 2-way HP Integrity rx2600 servers running Oracle9i
ing toward real-time computing to deliver information to
Real Application Clusters (RAC) and Red Hat Enterprise
customer service representatives and customers over the
Linux AS. The new industry standards�based system has
Web. Knight also sees mobile communications and the
exceeded expectations, delivering 99.99 percent uptime
ability for employees and customers to access information
and a threefold performance improvement over the com-
from anywhere, at any time, using wireless devices
pany�s previous IBM RISC-based trading system running
becoming more important. �In the near future, First Trust
on AIX.
will need to become even more responsive to employees
Using Oracle9i RAC systems has also helped First Trust
and clients, and in new, innovative and more convenient
improve the uptime of the solution. �Oracle9i RAC
ways,� says Knight. �HP Integrity servers will be a factor
clusters on Itanium 2�based HP Integrity servers running
in our future strategies.�
Linux helps us be competitive,� says Bill Garner, lead
VMware
Ideally suited to corporate IT and service provider data
centers, VMware ESX Server works by partitioning
HP and VMware have teamed up to provide VMware�s
physical servers into secure virtual servers. Different
ESX Server software on HP servers and blades, helping
operating systems and applications are isolated within
companies not only to implement server consolidation, but
their own virtual servers and can safely coexist on a
also to streamline development and testing, to improve
single HP server. Hardware resources are dynamically
availability and disaster recovery and to facilitate the
allocated to the virtual machine �as required by its
coexistence of multiple operating systems � including
workload or as specified by its administrator. The result is
Linux, Windows and NetWare � on one physical server.
a level of infrastructure control more typical of a
With the introduction of Virtual Center� and VMotion�,
mainframe, at a fraction of the cost.
joint customers can now also centrally manage their
virtual compute resources and dynamically move
HP servers running VMware�s virtual infrastructure
workloads across ESX Servers without service interrup-
technology create secure, fault-resistant partitions with
tions. Virtualization is defined as an approach to IT that
guaranteed performance levels. Companies can reduce
pools and shares resources so utilization is optimized and
operational expenses and capital costs by running
supply automatically meets demand.
services and applications on virtual machines instead of
7

on dedicated hardware. Integrated with HP�s ProLiant
hardware devices and memory. This allows you to run
Essentials software, VMware ESX Server simplifies server
operating systems and software within the emulator on
infrastructure by partitioning and isolating server
your workstation � similar to having a machine inside of
resources so they can be remotely managed and
a machine.
automated. Because VMware runs natively on the
Ensim
hardware without a host operating system for ultimate
performance, ESX Server should run on compatible HP
Ensim� and HP offer joint hosting management solutions
hardware (as outlined in VMware�s compatibility guide on
for service providers. Ensim�s award-winning solutions for
www.VMware.com.)
Linux and Windows offer fully automated hosting
management. Ensim WEBppliance has four interfaces to
Consolidation doesn�t have to mean homogenization. For
delegate administration to specific user roles and a
many companies, a combined Linux/Windows environ-
common interface for Linux and Windows-based testing. It
ment makes the most sense. With VMware software, HP
is designed for a range of HP ProLiant servers. Joint
ProLiant servers can run heterogeneous versions of Linux
solutions components include Ensim Virtual Private Server,
and Windows on a single server.
Ensim server manager and HP ProLiant Servers.
Partitioning also helps VMware ESX Server to bolster HP
Workload Management
servers� already strong data protection capabilities by
allowing critical data to be secured in isolated virtual
The type or makeup of the workload that you envision
machines. You can use these virtual machines to mirror
migrating to Linux not only will have a large impact on
physical servers or act as failover servers to increase
the hardware resources needed, but it will also affect the
availability. VMware ESX Server also helps streamline
possible economics of reduced personnel resources.
and economize development and testing processes. Using
Therefore, identify workloads accurately as early as
virtual rather than physical machines enables developers
possible. The classic environments typically slated for
to execute realistic simulations and tests of sophisticated
migration to Linux are:
systems without acquiring new hardware.
� File and print, monitoring basic network functions such
The benefits of the HP/VMware solution should not come
as file sharing and remote printing.
at the price of restricting future growth. With VMware
� E-mail, including SMTP mail and authentication.
VirtualCenter and VMotion, a system can be moved easily
and quickly to a larger or dedicated computer when your
� Web/Internet, ranging from simply serving static web
needs grow beyond the capacity of a hardware platform,
pages to ostensibly delivering a customized Web site to
and migrations and maintenance can occur without
every user.
interruption to users.
� Firewall/Other I/O bound applications, including fire-
Wine and Bochs
walls, LDAP directories and other applications that
access data across multiple systems.
In addition to VMware, other applications have been
designed to enable Microsoft Windows- based applica-
� Business intelligence, including applications such as
tions to run on the Linux operating system.
data warehousing that typically are I/O bound.
The Wine project does its job by forming a layer between
� Other CPU bound applications, including calculation-
the Microsoft Windows application and the Linux
intensive applications such as CAD/CAM and statistical
operating system, behaving more as an interpreter than a
packages.
full emulator. Think of Wine as a Windows compatibility
layer that does not require Microsoft Windows. More than
� Mixed workload, servers that are running more than
1,000+ applications run under Wine. With Wine, you
one application.
can take advantage of all the UNIX strong points such as
stability, flexibility and remote administration while still
using the Windows applications you depend upon. Wine
is open source software, so you can extend it to suit your
needs.
Bochs is a PC emulation package written in C++ that can
run many Microsoft Windows applications. Currently,
Bochs can run most operating systems inside the
emulation, including Linux, Windows 95, DOS and
Windows NT 4. Bochs can be compiled and used in a
variety of modes. The typical use of Bochs is to provide
complete x86 PC emulation, including the x86 processor,
8

TCO studies
new applications and ongoing maintenance of those
custom applications. Other factors can also affect the
TCO calculation, such as the kind of hardware (and how
IT consolidation should be an ongoing approach to
much of it) you�re using, whether you�re transitioning from
making your business more cost-efficient and improving
Windows or UNIX or starting from the ground up and if
the alignment between business and IT. Application and
your IT staff has any experience with a UNIX-like OS.
data reconfiguration, security, access rights, storage
Analyst firm IDC forecasts that as the entire Linux server
management, performance and maintenance are only a
market matures, TCO costs will come down due to wider
few of the issues that must be handled correctly. Another
availability of package applications for Linux servers and
obstacle is that obtaining funding for a consolidation
greater numbers of programmers and systems administra-
project is difficult without a clearly demonstrable and
tors with skill sets relating to the Linux server platform.
timely ROI.
A recent Gartner Group studyiv shows that enterprises that
Although Linux servers, especially small ones, can be less
tend to install Linux on client desktops will save $80 in
expensive than many traditional UNIX/RISC servers, it�s
hardware acquisition costs and an average of $74 per
important to take into account the total cost of ownership
user per year on office automation software. Table 1
(TCO). To determine whether long-term ownership of Linux
presents a TCO comparison using the typical numbers of
servers is truly less expensive than entry-level UNIX or
ten servers, 3,000 GB of storage, 5,000 users, and an
Windows servers, you�ll need to examine all aspects of
average transaction value per hour of 258,250.
ownership, including custom programming, deployment of
Table 1. A value calculator from
TCO Comparison: Sun Solaris vs. HP Linux ProLiant
Alineanv, the IT value experts, esti-
mates the potential TCO savings
Sun Solaris
HP Linux ProLiant
Savings with HP Linux
and benefits of migrating from your
current business computing platform
Hardware
$178,531
$70,130
$108,401
to Linux on HP ProLiant servers.
Software
$120,000
$66,000
$54,000
IT Operations
$620,116
$181,913
$438,203
IT Administration
$49,797
$29,175
$20,622
Facilities and Overhead
$50,000
$20,000
$30,000
Downtime
$46,485
$104,592
$-58,107
TCO Summary
$1,064,929
$471,810
$593,119
Savings with HP Linux
56%
TCO per System
$106,493
$47,181
$59,312
TCO per User
$213
$94
$119
9

To accomplish an accurate TCO analysis for a Linux
mainframe. These include increasingly high cost of
migration, detailed cost data must be available for
ownership as skills become scarcer and legacy applica-
hardware, software, IT operations, IT administration, facili-
tions and hardware need to be maintained and a lack of
ties and overhead and downtime (as Table 1 shows). It
flexibility/new applications, which would inhibit growth
may also be relevant to include storage and networking
and limit server utilization. Counterintuitive as it may
costs as well as support and maintenance.
seem, some companies are running Linux on their
mainframes. If you are considering running Linux on your
It is only after you examine all of the cost categories that
mainframe, be aware of these limitations:
you can fully appreciate the economic impact that Linux
may have. For example, Table 2 gives the estimated
� To run Linux on a mainframe, you�ll need to run a Linux
budgeted TCO of a mainframe versus Linux on an Intel
partition, and you will still need a mainframe OS to give
system is as follows:
you the LPAR partitioning functionality.
� Only three of the 265 available Linux versions today are
Costs of Linux on an Intel System
specially designed for the mainframe. To date, these
include special mainframe versions of SuSE, TurboLinux,
Cost Category
Linux/Intel
New Mainframe
and Red Hat (32-bit only).
Hardware
$497,822
$5,700,041
� If you currently have fewer than 20 Linux/Intel (Lintel)
Storage
$124,807
$156,009
servers, consolidating onto the mainframe will not pro-
Software
$776,700
$1,163,600
vide a cost advantage.
Services
$188,496
$227,290
� All but one vendor (IBM) has exited the mainframe mar-
ket.
Network
$449,987
$839,987
� Linux on a mainframe supports only a few hundred ISV
Facilities
$209,752
$225,185
applications, compared to the thousands that run on Lin-
Personnel
$1,759,498
$1,199,658
tel. This does not provide the same investment protection
as Linux on Intel Itanium 2 Superdome.
Downtime
$1,234,800
$749,146
� The mainframe does not work well with UNIX and other
Support and Maintenance
$577,379
$777,113
server lines.
Total Cost of Ownership
$5,819,242
$11,038,028
� The initial entry costs and ongoing maintenance are
For example, to make a traditional purchase decision
expensive.
Table 2. This presents your budget-
ed cost of ownership over the life of
based on an acquisition price (hardware and software),
your analysis length, showing raw
� There are hidden software, maintenance and hardware
Table 2 indicates that a Linux/Intel based solution would
cost data before adjusting for tax
component costs.
be the winner. Yet those costs rarely amount to as much
and present value effects. It summa-
rizes the amount you will need to
as 40 percent of the TCO. As a result, acquisition costs
� The technology � and certified mainframe technicians
budget to your Linux migration over
can be deceiving at best and, at worst, can lead to
� are aging.
the time span you have chosen.vi
dismal platform decisions.
� Only about 250 Linux applications are supported on the
However, note that many factors � which may not be
mainframe vs. thousands on Intel.
easily foreseen or controlled � can affect TCO calcula-
tions and realizations. A recent Gartner symposium
Case Studies
indicates that most of the financial benefits of Linux are
HP�s proven commitment to both Linux and IT consol-
clearly cost acquisition-driven and could be affected to
idation is evident not only in its record of success
some degree by your IT organization in ongoing
working with partners, but also in its own IT
operational efficiencies, which may be directly or tangen-
infrastructure: HP reduced its own data centers from
tially a result of Linux. For example, poor provisioning,
153 to just 7, lowering costs by 40 percent. No ven-
management and server utilization could counter the
reduced license, maintenance and capital costs of the
dor has more experience helping companies do
hardware.vii
more with less, and HP continues to consolidate and
optimize its infrastructure as a matter of course.
Comparing Linux/Mainframe to
Linux/Intel
While other companies might specialize in one or two
areas of consolidation, HP�s consolidation experts can
While the mainframe does provide certain advantages
handle your entire consolidation project or execute any
and strengths, there are many reasons to migrate off of a
10

gies. Itanium 2 can, on Linux and HP-UX, provide more
part of it, including assessment, design, planning, testing,
freedom of choice and more flexibility with IA vs. RISC.
piloting and installment. That might be one reason HP
was ranked number one in a 2002 IDC customer server
Lower Saxony Police: Access anywhere
and storage consolidation study.
Lower Saxony police needed to be able to deal with
Key partnerships with software leaders such as Oracle,
crime and emergencies around the clock in Germany�s
SAP and Brocade help HP provide end-to-end consolida-
second largest state. Its applications are mission critical
tion solutions. Only HP supplies a complete storage
and data intensive; they include operative, administrative
solution for Linux environments, including consulting and
and statistical and management information tasks. In the
support services, SAN infrastructure, disk arrays, manage-
past, individual police forces in the area had separate,
ment solutions with integration into enterprise
incompatible IT systems at 600 police stations that were
management tools and value-added programs such as
not connected, creating cost overheads, operational ineffi-
Instant Capacity on Demand. HP makes Linux consolida-
ciencies and delays in the fight against crime.
tion easy with a comprehensive program of consulting
The solution was IT consolidation with Linux, with a
services, including data migration, backup integration
balanced, distributed architecture with unified information
and SAN integration.
system for criminal records, investigative data and
HP�s comprehensive Porting and Migration Services
administrative needs, with Intel Itanium 2-based HP
maximize the benefits of IT consolidation, enabling a
ProLiant Servers (20 at the headquarters and 100 at
smooth transition from legacy environments to HP servers.
stations). The solution includes BEA WebLogic Server 8.1
HP can protect investments in legacy systems by migrating
and WebLogic JRockit, a central database repository
applications, data or both to the HP Linux platform.
based on Oracle9i*, Red Hat Linux and HP-UX operating
During an initial feasibility phase of a consolidation
systems, and Intel Pentium� 4 processor-based PCs for
project, HP consultants help companies evaluate the best
information access. �In the area of central servers, the
options for their needs.
Intel Itanium 2-based HP servers reduce the complexity in
our customers� IT environments. With HP Itanium 2-based
Platform implementation and optimization services�
servers, we can run on a single hardware architecture,
rehosting, refronting and rebuilding�help ensure a
even though more than one OS is required,� said Roland
smooth, low-risk, cost-optimized transition, while
von Bethusy-Huc, senior manager, Mummert Consulting.
operational management assistance and remote
monitoring address resourcing and project management
�We�re using HP servers based on the Intel Itanium 2
concerns. Educational consulting, mentoring and skills
processor in our central environment. That allows us to
management support IT and development staff throughout
administer and operate different operating systems on
the transition.
similar hardware architecture at a low cost,� said Axel
K�hler, project manager, Lower Saxony Police.
All these services help lower TCO by reducing staffing
and training requirements for hardware and software,
The results are rapid access to criminal proceedings,
accelerating the introduction of new features and services
investigations and administration info throughout the state,
and enabling the implementation of data center best
exceptional performance and rapid response times for the
-practices.
11,600 distributed users, lower cost of ownership and
capital expenses by running HP-UX and Linux on a
The BMW Group: Two to three times performance
common platform and outstanding reliability for mission-
BMW is an internationally renowned manufacturer of
critical computing.
prestigious cars, recognized around the world. The BMW
Group uses its motto �Driving ahead� both as an aspira-
Conclusion
tion and a motivation. The company�s will to be ahead is
the result of a passion for mobility and a continued drive
for improvement. From this aspiration flows the energy
IT consolidation solves many of the problems prevalent in
that makes the company successful.
today�s data center, and Linux offers an attractive
package of flexibility, scalability and reliability. As you
The BMW Group in Europe needed to simulate large car
build for the future, make sure you have the right master
models on NASTRAN and had a high demand for large
plan. Then lay a strong foundation with the three Linux
I/O bandwidth and performance in a CAE supercom-
pillars: HP hardware platforms, HP enterprise software
puter data center. Its solution was 12 x 4 way HP Itanium
and HP services. In addition, be sure to partner with the
2-based servers and Nastran (MSC), Pamcrash (ESI) and
right builder � one who can help you achieve maximum
Linux.
return on IT investment.
BMW reported results of two to three times more perform-
IT consolidation and Linux are both means to the same
ance than the fastest RISC systems. It showed the best I/O
end: doing more with less�which makes Linux a good
bandwidth with HP servers of all tested server technolo-
choice for consolidation efforts.
11

Endnotes
iv Gartner Group, Linux on the Desktop: The Whole Story
http://www.gartner.com/DisplayDocument?id=40645
9, August 8, 2003.
i Mark Melenovsky, Stephen L. Josselyn, Matthew East-
v Hewlett-Packard Company and Alinean, Value calcula-
wood, Thomas Meyer, Ricardo Villate, Masahiro
tor: The Value of Linux on HP
Nakamura, Avneesh Saxena, Rajnish Arora, Roman
http://h10018.www1.hp.com/wwsolutions/linux/dow
Mace.ka, Alan Freedman, Greg Ambrose, Jean S. Boz-
nload/tco/HPLinuxTCOCalculator.html, Copyright
man, IDC MARKET ANALYSIS Worldwide and U. S.
2002-2003.
Server Forecast Update, 2002-2007, October 2003,
page 9.
vi CIOview Corp, The Financial Impact of Migrating to
Linux, www.cioview.com, Copyright 2002. Page 3.
ii Mark Melenovsky et al., IDC MARKET ANALYSIS
Worldwide and U.S. Server Forecast Update, 2002-
vii George Weiss, The March of Linux in the Enterprise:
2007, October 2003, page 35.
How Far, How Fast, 41A, SYM13, AE, Gartner Sympo-
sium/ITxpo 2003, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, 20-24
iii Ted Schadler with Charles Rutstein, Forrester Research
October 2003, Walt Disney World.
Inc. WholeView TechStrategy Research: Linux is More
Than Ready for the Enterprise, June 24, 2003, page 1.
To learn more about HP�s offering, visit www.hp.com/linux.
� 2004 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP
products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as
constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.
Intel and Itanium are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.s. and other countries and are used under license. Linux� is a
registered trademark of Linux Torvalds.
5982-3629EN, 02/2004