[geeks] My version: The HP/Compaq Merger: Roadmaps and Food for Thought (fwd)

[Peter L. Wargo]

I never bothered to tell Compaq to flock off after they killed DEC (like
many of us, I was a member of DECUS), so I still get the "encompass"
(gawd, what a name!) mailings.  I've decided to add my comments (my reply
text is quoted) 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 13:21:28 -0500
From: "Joseph.Pollizzi at encompassus.org" <joseph.pollizzi at encompassus.org>
To: "'pwargo at basenji.com'" <pwargo at basenji.com>
Subject: The HP/Compaq Merger: Roadmaps and Food for Thought

Dear Peter,

Now that the HP-Compaq merger is official, what's next? Encompass offers
the following information and food for thought about the HP product
roadmaps.

"Now that we've fucked ourselves and our product line, we're going to try
and fool you into thinking we have somthing coming up, probably the 'food
for thought' that you won't be able to digest."

Hewlett-Packard has published its product roadmaps. There is likely more
information available about HP products for the next three years than exists
for any competitors. A Roadmap white paper, presentation, letter from Jim
Milton (HP Americas Managing Director and Sr. VP Enterprise Systems Group),
expanded version of Encompass' views on the roadmaps, and other materials
are available at: http://www.encompassus.org/resources/hp_compaq.html.

"We're sick of everybody on the internet making fun of us.  Itanium is
great!"

So what do these roadmaps mean to you and your organization?

"Buy Sun or IBM"

Essentially, HP is implementing an "adopt-and-go" strategy: Where HP and
Compaq had similar products, pick the best of breed and incorporate it into
the product set. Encompass is pleased to present this snapshot perspective
on the main issues.

"We're calling it 'battling business units', We got the idea from a
Dilbert cartoon."

Six Operating Systems: HP has committed long-term support for six operating
systems: HP-UX with Tru64 enhancements, 

"Oh, come on.  Just scrap HP-UX.  DEC's unix will always be better!"

HP Non-Stop Kernel,

"Which means it'll stay up for 24 hours before a reboot."

HP OpenVMS,

"Oh, this made me ill."

Linux,

"Along with the rest of the world, it seems."

Novell NetWare,

"Are they still in business?"

and Microsoft Windows.

"After all, windows NT was great for SGI."

HP-UX will gain from Tru64 technologies. Compaq's OpenVMS roadmap reains
intact. HP-UX, HP Non-Stop Kernel, and HP OpenVMS will gain from running
on the same family of servers. HP-UX with Tru64 Enhancements: HP-UX will
be the adopt-and-go enterprise class UNIX. If you're a Tru64 technologist,
pay close attention to HP's engineering plans for HP-UX. Key capabilities
of Tru64 will be added to HP-UX over time.

"Oh, this sounds like a major clusterfuck just waiting to happen."

Storage and SANs (Storage Area Networks): Here, it's almost an "adopt
everything" strategy - and for good reason. The two major storage platforms
will be Compaq's Enterprise Virtual Array and HP's Surestore Disk Array XP
series. Compaq's Enterprise Network Storage Architecture (ENSA) will be the
design model going forward. Compaq's VersaStor approach will continue and
eventually HP's SANlink will be merged in. The software tools will begin to
blend. Pay attention to the storage roadmap, because here it's not simply a
case of one product replacing another. Instead, products and technologies
will merge together to offer new levels of sophistication and capabilities.
64-Bit Servers: HP is headed toward a single family of servers based on
Intel's Itanium Processor Family (IPF). These servers will support the
spectrum of HP's supported operating systems. Compaq's latest AlphaServer
roadmap remains intact.

"Begin to blend?  Feh."

Managing Beyond the Server: Pay close attention to the developing concept of
placing resource management outside the server operating system. These are
important developments that will be part of HP's strategy moving forward.

"You can't manage our servers now, so we will shield you from the horror
that is OpenTru64-UX."

OpenView: OpenView ties many pieces together. Compaq components such as
Insight Manager, Integrated Lights Out, and the SANworks Management
Appliance will integrate into this architecture.

"The check's in the mail, and I won't cum in your mouth."

Linux: HP has a full-line Linux strategy based on six pillars: Managed
Linux, Secure Linux, Pervasive Linux, Fast-Ignition Linux, Clustered Linux,
and Standard Linux. Get to know how HP perceives its Linux strategy.

"You forgot the seventh: TruLinux".

Full Breadth of Technologies: HP is now a soup-to-nuts technology provider.
The merger of the HP world and the Compaq world brings many new technologies
to both worlds.

"Funny that they should mention the word 'nuts'..."

Have we, the customers, gained as a result of this merger? Time will tell.
On paper, it seems that we will begin seeing some new gains within 18-24
months.

"Translated: our CEO will see gains on paper and retire."

One way to look at the merger is that HP and Compaq joined forces for
business reasons.

"Carly needed cash."

The more interesting way to examine the merger is looking at it as the
product of the paradigm shifts that are so prominent in the technology
industry.  I encourage you to begin exploring and understanding the
product roadmaps. Recall that you can get additional information under
non-disclosure agreements (NDA). Work with Encompass so we can
collectively provide HP with feedback about how HP is -- or isn't --
hitting the mark, and so we can guide HP's development plans. Join us at
the HP Enterprise Technical Symposium 2002 in St. Louis this October and
learn the technical details of how HP is going to implement what it is
promising in the roadmaps.

"It's on my list to attend, right after I visit a maximum-security prison
with a gallon of K-Y and a fistful of spanish fly."

I hope this overview is helpful in bringing you up to speed on the
anticipated effects of the merger. Please continue to look to Encompass for
news, training, and peer interchange opportunities that will enable us to
help ourselves and our employers exploit the new HP product line.

"Ahhh... 'exploit'.  Another great term in this context."

Joseph Pollizzi
President, Encompass U.S., Inc.

"Hope you got some options, buddy, cuz I wouldn't want to be in your
shoes."

Jim Milton Letter - http://www.encompassus.org/images/pdfs/miltonlet.pdf
Roadmap - http://www.encompassus.org/images/pdfs/prodroadmap.pdf
Customer Presentation (6MB ppt) -
http://www.encompassus.org/images/MC_customer_final.ppt
Food For Thought (Complete Text) -
http://www.encompassus.org/news/foodforthought.html
OpenVMS/Tru64 Newsletter -
http://www.encompassus.org/images/pdfs/hpnewsletter.pdf

"Oooooooooo.... Powerpoint files for the UNIX and VMS users!  Smaaaart."

-Pete