HPE Updates Storage Systems as Primera Storage Gets AI Self-Healing

Improved data performance and artificial intelligence-based self-healing features are among the updates in the latest HPE storage systems.

The updates arrive in Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s Primera and Nimble storage product lines, giving partners and their customers new capabilities. Primera gets AI-driven, self-healing and self-optimization features that deliver real-time autonomous operations. Nimble storage systems get storage-class memory with response times up to twice as fast as existing units.

Both Primera and Nimble storage get new three-site replication capabilities for disaster recovery, up from the previous two-site replication services. In addition, new all-NVMe support for HPE Primera improves performance density for customers, the company said.

COVID-19 Implications

The new automation capabilities in Primera are particularly important for businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. So says David Wang, director of product marketing for HPE storage.

HPE’s David Wang

“Businesses need to be more agile as organizations,” Wang told Channel Futures. “They have less time to manage and need more time to respond to changing conditions. They need to be able to help their customers in their recoveries, but also be able to help with what’s next for them and their digital transformations.”

The new enhancements in HPE’s storage products reflect those needs, he said.

“This pandemic caused what was already in motion – companies moving to IT agility and from capex to opex models – and kickstarted it farther and faster,” he added.

The Primera AI features build on 10 years of cloud-based machine learning, giving users more storage insights, he said.

“The systems have the ability to autonomously make changes without IT [getting] involved,” said Wang. “These are closed-loop, real-time changes where the systems can self-optimize.”

Like self-driving car technologies that are evolving, HPE is enabling storage to take actions for its users, he said. For instance, for Nimble storage customers, including storage-class memory improves performance for customers on a budget.

“Storage-class memory drives very fast data response times for read-intensive workloads like Oracle databases,” said Wang. “They can get it without breaking the bank.”

For channel partners, the HPE storage system updates give them opportunities to help their customers with post-COVID-19 recoveries, said Wang. That includes financial incentives to help customers get the technologies they need.

Partners Embrace the Changes

Steve Lankard, VP and principal for infrastructure solutions at channel partner CBTS, said HPE’s autonomous features show it’s listening.

CBTS’ Steve Lankford

“Businesses want to focus their scarce human capital on work that is strategic,” said Lankard. “IT shops are looking to leverage automation and intelligence in the solutions they deploy. HPE is taking automation and intelligence to new levels.”

To do that, HPE is developing AI-driven storage that anticipates and fixes potential problems before they occur, he said.

“HPE listened and delivered storage platforms that provide cost savings and a compelling reason to modernize aging infrastructure,” said Lankard.

Also important in the updated HPE storage systems are their true pay-for-use on-premises consumption models.

“We are empowered to have a comprehensive business conversation with our customers about solutions that will effectively impact their operations, balance sheet, income statement and financial ratios in a time where this matters the most,” said Lankard.

Another partner, Patrick O’Dell with reseller CPP Associates, said the new near-instant …