Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) is adding a new business unit within its Enterprise Storage and Server (ESS) organization as a way to highlight its IT management, automation and virtualization software.
The vendor Tuesday announced the formation of the ESS Software unit, which will house HP storage and server offerings currently spread out across the company’s operations.
So far, the unit will be the new home for HP’s Systems Insight Manager server and storage management software, its Storage Essentials products gained through the October 2005 purchase of AppIQ, its real-time server resource optimization offering Virtual Server Environment and its ProLiant Essentials software, which manages HP’s ProLiant servers.
Having a central place for its server and storage software will help HP better compete with rivals in the market like EMC Corp., IBM Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc. as well as assist the company in developing new functionality in line with its Adaptive Infrastructure management technologies strategy, the vendor said. Bob Schultz is heading up the ESS Software unit, with responsibilities including strategic planning and product development and management. For the next couple of weeks, Schultz will also hold on to his old job as senior vice president and general manager of HP’s StorageWorks division, a position he’s held since 2003, until the vendor appoints his successor.
The creation of the new software unit is part of a sweeping restructuring under way at HP spearheaded by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mark Hurd who joined the company in 2005. The intention is to end up with a leaner, meaner, more focused HP that’s better able to compete in the market through a combination of layoffs and refocusing of its business operations.
Last week, HP announced the formation of a Business Information Optimization unit within its HP Software operation to bring together the vendor’s business intelligence and information management offerings, which had been dispersed around the organization.