User manual HP COMPAQ TASKSMART INTERNET CACHING SERVER COMPAQ TASKSMART APPLIANCE SERVERS: COMPUTING PARADIGM OF THE FUTURE

[. . . ] Nothing herein should be construed as constituting a further or additional warranty. This publication does not constitute an endorsement of the product or products that were tested. The configuration or configurations tested or described may or may not be the only available solution. This test is not a determination or product quality or correctness, nor does it ensure compliance with any federal state or local requirements. [. . . ] There are, however, some functions that are just done better by other devices. " Several vendors are developing integrated hardware/softwareofferings. However, Compaq is the first vendor to propose a comprehensive approach ­ an overall strategy for addressing customer needs across a broad application range. This underlying business architecture, an effort to ensure customers have the fastest, simplest solution, is focused on four main areas: · Powerful enterprise management · Best-of-breed solutions · Broadest range of integration and sales support · Simplified service and complete accountability Powerful Enterprise Management Compaq recognizes that IT managers look to standardize their architectures and vendors. The last thing many companies want is another new platform to manage, another new application to learn and integrate, and another new vendor to build a service relationship with. Consequently, Compaq TaskSmart servers will be delivered with a unified management architecture that includes powerful enterprise management tools. Every server in the TaskSmart family will have simple, intuitive interfaces and tools for application setup and management. Complete remote setup and administration will be supported as a TaskSmart server standard. In addition, all products in the TaskSmart family will have a common management framework, and common interfaces, reducing the need for training and increasing user familiarity. Compaq TaskSmart servers will provide seamless integration with enterprise management tools, including Compaq Insight Manager, HP OpenView, Tivoli, BMC, and CA, to meet the broadest range of business needs. Best-of-Breed Solutions As the volume and market leader in server hardware, Compaq has an unmatched track record of industry-standard hardware innovation. This leadership has been maintained by combining Compaq' engineering excellence with unrivalled integration expertise. Compaq works constantly s with partners to deliver fully tested and optimized standards-based solutions, culminating in more customers and a leading market share position across a range of operating systems and applications. The development leverage inherent in industry-standard solutions drives both a faster pace of innovation as well as significant economies. Customers know that a Compaq solution will have high value, will be brought to market quickly, and will be fully tested and optimized for the industry-standard computing environment. Combining Compaq engineering excellence with our strong software partner relationships, Compaq will deliver the best-optimized products based on the unique characteristics of each application and how it fits within a customer environment. 0194-0699-A Compaq TaskSmart Appliance Servers: Computing Paradigm of the Future 5 Broadest Range of Integration and Sales Support Compaq TaskSmart servers provide a self-contained solution at the hardware/operating system/application level. However, for many applications, customers are looking for a best-ofclass total solution at the business process level. As such, Compaq TaskSmart servers represent critical building blocks to help customers deploy a total solution more quickly and costeffectively than a proprietary alternative. Particularly in an environment of IT skill shortage and time constraints, Compaq is working closely with broader solution providers to meet these needs. Compaq Network System Integration Services, other business solution providers, and high value channel partners will all be empowered to use Compaq appliance servers as components in broader business process solutions. In addition, pre-sales services such as network planning, product sizing and application suitability will soon be available to aid customers in confident appliance deployment. Compaq industry-standard server account teams will also be offering TaskSmart servers, along with the full range of ProLiant and Prosignia products, through new online ordering mechanisms as well as traditional Compaq channels. As TaskSmart servers are pre-configured, optimized, and tested in the factory, Compaq will deliver them quickly and easily directly to customers however they are ordered. Simplified Service and Complete Accountability Many customers require early support when deploying new applications. "Internet caches are at once a simple and obvious engineering enhancement to the basic publish and browse model of the Internet, and at the same time offer a diverse set of valuable benefits that are not immediately obvious, ranging from acceleration of existing web servers, replacing existing cumbersome file mirroring schemes, to significantly enhancing the performance of Internet browsers over dial-up modem connections, " notes Peter Christy, Senior Analyst at Collaborative Collaborative Research, a Silicon-Valley based consultancy which tracks the caching marketplace. [. . . ] Compaq will provide, support, and manage the integrated application. Compaq appliance choices are based on two key factors: · Whether the application and communication standards for the application are well-defined · The amount of customization required by most common deployments of that application If standards are well-defined, the appliance server based on those standards will be broadly accepted. When little application customization is required, those servers can be integrated before shipment, easily deployed, and plugged seamlessly into a customer network. The Compaq vision of appliance servers incorporates two differing technical approaches. [. . . ]