QuickSpecs HP PolyServe Software for Microsoft SQL Server

Product Overview

The HP PolyServe Software for Microsoft SQL Server enables multiple SQL Server instances to be consolidated onto substantially
fewer servers and centralized SAN storage. The unique "shared data" architecture of the HP PolyServe software delivers enterprise
class availability and virtualization-like flexibility in a utility platform.

Unlike server virtualization and traditionally high availability products, it goes beyond just consolidation and simple failovers to
provide scalable capacity allocation, on-the-fly instance mobility, making it the ideal solution for database consolidation.

Key features include:

Adaptive, Scalable SQL Server Platform

Consolidated Data Management
High Availability for Mission-Critical Applications

What Is the HP PolyServe The HP PolyServe for Microsoft SQL Server software enables multiple SQL Server instances to be
Software for Microsoft consolidated onto substantially fewer servers and centralized SAN storage. PolyServe's unique "shared
SQL Server? data" architecture delivers enterprise class availability and virtualization-like flexibility in a utility platform.

Unlike server virtualization and traditionally high availability products, it goes beyond just consolidation
and simple failovers to provide scalable capacity allocation, on-the-fly instance mobility making it the
ideal solution for database consolidation.

Key features of the HP PolyServe software include:

1. Adaptive, Scalable SQL Server Platform

Dynamic Re-Hosting™ to quickly deploy, stack or reallocate SQL Server instances to any
server
Add server, blade, and storage capacity without disrupting existing operations
Only server consolidation solution that provides enterprise class availability and
virtualization-like flexibility
2. Consolidated Data Management
"Shared Data" architecture maximizes consolidation while providing ultimate flexibility in
data structure configuration for database administrators
Single, shared pool of resources simplifies storage allocation, backup, and configuration
tasks
Enables a shared services model for more efficient staff utilization and budget
allocation
3. High Availability for Mission-Critical Applications
Reliable, easy to manage high availability for all instances
"One-Click" and "Roll-Through" maintenance pushes updates or hot fixes to all servers

The HP PolyServe software supports HP ProLiant Servers and SAN storage arrays. Installation and
optimization services are available to help customers successfully migrate from SQL Server 2000 to
2005 or 2008.

DA - 12741 Worldwide — Version 6 — June 9, 2011 Page 1

QuickSpecs HP PolyServe Software for Microsoft SQL Server
Product Benefits

SQL Server Consolidation Customers have experienced SQL Server count and storage footprint reduction of over 75%, leading to
hard cost savings and a reduction of datacenter facility power consumption. Additionally, improvements
in operational efficiency contribute to three year total cost of ownership (TCO) reduction of 50%.

High Availability for Provides less than 30 second failover architecture for SQL Server databases that drastically reduces both
Mission-Critical planned and unplanned downtime.
Applications

Real-time Resource Dynamic Re-Hosting provides Instance Mobility, the ability to move SQL Server instances from one server
Allocation Adjustments to another with less than 30 seconds of downtime, to optimize resources based on shifting workloads

Scale System Capacity Add server, blade, and storage capacity without disrupting existing operations
Online

Simplify Infrastructure Reduce the time required to perform routine system and storage administration tasks by up to 75%.
Management "One-Click" and "Roll-Through" maintenance pushes updates or hot fixes to all servers

"Shared Data" Designed The "Shared Data" architecture provides the ultimate flexibility in data structure configuration allowing
for Database DBAs to tune for performance, security, and manageability while still deriving the benefits of
Consolidation and consolidation and high availability.
Management

Shared Services Model The leading Enterprise-wide consolidation platform for SQL Server that enables a standardized Shared
Services model for better SLA achievement and easier cost allocations, all at a lower cost structure.

DA - 12741 Worldwide — Version 6 — June 9, 2011 Page 2

QuickSpecs HP PolyServe Software for Microsoft SQL Server
Product Highlights

SQL Server Versions SQL Server 2008, SQL Server 2005. SQL Server 2000 is supported only during upgrade process
Supported

Integrated High Database health monitoring and automated failover with active-active and many-many
Availability

Support for Alternate Provides full support of Microsoft's ADS format. ADS is used to provide extended file information for
Data Streams (ADS) applications.

HA support for SQL Delivers online analytical processing (OLAP) and data mining functionality for business intelligence
Server Analysis Services applications.
(SSAS)

Dynamic Re-Hosting™ Dynamically Re-Hosting instances to a new server within 30 seconds.

"One-Click" Maintenance Push installs, hot-fixes and upgrades to every failover target with a single mouse click.

Backups / Snapshots Support for SQL Server's Database Backup snapshots, storage array based backup and 3rd party
backup solutions.

Fast Recovery Quickly reboot with database fast recovery via Database Consistency Checker

Operating Systems 64-bit only: Windows Server 2008 SP2, Windows Server 2008 R2 and SP1
Supported

Storage Protocols Network-attached fiber channel (FC) and iSCSI (based on Microsoft Initiator).
Supported

Servers Supported per Scale from 2 to 16 nodes.

Cluster

General-Purpose Run Windows-compatible applications such as backup and restore, anti-virus, and line-of-business
Applications applications directly on a PolyServe Utility server to offload SQL Server servers.

DA - 12741 Worldwide — Version 6 — June 9, 2011 Page 3

QuickSpecs HP PolyServe Software for Microsoft SQL Server
Product Technical Details

The HP PolyServe Software for Microsoft SQL Server is an integrated product that allows a collection of servers and SAN storage to
be managed as a single entity for hosting many SQL Server databases. It is made up of several components that work together:

Matrix Server, which provides shared data clustering and allows a set of servers to be managed as a unit.
Cluster Volume Manager, which allows storage from multiple arrays to be used and managed as a unit.
Database Utility for SQL Server, which adapts the core shared data clustering capabilities of the previous two components for
use with SQL Server.

Matrix Server
Matrix Server runs on Windows Server 2008 SP2. It allows up to 16 servers to form a shared data cluster, with a single storage pool
and a single management point for applications. A basic block diagram of a typical deployment is shown below.

A typical Matrix Server environment consists of Intel- or AMD-based HP ProLiant industry-standard servers or BladeSystems, a
storage area network (connected via fibre channel or iSCSI), one or more HP storage arrays attached to the SAN, and one or more
standard Ethernet networks linking the servers. Matrix Server itself includes these capabilities:

A cluster file system that allows multiple servers to access the same storage simultaneously
A high-availability and application control engine that monitors hardware and software health and can restart and move
applications within the cluster
A single management console called Matrix Manager that allows the status of all hardware and software resources in the
cluster to be viewed at a glance and controlled from one location.
Support for industry-standard servers and storage. Use 32- or 64-bit Intel Opteron or Intel E64T servers, of any configuration.
Utilize industry-standard storage connected via fiber channel (FC) or iSCSI.

Cluster Volume Manager (CVM)

Matrix Server provides the foundation for the Database Utility for SQL Server by allowing a set of servers to access shared file
systems simultaneously and thus to be managed as a single unit. The Cluster Volume Manager provides an analogous capability for
storage. It allows disk space from multiple storage arrays to be used and managed as a single pool.

With the CVM, an administrator can create a single volume from free space on multiple arrays (or in multiple LUNs on a
single array). In this way a file system can make use of whatever storage is available.

DA - 12741 Worldwide — Version 6 — June 9, 2011 Page 4

QuickSpecs HP PolyServe Software for Microsoft SQL Server
Product Technical Details
The CVM also allows a volume to be striped across multiple arrays. This can improve I/O rates by aggregating the
performance of the arrays, which is especially useful for sequential workloads frequently associated with data warehouses2.
Through concatenation or striping, CVM permits the construction of huge file systems that exceed the typical 2TB limit on the
size of individual LUNs.
In some environments, it is customary to configure every storage array with a set of LUNs of a fixed size-say, 30 gigabytes.
The CVM allows a server administrator to construct file systems of whatever sizes are desired using these fixed LUNs.
Finally, if a file system is becoming too full, the CVM can be used to expand the file system, without taking the cluster down,
using free space from any array accessible to the cluster.

Database Utility for SQL Server

The final necessary ingredient is an integration layer that applies the core capabilities of Matrix Server and Cluster Volume Manager
to SQL Server. This layer, called the Database Utility for SQL Server, includes:

A SQL Server health monitor that periodically probes SQL Server instances within the cluster to ensure that client requests are
being successfully handled. This will detect if a SQL Server instance hangs, even if the operating system and hardware remain
healthy.
A SQL instance virtualizer that allows the creation of a "Virtual SQL Server." A virtual SQL Server is an adaptation of the Matrix
Server virtual host concept. It consists of a virtual IP address that clients use to connect, a specified primary server in the
cluster, a prioritized list of backup servers, and from one to 16 associated SQL Server instances. If a server fails, the virtualizer
will move the virtual IP address to the top server in the list that is capable of hosting the virtual SQL server; it then restarts the
database instances in the new location. Note that, unlike server virtualization, the SQL instance virtualizer component itself is
not active during normal operation. Thus there is no performance penalty; SQL runs at full native speed, with native access to
all hardware resources. The virtualizer also ensures that a given database is only ever accessed from one server at a time,
since SQL Server is not designed to allow multiple server concurrent access.
A SQL Server registry replicator. SQL Server stores some configuration information in the Windows registry, which is located
on each server's individual C: drive. To ensure this information is available to other servers in the cluster if a database
instance needs to move, the Database Utility includes a component that automatically replicates relevant registry information
into the cluster-wide shared storage.
A SQL installation and hotfix updater agent. To simplify installation of SQL Server and of hotfixes across multiple servers, the
Database Utility includes a push installer agent. The administrator simply places the appropriate installation packages in the
shared file system, then uses the push installer agent to perform installations or hotfix updates across the entire cluster-what
we call "one-click maintenance."
The Database Utility for SQL Server thus provides an easy way to move SQL Server instances within a cluster to improve
resource utilization, an easy path to complete high availability for all instances in the cluster, and a simple way of performing
typical SQL Server installation and maintenance tasks.

DA - 12741 Worldwide — Version 6 — June 9, 2011 Page 5

QuickSpecs HP PolyServe Software for Microsoft SQL Server
Optional Software Components

Optional Software HP OpenView Storage The HP OpenView Storage Data Protector software is enterprise data
Data Protector protection and disaster recovery, ensuring recovery from any disruption. Data
Protector integrates a variety of techniques to eliminate backup and recovery
windows. The capabilities to eliminate planned downtime range from online
backup and backup of open files to zero-downtime, zero-impact backup. The
software provides industry-leading instant recovery as well as several disaster
recovery alternatives to eliminate unplanned downtime, allowing recovery of
entire data centers in minutes.

Data Protector is enabling organizations to reduce costs by automating

routine tasks to maximize the effectiveness of the data protection staff. For the
price of an entry-level product, it provides the enterprise functionality
customers need. Data Protector scales from single server to distributed
enterprise, covering an extensive range of heterogeneous applications,
operating environments and storage configurations with a single solution.

The HP PolyServe Database Utility for SQL Server supports using Data
Protector as the backup software solution. For more information on HP
OpenView Data Storage Protector:
http://h18006.www1.hp.com/products/storage/software/
dataprotector/index.html

DA - 12741 Worldwide — Version 6 — June 9, 2011 Page 6

QuickSpecs HP PolyServe Software for Microsoft SQL Server
Service and Support, HP Care Pack, and Warranty Information

HP Care Pack Services. Scalable, Flexible, Dependable. Like your storage.

Your storage is evolving. Get scalable support that evolves with it. HP Care Pack Services is an easy-to-buy, easy-to-use portfolio of
packaged services covering your lifecycle needs. You can rely on our highly skilled, HP certified professionals to offer a breadth of
expertise across leading storage technologies, and work side by side with you for optimal results. Partner with HP Technology
Services to boost availability and avoid costly downtime by mitigating technology-related business risks. To help take the worry out of
deploying, supporting and managing your storage technologies, we've designed a portfolio of service options that are as flexible,
scalable and affordable as our storage.

Protect your business beyond the warranty

Standard warranty protects against product defects and some causes of downtime. HP Care Pack Services helps you proactively
guard against unplanned downtime which can reduce your productivity and profitability. By using a standard approach to warranty
uplifts, such as HP Care Pack Services, customers can be certain of consistency of operations for both mission-critical and standard
business computing.

Extending warranties with HP Care Pack Services

The key to normalizing the warranty of combined solutions-is making service uplift simple: HP Care Pack Services. This portfolio of
predefined packages, extending across the entire IT lifecycle, offering consulting, education, technical support, optimization, risk
assessment, and more. It's entirely flexible allowing customers to extend the cover to the precise level of support required. Customer's
standard hardware warranty, for example, can be upgraded to next-business-day response, to same-day coverage, or even to a
committed six-hour call-to-repair service available 24 hours every day of the week.

Provide consistent, predictable levels of support across your entire department or business
Give you direct access to proven technical and problem-solving expertise
Offer a choice of response-time and repair-time commitments
Are available whenever and wherever you do business

For many products, post-warranty HP Care Pack Services are available when your original warranty has expired. Choose the support
levels that meet your business requirements, from basic to mission-critical. In the new world of business technology, when your
technology has to work for your business to work, who can you trust to make your technology work? HP Technology Services, the
trusted business technology experts who manage your technology in action, because when technology works, business works.
http://www.hp.com/hps/storage

NOTE: Care Pack Services availability may vary by product and country.

Warranty and Services HP warrants only that the Software media will be free of physical defects for a period of ninety (90) days
Included with the Product from delivery.

DA - 12741 Worldwide — Version 6 — June 9, 2011 Page 7

QuickSpecs HP PolyServe Software for Microsoft SQL Server
Service and Support, HP Care Pack, and Warranty Information
Recommended Services HP Care Pack Services recommended for optimal satisfaction of all deployments of your product.
3-Year HP Support Plus 24 3-Year HP Support Plus 24 provides integrated hardware and software
support services designed specifically for your technology. HP Services
engineers deliver reactive onsite hardware support and over-the-phone
software support around-the-clock.
HP PolyServe Installation HP PolyServe Installation and Startup Service provides installation and
and Startup Service configuration of HP PolyServe software in your storage environment.
Required for new sales.
Product Number Product Name Service Name Care Pack Services
Product # and Band
HP PolyServe Installation HA114A1-57Q
and Startup Service
T5395BA/BAE HP PolyServe Database 3-Year HP Support Plus HA110A3-7EY
Utility Pack 1 CPU 24
LTU/E-LTU
T5395BBE HP PolyServe Database 3-Year HP Support Plus HA110A3-7EZ
Utility Pack 8 CPU E-LTU 24

Related Services Services that will enhance the user experience in many product deployments.
3-Year HP Proactive 24 3-Year HP Proactive 24 Service (P24) is an integrated hardware and software
support solution, which combines industry leading technical assistance with
proactive account services to cover the entire IT infrastructure and to improve
the stability, availability, and operational effectiveness of the IT environment.
HP Proactive Select Service HP Proactive Select Service improves IT performance and manageability
through the use of cost effective flexible proactive services. This proactive
service allows you to accelerate the ROI of your technology environment, by
tailoring specific services to more quickly take advantage of your investment.
Product Number Product Name Service Name Care Pack Alternate Care
Services Pack Service
Product # and Product #
Band
HP Proactive Contact your HP Contact your HP
Select Service sales rep or sales rep or
Channel Partner Channel Partner
for assistance for assistance
T5395BA/BAE HP PolyServe 3-Year HP HA111A3-7EY
Database Utility Proactive 24
Pack 1 CPU
LTU/E-LTU
T5395BBE HP PolyServe 3-Year HP HA111A3-7EZ
Database Utility Proactive 24
Pack 8 CPU E-LTU

DA - 12741 Worldwide — Version 6 — June 9, 2011 Page 8

QuickSpecs HP PolyServe Software for Microsoft SQL Server
Service and Support, HP Care Pack, and Warranty Information
eSupport HP eSupport is a portfolio of technology-based services that assist you with managing your business
environment - from the desktop to the data center.

Support Portal
The HP support portal provides one-stop access to the information, tools and services you need to
manage the daily operations of your IT environment.

Features include:

Access to self-solve tools (including search technical knowledge base)

Efficient logging and tracking of support cases
Collaboration with other business and IT professionals
Download of patches and drivers
Access to diagnostic tools
Proactive notification of relevant information

Access to certain features of the support portal requires an HP service agreement. To access the support
portal, visit: http://www.hp.com/support

Customer Technical Consider education as an integral part of your strategy to get the best return on investment for your HP
Training storage solution. HP offers a variety of training courses on storage software, networking, archiving and
disk storage systems. Our classes are available in many delivery modalities from traditional instructor-led
courses at one of our 80 training centers worldwide to on-site training customized to your needs or
online. www.hp.com/learn/storage

HP Services Awards HP Services continues to be recognized for service and support excellence by customers, partners,
industry organizations and publications around the world. Recent honors and award reflect our services
team's dedications, technical expertise, professionalism and uncompromising commitment to customer
satisfaction. For a list of all our awards, please visit:
http://h20219.www2.hp.com/services/cache/433028-0-0-225-121.html.

Additional Services For more information about HP Care Pack Services for Storage, please visit:
Information http://www.hp.com/hps/storage

If you have specific questions, contact your local HP representative. Contact information for a
representative in your area can be found at "Contact HP" http://www.hp.com

DA - 12741 Worldwide — Version 6 — June 9, 2011 Page 9

QuickSpecs HP PolyServe Software for Microsoft SQL Server
Ordering Information

The HP PolyServe Software for Microsoft SQL Server is licensed on a per CPU socket basis. Support must be ordered separately. For
example if you have 2 HP ProLiant DL585 servers with 4 dual-core CPUs (total of 8 CPU sockets) you would need to order the
following part numbers.
HP PolyServe Pack 8 CPU 1x T5395BBE
E-LTU
Plus one Installation and Startup service and one three-year support pack.
If you require a physical LTU then you need to order:
HP PolyServe 1 CPU LTU 8x T5395BA
HP PolyServe Software 1x T5392AA
Media CD
HP PolyServe software NOTE: Support must be ordered separately. HP PolyServe Installation and Startup service is required
with the purchase of a first cluster.
HP PolyServe Database The Database Utility Pack is comprised of the applicable T5395BA
Utility Pack 1 CPU LTU number of CPUs of each of the following Software
modules: (i) Matrix Server; (ii) Cluster Volume Manager;
and (iii) Database Solution Pack. This includes a physical
License-to-Use (LTU)
HP PolyServe Database The Database Utility Pack is comprised of the applicable T5395BAE
Utility Pack 1 CPU E-LTU number of CPUs of each of the following Software
modules: (i) Matrix Server; (ii) Cluster Volume Manager;
and (iii) Database Solution Pack. This includes an
electronic License-to-Use (E-LTU)
HP PolyServe Database The Database Utility Pack is comprised of the applicable T5395BBE
Utility Pack 8 CPU E-LTU number of CPUs of each of the following Software
modules: (i) Matrix Server; (ii) Cluster Volume Manager;
and (iii) Database Solution Pack. This includes an
electronic License-to-Use (E-LTU)
HP PolyServe Software Hard-copy product CDs T5392AA
Media CD
HP PolyServe Software Provides onsite installation and startup services for HP HA114A1#57Q
Installation and Startup PolyServe software products.
Upgrades Customers wishing to upgrade to version 4.1 must be running version 3.6.x or above. If a customer is
currently running a version of PolyServe Software for Microsoft SQL Server earlier than version 3.6.X,
they must first upgrade to version 3.6.1 and then upgrade to version 4.0 or version 4.1. For example a
customer running version 3.4.0 would need to first upgrade to version 3.6.1 before upgrading to version
4.0 or 4.1. Customers wishing to move to SQL version 2008 have a choice to upgrade from SQL
version 2000 or 2005 or 2008. However, only customers starting with SQL version 2005 can migrate to
SQL version 2005 on HP PolyServe Software version 4.0.

DA - 12741 Worldwide — Version 6 — June 9, 2011 Page 10

QuickSpecs HP PolyServe Software for Microsoft SQL Server
Technical Specifications

Below are the technical specifications of the HP PolyServe Software for Microsoft SQL Server (varies depending on the amount of
system resources available to the SQL server).
Version 4.1
Maximum number of nodes supported per 16
cluster
Maximum virtual SQL Server 2008 hosts per Database service 128
cluster Analysis service 128
Total 256
Maximum active SQL Server 2008 instances Database service 16
per virtual SQL host Analysis service 16
Total 32
Virtual SQL Host - is a virtualized representation of a traditional SQL instance that is PolyServe cluster aware and provides the ability
to re-host the instance dynamically between several nodes of the PolyServe cluster thus providing High Availability to the SQL
instance.

© Copyright 2011 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.

The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.

Windows is a US registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Intel is a US registered trademark of Intel Corporation.

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.

For hard drives, 1 GB = 1 billion bytes. Actual formatted capacity is less.

DA - 12741 Worldwide — Version 6 — June 9, 2011 Page 11