HPE has released its next-generation server platform, HPE Synergy. According to HPE.COM, this is the world’s first platform architected to deliver a composable infrastructure.

1. HPE Synergy Connected by
Cavium QLogic Adapters
HPE has released its next-generation server platform, HPE Synergy. According to
HPE.COM, this is the world’s first platform architected to deliver a composable
infrastructure. HPE Synergy is designed to deliver high-
performance capability, allowing system administrators to
deploy, manage, and configure compute/storage/network
(fabric) resources as needed for their customers. Here at
Cavium, we have been working with HPE on I/O solutions
for HPE Synergy for more than three years now. Based on
the events I’ve already attended this year, there is lots of
excitement among partners and customers for this new
platform, and with good reason.
HPE Synergy lets administrators easily mix and match flexible pools of compute,
storage, and network connectivity on the fly to support a variety of different
workloads—managed from a single console based on HPE OneView. The new HPE
Synergy platform is a game-changer for the industry and will certainly provide
significant benefits to customers of all sizes, from
SMB to the Enterprise.
Under the hood, instead of using fixed data and
connectivity paths within the chassis like the HPE BladeSystem c-class, HPE
Synergy uses the HPE Synergy Composer to drive all resource allocation. The
Composer is a purpose-built server designed to streamline and simplify the
connectivity between the server, storage, and network elements within the HPE
Synergy frame or across multiple frames. HPE OneView (which replaces Virtual

2. Connect Enterprise Manager used in HPE BladeSystem for profile creation and
orchestration) enables the administrator to create profiles and deploy any of the
resources within a frame or across multiple frames from a single console. The
network that connects the HPE Synergy Composer to the other HPE Synergy
resources runs on a Cavium QLogic 57840S controller that delivers high-
performance 10Gb Ethernet and iSCSI connectivity. HPE also leverages Cavium
QLogic NPAR technology to virtualize the fabric connectivity of the HPE Composer
and allow for quality-of-service control for the internal network resources.
On the HPE Synergy Compute modules, HPE offers either the HPE Synergy
2820C 10GbE CNA or HPE Synergy 3820C 10/20GbE CNA adapters from Cavium
for connectivity to a variety of fabric modules for external LAN and/or SAN
connectivity. These CNAs are based on the same Cavium QLogic 57840S controller
used in the network that supports the HPE Synergy Composer, as well as the HPE
530, 630 and CN1100R Series Ethernet and FlexFabric Adapters for HPE ProLiant
and Apollo servers.
When paired with the HPE Virtual Connect SE 40Gb F8 Module for Synergy, the
HPE Synergy 2820C/3820C CNAs provide 10GbE or 20GbE internal Ethernet
connectivity between compute modules as well as 10GbE, 10Gb iSCSI and/or 8Gb
Fibre Channel connectivity from the HPE Synergy frame to other network or
storage resources in the data center.
For high-performance Fibre Channel SAN connectivity, HPE offers the HPE Synergy
3830C 16Gb Fibre Channel Adapter and theHPE Brocade 16Gb Fibre Channel SAN
Switch for HPE Synergy. Together, these provide Gen 5 16Gb Fibre Channel

3. connectivity from the Synergy Compute modules to external shared storage, like
HPE 3PAR. The HPE Synergy 3830C 16Gb Fibre Channel Adapter shares the same
intelligent features of the HPE StoreFabric SN1100Q including a rich set of
features and capabilities, called "StorFusion technology," specifically enabled
when connected to Brocade 16Gb or 32Gb switches. I’ve written about these
features we call StorFusion technology. For more information, see "QLogic Gen 5
16Gb Fibre Channel with StorFusion Technology – It is Not Your Father's Fibre
Channel."
Combining these technologies with HPE Synergy enables administrators to greatly
reduce the time it takes to deploy, manage, and orchestrate changes on the fly in
their compute/storage/networking environment. Regardless of the customer’s
workload requirements and the configuration of their HPE Synergy compute,
storage, and networking resources, the HPE Synergy eco-system runs on industry-
leading Cavium QLogic I/O technology.
It is great to see HPE delivering breakthrough technology like HPE Synergy to the
marketplace. Since December, I’ve been at several HPE events with HPE Field,
Partners, and Customers, so I can tell you first hand, the excitement for HPE
Synergy is very high.
Here at Cavium, we are especially proud that we have many very talented men
and women on our team who worked tirelessly with HPE to deliver the innovative
I/O technology required to make the composable capabilities of HPE Synergy a
reality. It is satisfying to see the hard work and collaboration between the HPE
and QLogic teams result in delivering industry-leading innovation that changes the
way HPE customers build out data centers in the future.
At Cavium, the future of innovative collaboration is only brighter with HPE and
our expanded portfolio of technology. This includesXPliant Ethernet
switching, ThunderX ARM processor technology and NITROX security processors.
To learn more about how the Cavium QLogic technology works in HPE Synergy or
how you can take advantage of the Cavium QLogic technology with other great
HPE Server offerings like HPE ProLiant, BladeSystem, or Apollo servers, contact
any of our HPE Business Development Managers listed on our team contact page
or email todd.owens@cavium.com.
HPE Synergy is connected by Cavium QLogic. Your infrastructure should be too!