HP makes progress with Peregrine integration

SYDNEY: The inaugural HP Software Forum in the Asia Pacific region kicked off to a rousing start here with HP announcing the first milestone in the integration with Peregrine. It has combined HP Open View Service Desk and Peregrine's Asset Center.

HP had acquired Peregrine Systems, an IT asset management and service desk vendor in September 05.

Through the acquisition, HP had bridged a significant gap in its systems management software portfolio and had given itself an advantage over competitors like BMC Software and Computer Associates. It had gained Peregrine's IT service desk, a significant improvement over HP's existing service desk software.

The acquisition was seen as a part of a growing wave of consolidation in systems management, as asset management gets folded into integrated management tool suites.

The integration forms the foundation of the Active Configuration Management Database (CMDB) strategy of HP. It helps customers improve IT service management efficiency, reduce cost and enhance service levels.

“HP is working quickly to bring the benefits of the combination of Open View and Peregrine technology to our customers,” said Todd DeLaughter, vice president - Open View business unit, HP. Active CMDB is seen as a central element in the new HP Open View integration platform.

With the growing business from the Asia Pacific, HP decided that it was time to bring its annual showpiece Software Forum to the region. The response to the inaugural edition is encouraging with over 600 delegates attending from 27 different countries.

In his keynote, DeLaughter mentioned that the Open View business had seen a growth of 36 percent in the first quarter of HP's new financial year. “Things change, be ready,” is the theme of the Sydney edition.

DeLaughter reiterated the obvious that change is not going to away and that CIOs need to work on how that handle change. The event has been built around the concepts of Align, Automate and Optimize.

According to DeLaughter, CIOs need to view issues facing them as business challenges and not as IT challenges. He also highlighted the importance of IT process automation through ITIL best practices and infrastructure optimization.

HP's strategy of organic development, acquisition and partnerships in the software management space would be continued as it seek to maintain its leadership position in this space.