PALO ALTO & SUNNYVALE, Calif.--HP and Opsware Inc. today announced a strategic relationship that combines the HP Utility Data Center (UDC), the market-leading data center virtualization solution, with Opsware's industry-leading data center automation software. The combination provides enterprise customers with an enhanced utility computing solution that delivers virtualization of computing resources, application metering, and software automation. In addition to distributing Opsware software with HP UDC, HP Services will be an "Opsware Authorized Partner," providing Opsware consulting and implementation services in conjunction with the HP UDC. UDC customers will have the option to purchase the combined solution from HP by the end of 2003. "HP and Opsware are putting together critical pieces of the utility computing puzzle," said Vernon Turner, Group Vice President, IDC. "This relationship is a winning combination that creates a solution that can optimize every layer of the stack and further establishes HP and Opsware as leaders in this fast-growing market." The HP Utility Data Center solution provides complete virtualization of computing resources - including networking, servers, storage, and operating system and application provisioning across multiple platforms (including Windows, Solaris, HP-UX and Linux) while the Opsware software automates key software and application operations such as fine-grain software provisioning, patching, and application deployment and rollback. The combined solution offers enterprise customers dramatic reductions in IT operating costs through improved labor and equipment utilization. With Opsware and the HP UDC, customers can reduce initial deployment times by 80 percent, and can see an incremental annual cost savings of nearly 90 percent. "The benefits of HP's Utility Data Center solution are increased with Opsware's automation software," said Jim Hays, vice president, Infrastructure Solutions, HP Enterprise Systems Group. "HP's relationship with Opsware is another demonstration of HP's Adaptive Enterprise strategy in action - offering our enterprise customers industry-leading solutions to enhance agility and achieve a better return on IT investments."