HP SmartImage EcoSystem

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The HP SmartImage EcoSystem is Hewlett Packard's proprietary solution for a Standard Operating Environment (SOE) for servers, desktops, laptops, thin clients, and mobile devices.

The SmartImage consists of a single hardware agnostic disk image with no dependencies on infrastructure. It is based on the principle that a standardized, repeatable and automated solution creates a known, expected and supportable environment. A standardized solution ensures known outcomes are maintained, with automation providing the key to speed, repeatability and standardization.

The SmartImage EcoSystem is an end-to-end lifecycle approach, or ecosystem, which addresses concerns from conception to production. It consists of a custom built set of processes and tools that automate and control the lifecycle of Windows devices. The build, configuration and deployment of the HP SmartImage is fully automated; it is a highly modular solution capable of seamless integration into any new or existing environment. It is part of a suite of SOE services provided by HP.

The SmartImage solution is not a replacement for a client management toolset. It is designed so that the SmartImage can be seamlessly integrated into any management toolset to enhance the build, staging and management experience, or to utilize Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) technology for deployment. A management toolset can offer centralized management for connected sites, ongoing asset reporting, and ongoing patch and software distribution. This integration forms an ecosystem that must be maintained. For example, at build time, the SmartImage may contain relevant current software patches. As new patches are released by the software vendor, a management toolset can be used to deploy the new patches to the SmartImage. Over time, as the number and size of patches accumulate, it is prudent to include these in a new build of the SmartImage, thereby requiring a version release. Once the new version is in production, the client management toolset again takes over in the distribution of new software patches. Using the HP solution, this procedure has been streamlined through automation and standard process.

[edit] Competitive Approaches

There are many Microsoft Windows deployment guides and tools available from Microsoft and other vendors. Many organizations endeavor to build their own SOE solutions using the Microsoft Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) solution accelerator or Microsoft Deployment Toolkit. However, many do not have the capability to build all features in one single SOE and their processes often include documented manual configuration steps.

Most software vendors with client management toolsets offer built-in scripting or deployment tasks, or SDKs, to help automate the installation and customizations of Microsoft Windows. These types of solutions require a large degree of setup and configuration, highly skilled resources with a high level of understanding of the product, and are completely dependent on the toolset.

HP’s competitors also perform SOE consulting, and design and build services. However, most will propose solutions which are dependent on a particular management toolset. For example, they may create automated SOE deployment images that are dependent on Zero Touch Installation (ZTI) using Microsoft SMS or SCCM.