ProLiant

ProLiant is a brand of server computers that was originally developed and marketed by Compaq, Hewlett-Packard (HP), and currently marketed by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE). ProLiant servers were first introduced by Compaq in 1993, succeeding their SystemPro line of servers in the high-end space.

After Compaq merged with HP in 2002, HP retired its NetServer brand in favor of the ProLiant brand. HP ProLiant systems led the x86 server market in terms of units and revenue during first quarter of 2010. HPE now owns the ProLiant brand after HP split up into two separate companies in 2015.

The HP/HPE ProLiant servers offer many advanced server features such as redundant power supplies, Out-of-band management with iLO or Lights-out 100, Hot-swap components and up to 8-Socket systems.

History
The ProLiant series of server computers was originally introduced in 1993 by Compaq to replace their former SystemPro line of servers in the high-end space, with the mid-range space occupied by the SystemPro being succeeded by the ProSignia line of servers and business PCs.

As part of the merger with Compaq in 2002, HP discontinued their NetServer line that had been produced the same year ProLiant servers debuted in the early 1990s, and inherited the ProLiant line of servers among other products by Compaq (which includes the NonStop line of servers (which were formerly owned by Tandem Computers, inc. and brought out by Compaq in 1997) and the Presario line of personal computers, as well as the iPAQ line of personal digital assistant (PDA) devices).

In February 2012, HP announced the ProLiant generation 8. In July 2013, HP announced a new blade server-based ProLiant, the HP Moonshot Server.

DL580 Gen8 is a "middle generation" between Gen8 and Gen9. This server has some of new features introduced in Gen9, primary there is available UEFI boot option.

Starting August 28, 2014, HP ProLiant Gen9 series were available based on Intel Haswell chipset and DDR4 memory. First were the HP ProLiant ML350 Gen9 Server and HP ProLiant BL460c Gen9 Blade. Servers in this generation support both BIOS and UEFI.

On November 1, 2015, HP split up into two separate companies, HP Inc., and HPE. As part of the spilt, HPE inherited the ProLiant line of servers from the original HP along with a few others such as the NonStop line of servers originally by Tandem Computers and Compaq.

Starting Q4 2017, HP ProLiant Gen10 servers were available. Also in November 2017, HPE extended their Gen10 range to include AMD EPYC processors using EPYC's price v cores architectures claiming to lower cost per virtual machine (VM) by 50%.

In April 2021, HPE introduced the ProLiant Gen10 Plus line of servers, which are built on third-generation Intel Xeon scalable processors. Equipped with PCIe Gen4 capabilities, the HPE ProLiant DGen10 Plus servers offer improved data transfer rates and higher networking speeds.

In November 2022, HPE introduced the ProLiant Gen11 server lineup providing support for several architectures including fourth-generation AMD EPYC processors and fourth-generation Intel Xeon scalable processors.

Details
ProLiant servers are separated into four main product lines - ML, DL, BL, SY, and XL (Apollo) - which generally denote form factor. The ProLiant ML line comprises tower-based servers (convertible to rack mount) with capacity for internal expansion of disks and interconnects, while the DL line comprises general purpose rack mount servers. The BL line comprises blade servers which fit within the HP BladeSystem, the SY comprises the Synergy Blades, and the XL (also known as Apollo) line comprises servers for scale out and High Performance Computing environments. The MicroServer product line addresses small and home businesses.

ProLiant servers are also split into several series which denote processor configuration. The 100, 200, 300 and 400 series comprise single and dual socket capable systems, the 500 and 600 series comprise quad socket capable systems, and the 700 and 900 series comprise eight socket capable systems. The 900 series supports up to 80 CPU cores and up to 4 TB of RAM.

Models with a '0' in the last digit use Intel processors while models with a '5' in the last digit use AMD processors.

The ProLiant forms part of the HP Converged Systems, which use a common Converged Infrastructure architecture for server, storage, and networking products. Designed to support 50 to 300 virtual machines, the HP ConvergedSystem 300 is configured with ProLiant servers. A system administrator can manage ProLiant servers using HP OneView for converged infrastructure management. HP also provide drivers a software for managing servers such as Management Component Pack which includes hp online configuration utility (hponcfg), Agentless Management Service amsd, Smart Storage Administrator (SSA) ssa, Smart Storage Administrator (SSA) CLI ssacli and Smart Storage Administrator Diagnostic Utility (SSADU) CLI ssaducli.

Modular Line (ML)
ML server models are tower-based. They aim towards maximum expandability.

Density Line (DL) and RISC Line (RL)
DL server models are rack-based. They aim towards a balance between density and computing power.

Scalable Line (SL)
SL server models are rack-based. These models are mostly used in data centers and environments where a maximum of computing power is desired.

Blade Line (BL)
BL server models are enclosure-based. They are made specially for use in a blade enclosure and cannot be used without such. Blade systems aim towards maximum density and manageability at limited rack space.

There are two models of blade enclosures: HPE BladeSystem c3000 Enclosure (8 Bays for Blades), and HPE BladeSystem c7000 Enclosures (16 Bays for Blades).

One advantage of HP/HPE Blade Enclosures compared to competitors (such as IBM Blade Systems) has been that the older generation enclosures have been able to accommodate new generation BL servers just by upgrading the firmware for OA in the enclosure (Onboard Administrator). However improvements to back-plane of the enclosure in the new generation enclosures have enabled faster I/O capabilities (such as 10 Gbit/s Ethernet adapters and switches, and Infiniband). The physical design of the enclosures has not changed since the first versions (other than the larger LCD screen at the front compared to the first generation enclosures, and new plastic covers and HPE branding on the 3rd generation enclosures).

ProLiant MicroServer
The HPE ProLiant MicroServer line of products are entry-level, low power, compact, and affordable servers meant for small business, home office, or edge computing. They offer user upgradable components and easy access to hard drives. There is the option to purchase the server with ClearOS installed in order for users to be able to enable applications via an easy-to-use web-GUI with minimal effort.