Conclusions Resulting from the Transition Process

HP customers can expect an easy transition to an Itanium-based platform. Hardware investments are protected through simple system upgrades or, whenever possible, processor board upgrades. PA-RISC application investments are protected as well. Current PA-RISC code running on HP-UX 11.x will run on Itanium-based systems without change.

An incremental approach for moving to Itanium is supported by HP. PA-RISC and Itanium applications can coexist, so there is no requirement of transitioning the entire environment at once. The move can be made when it makes most business sense.

Itanium systems interoperate transparently on existing networks. No changes are required in any of the network services. Minimum user training is required, since the HP-UX environment on PA-RISC and Itanium has the same look and feel. Maximum flexibility is built into HP's Itanium systems as well, allowing the choice of operating environments and tight integration between them.

As a rule, transition to an Itanium system is straightforward and obtainable. The outcome will provide your organization the improved performance necessary to keep up with current application requirements. Whether the transition to Itanium is simple and quick or requires application redesign, HP also offers service capabilities as required. From assessment and design to verification and deployment, HP has the ability to help make transitions seamless.

Finally, HP provides the soundest set of capabilities for transitioning HP system users to the next-generation Itanium environment. HP co-developed the Itanium Instruction Set Architecture with Intel, based on EPIC concepts, and therefore has a head start over other suppliers of this architecture. In addition, the leading application and database vendors are optimizing their software for HP-UX on Itanium. HP's complete set of consulting, planning, and readiness services is in place to ensure a simple and effective transition to Itanium-based systems.