HCP is a combination of hardware and software that provides an object-based data storage environment. An HCP repository stores all types of data, from simple text files to medical images to multi-gigabyte database images.
HCP provides easy access to the repository for adding, retrieving, and, when allowed, deleting the stored data. HCP uses write-once, read-many (WORM) storage technology and a variety of policies and internal processes to ensure the integrity of the stored data and the efficient use of storage capacity.
HCP nodes
An HCP system includes multiple servers, called nodes, that are networked together. Nodes are the essential part of an HCP system. They manage the data that resides in the system storage.
Each node runs the complete HCP software. HCP runtime operations are distributed among the nodes. If a node fails, the system adapts by redirecting processing to other nodes.
HCP with internal storage and HCP with SAN-attached storage systems
Hitachi Vantara offers three HCP products: HCP with internal storage, HCP with SAN-attached storage, and HCP VM:
- HCP with internal storage systems run on a redundant array of independent nodes and use storage that is internal to those nodes.
- HCP with SAN-attached storage
systems run on a SAN-attached array of independent nodes and use storage in Fibre Channel
SAN arrays.
To optimize performance for certain usage patterns, nodes in an HCP with SAN-attached storage system can have internal storage in addition to being connected to SAN storage.
- HCP VM systems run on virtual machines in a VMware® environment.
HCP with SAN-attached storage systems support larger repositories than HCP with internal storage systems.
HCP System Management Console
HCP includes a web application called the System Management Console. Your HCP system administrator uses this Console to configure, monitor, and manage the system. The Console reports certain hardware problems as they occur, so the system administrator can take appropriate action to initiate repairs.