NEWS
HP has announced it is to buy data centre automation software company Opsware for $1.6bn.
The acquisition will help HP customers with "one of their critical pain points" - how to control the increasing complexity and cost of managing a data centre, according to Thomas E Hogan, senior vice president of HP Software.
The acquisition of Opsware is intended to extend HP's software capabilities to automate an entire data centre - from the initial provisioning of networks, servers and storage devices to managing ongoing changes and compliance requirements.
Once the deal closes Opsware will become part of the HP Software business. Opsware CEO Ben Horowitz is expected to lead the HP Business Technology Optimisation organisation - reporting to Hogan.
Opsware is the latest in a number of purchases by HP - last year it acquired management software company Mercury Interactive for $4.5bn.
