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Is there a blade server in your company’s future? Chances are the answer is yes. According to research firm IDC, the market for blade servers is projected to grow from US$2 billion in 2005 to more than US$11 billion in 2010. IDC adds that spending on blades will soon represent 20 percent of IT budgets for new server hardware. And in the first quarter of 2007, sales of HP BladeSystem servers experienced a year-over-year growth rate of 84.9 percent, putting HP in a leadership position in the blade market.

This increasing demand is sparking renewed interest in the latest in blade server management techniques. That’s why HP is offering new technical training courses on how to get the most out of these new servers, as well as a new BladeSystem credential track from the HP Certified Professional Program.

For anyone who needs to sell, design and deploy BladeSystem solutions and deliver a better customer experience, these courses and certifications are a great way to learn the latest in server management tools and techniques.

For example, Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions is an HP distribution partner whose own partners resell HP solutions. “We’re encouraging our partners to pursue these HP blade credentials” says Mark Reedy, a business development manager with Arrow. “We believe they will prove that a reseller has the right knowledge and skills to deliver a blade-based solution that will fully meet a customer’s expectations. Certification is invaluable to be sure the job is done right.”

The new credentials validate the students’ skills and afford the holders all the privileges of the HP Certified Professional program. Individuals who take the time to earn any of the HP BladeSystem credentials are recognised experts in their field. They have proven their skills and knowledge about the processes, toolsets and best practice techniques to help customers optimise HP BladeSystem technology for a variety of situations. What’s more, they have access to a global network of technology experts as well as an extensive knowledge base through the HP Certified Professional community.

Launched worldwide in August 2007, these three credentials are now available to all HP certification candidates, including HP employees, customers and channel partners:

• Accredited Platform Specialist (APS) – HP BladeSystem [2007]
• Accredited Integration Specialist (AIS) – HP BladeSystem [2007]
• Accredited Systems Engineer (ASE) – HP BladeSystem [2007]

Detailed information about the requirements to achieve the credentials can be found on the HP Certified Professional Web site.

The multi-day, instructor-led courses and hands-on labs help IT professionals acquire the knowledge and skills to plan, deploy, maintain and support sophisticated solutions based on HP BladeSystem products. The new training courses, which help students prepare for the certification exams, are as follows:

• Accredited Platform Specialist (APS) – Servicing HP BladeSystem - #36940
• Accredited Integration Specialist (AIS)   Implementing HP BladeSystem - #36941
• Accredited Systems Engineer (ASE) – Integrating and Managing HP BladeSystem in the Enterprise – #36942

Detailed information about these new courses can be found on the HP Training Web site.

The bottom line: If you work with HP BladeSystem servers, these new training options are a great way to make sure your skills are absolutely current. And if you need talent to manage a growing presence of HP BladeSystem servers in your data centre, demand a proven professional for your team. Demand an HP Certified Professional.