For the supported network operating systems listed above, HP proactively invests significant engineering and support resources to insure that the software runs, and runs well, on HP NetServers. HP will also work jointly with the network operating system vendor to identify and resolve problems a customer may have using one of the supported network operating systems on an HP NetServer.The only network operating systems that HP supports on HP NetServers are listed above. HP NetServers are designed and built using many industry standards and other network operating systems may install and run on HP NetServers. However, HP will only expend support and engineering resources to resolve problems which occur when using one of the supported network operating systems on an HP NetServer.
All of the network operating system vendors offer some form of hardware certification or compatibility testing. HP actively submits HP NetServers to these tests on an ongoing basis. With our network operating system partners, we see certification and compatibility testing as an excellent way to demonstrate HP's strong commitment to supporting the network operating system in question and to verify that for a core set of features, the network operating system functions properly on a given HP NetServer.
However, certification is not a prerequisite for support. HP will support the network operating system/HP NetServer combinations listed in the table above, whether or not a particular NetServer model has been certified with that particular network operating system. Given the increasing number of HP NetServer models and the increasing frequency of new network operating system versions, HP cannot test or retest every single HP NetServer model with every network operating system version. HP recommends that customers install and use the most current BIOS and software drivers for a given HP NetServer, whether or not that software has been certified.
HP and our network operating system partners encourage customers to use the most current version of a given operating system. At any point in time, HP will usually support only the most current version of an given network operating system and the immediately preceding version. When a new HP NetServer model is introduced it usually supports only the most current version of each network operating system. Support for a given network operating system version and HP NetServer model continues as long as the network operating system version is supported by the network operating system vendor AND the HP NetServer model is still under warranty.
HP's objective wherever possible is to support new versions of the supported network operating systems on all HP NetServers that are still under warranty. However, support is limited to the I/O interfaces supported by the newer version of the network operating system. In some cases, a customer may have to upgrade the BIOS and drivers or purchase a new I/O interface in order to use a newer version of the network operating system.
Information contained in this document is subject to change without notice. Copyright Hewlett-Packard Company 1996. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction, adaptation, or translation without prior written permission is prohibited except as allowed under the copyright laws.
