Antonio Neri: HPE Memory- Driven Computing Is A Big Data 'Deluge' Game-Changer

Hewlett Packard Enterprise CEO Antonio Neri says HPE's revolutionary “memory-driven computing” architecture is key to solving the growing big data “deluge" that is the "main roadblock" to solving some of the world's biggest problems.

"We need a new paradigm that reinvents the most basic functions of a computing system from the ground up. Memory-driven computing is one approach that delivers an entirely new way of computing specifically designed for the big data era," said Neri in a blog post that coincides with his participation in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, from Jan. 22 to 25. "Only through a new architecture like memory-driven computing will it be possible to simultaneously work with every digital health record of every person on earth, every trip of Google’s autonomous vehicles and every data set from space exploration all at the same time—getting to answers and uncovering new opportunities at unprecedented speeds."

[Related:7 Things We Learned About HPE CEO Antonio Neri]

Neri says it is revolutionary approaches to the big data problem like memory-driven computing that are key to advancing the way people live and work. "Only then can we start to unlock our technological potential," he said. "What if we could understand and find cures for deadly diseases? Identify a sustainable power source for our planet? Offer financial inclusion for the underbanked? Help end world hunger? The main roadblock on this journey to a better world lies in the limitation of our conventional computing solutions. There is a growing data deluge as our ambitions grow faster than our computers improve. Every two years we create more data than has ever been created before, with the majority of it originating at the edge, or the periphery of the network."

Neri is meeting with customers and partners at the World Economic Forum and participating in two panels on Jan. 23 that will be broadcast live: "Computing Technology at a Tipping Point," which looks at next- generation computing technologies and "Ending Modern Slavery," which includes a look at how technology can help end forced labor and forced marriage.

The other HPE executives attending the World Economic Forum with Neri are HPE Chairman of the Board Pat Russo, HPE Chief Strategy Officer Vishal Lall, HPE Chief Legal and Administrative Officer John Schultz, and HPE Chief Communications Officer Jennifer Temple.

HPE has already kicked its memory-driven computing initiative into high gear with an "incubation practice" with specialized skills for solving the big data problems through memory-driven computing. That initiative brings Hewlett Packard Labs and HPE's Pointnext Advisory services together to work with customers to explore memory-driven computing applications and deliver proof-of-concept solutions.

Neri, who led the strategy and development teams for HPE's SuperDome X, considered the world's most scalable in-memory compute platform, sees HPE's aggressive memory-driven computing road map as a major competitive advantage in the years ahead. That because he sees HPE competitors hitting a hardware wall with the sun setting on Moore's Law, which was based on the maxim that processor performance will double every two years.

"As our high-powered, processor-centric architecture meets the limitations of physics, we see that the important questions of our age cannot be matched by the linear improvements of our current systems," said Neri. "Combined with this exponential growth in data is the increasingly pressing need to act in order to begin solving these questions. And we’ve never had such little time to do so. Companies and governments are preparing for the future today, but tomorrow’s computing will need to be drastically different to meet the changes that we’re seeing, so an understanding of the next-generation computing ecosystem—and how best to invest in it—is vital."

Raymond Tuchman, CEO of Experis Technology Group, one of HPE's top enterprise partners, said HPE has established the lead in big data, high-performance computing with initaitives like memory-driven computing and in-memory compute breakthroughs like Superdome Flex and edge offerings like the new Edgeline Converged Edge Systems. "Antonio Neri is driving unprecedented innovation at HPE," he said.

HPE's move to marry the high-performance compute (HPC) innovation of SGI with Superdome Flex has radically transformed the HPC market, moving big data computing with SAP HANA to a mind-boggling 32 processors with 48 TB. "That's the largest in-memory computing product you can get for SAP HANA and it is priced only 10 percent higher than a standard rack offering," said Tuchman.

HPE's Edgeline Converged Edge Systems are providing a similar big data breakthrough at the intelligent edge, said Tuchman. "These Edgeline systems are going to be an unbelievable hit with the advent of 5G," he said. "You could put these things on telephone poles and light them up to get compute as close to the data and end user as possible for things like autonomous cars. You can't have a person walking in front of car and expect the car to stop if you are sending data back to a data center."

Ultimately, HPE big data solutions are driving big revenue gains for customers, said Tuchman. "This type of innovation is making customers more competitive and in turn it is helping us win in the marketplace as an HPE partner," he said.

Michael Haley, president of Edge Solutions, an Alpharetta, Ga., solution provider, No. 406 on the 2018 CRN Solution Provider 500, credited Neri with being "bold and courageous," pushing the technology envelope internally and through acquisitions.

"Under Antonio's leadership, HPE is going back to their roots—pushing the technology envelope in order to solve problems and create better business outcomes for customers," he said.

Haley said HPE's acquisition of Aruba and the decision to keep it as a separate business was a "brilliant" move that has paid off handsomely. "That allowed HPE to keep the Aruba culture and intellectual property," he said. "Now Aruba and ClearPass are driving a lot of HPE's business and future growth."

Michael Goldstein, CEO of LAN Infotech, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., solution provider, said HPE breakthroughs like memory-driven computing are the future of the channel. "There is more and more data every day," he said. "What HPE is doing with memory-driven computing could have a profound effect on the future of computing, Hats off to HPE for thinking ahead and looking to solve the big data issues that are plaguing society."

Michael Lomonaco, director of marketing and communications for OST, a solution provider specializing in bridging the gap between technology and digital and human behavior, said Neri's ability to combine technology innovation with solving problems for people is key to success in a fast-moving technology market.

"What is exciting is HPE is driving innovation to address not only the problems of today but the future," he said. "In order to do that it takes leadership and a willingness to transform. At OST, we believe Antonio's leadership has put HPE at the right place at the right time. He is a longtime leader who understands that it is not just about technology. There is a human element that must be addressed. In every scenario we are involved in it is about addressing the human element in digital transformation. You can't just throw technology at a problem. You need to understand the customer and the problem you are trying to solve."