This week we released VMMark results for the new HP BL490c G6 server blade.  The scores establish the BL490c as
the highest performing 2-socket server blade for virtualization -- eclipsing blades offered by IBM, Dell, and Cisco.

By the way, this 2-socket result ( 24.24 at 17 tiles) follows just on the heels of our #1 4-socket blade result for the BL685c G6.

It's particularly revealing that the BL490c tops the Cisco B200-M1, since Cisco trumpeted performance on VMWare as a centerpiece
of their Unified Computing System.  Cisco engineers deserve lots of kudos for their innovative work on UCS.   Their UCS ideas seem very network-centric, though, and I think
the BL490c's VMMark result shows the benefits of looking at performance problems from the data center level, rather than just from the
CCIE's perspective.

To get this high performance, our engineers designed the right compute server (with high memory bandwidth and capacity),
and coupled it with lots of NICs and bandwidth provided by Virtual Connect Flex-10.  (We also bring in the right storage, too.)

Yet the breadth of HP BladeSystem means we can deliver that performance for vSphere, but not compromise on other workloads. 
No compromises in Top500-style high performance computing, for example, or for many, many other workloads.

Bonus: HP's high-performance virtualization solution (including the HP BL490c G6 server blade and HP Virtual Connect Flex-10) are available today.
Cisco's UCS?  Well...I just hope Cisco starts shipping that product sooner than Duke Nukem Forever.