A dedicated server series has been newly introduced that can smoothly perform artificial intelligence, data analysis, and automation tasks even in cramped and harsh environments such as stores, factories, and communication base stations. As the center of data generation is rapidly shifting from centralized large-scale facilities to the actual work sites where operations take place, the perception is spreading that applications with low latency requirements must be processed right where the data is generated. In line with this, hardware capable of directly driving AI workloads in distributed environments such as communication equipment, logistics warehouses, retail stores, and defense facilities, along with software packages that efficiently control them, have been launched.
The core of this strategy is a new product lineup developed under the vision of 'computing outside the data center.' The newly unveiled chassis, ProLiant Compute EL2000, is based on two forms of 12th-generation server nodes, EL220 and EL240. EL220 is a compact node characterized by its low height and boasts high density, allowing two units to be stacked on a single external platform. On the other hand, EL240 is a model that maximizes scalability by utilizing a wider space, and it is designed to handle heavy AI and analysis tasks by being equipped with additional storage devices and NVIDIA RTX Pro 4500, 6000 graphics processing units. The existing edge server, ProLiant DL145 Gen11, has also joined the lineup as an improved version that enhances performance and versatility.
HPE explained that this design philosophy is perfectly suited for cramped spaces and rugged environments. The improved DL145 Gen11 adopts a 2U rugged form factor, ensuring durability even while installed in standard racks, and has been optimized to operate in high-temperature environments of up to 55 degrees Celsius. In particular, this model is equipped with AMD's EPYC 8005 series processors, enabling low-noise operation, and can be widely used from general offices to heat-intensive sites. Additionally, the 'ProLiant DL145 Gen11 Premier Solution' was developed to meet enterprise demand for running Microsoft Azure services locally in isolated network environments or disconnected infrastructure and private clouds, revolutionarily enhancing cloud interoperability in edge environments.
Emphasizing integrated management functions beyond simply supplying hardware is another point of this announcement. 'iLO' provides basic security and remote visibility, while 'HPE Compute Ops Management' extends this to the cloud, allowing monitoring and operation of servers scattered across multiple regions as if they were a single global fleet. As distributed edge infrastructure increases, the number of devices and installation locations become more complex, making the software capability to manage centrally a key factor determining the success of actual deployment. Cases where companies in various industries, such as convenience store operators, engineering firms, spatial information companies, and food processing companies, are applying their own edge servers to actual operational environments have already been confirmed.
This trend suggests that edge computing is taking its place as a core pillar of AI expansion, rather than just auxiliary infrastructure. As companies strengthen their tendency to process data immediately on-site rather than moving all data to the center, competition in the edge AI server market for products equipped with performance, durability, and remote management capabilities is expected to intensify. With infrastructure capable of making intelligent decisions in real-time right next to where data is generated emerging as an essential task, the importance of related technologies and solutions is growing daily.