HPE Buys AI, Big Data Software Vendor BlueData

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) will buy BlueData in a move to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) and big data offerings. The companies didn’t disclose the terms of the deal, which is expected to close by Jan. 31, 2019. Founded in 2012, BlueData makes a software platform that uses Docker containers to make it easier for companies to deploy large-scale machine learning and big data analytics environments. It’s based in Santa Clara, California, and has raised $39 million in three funding rounds. HPE says BlueData’s platform will complement its high-density Apollo servers, which are designed for big-data workloads, and related professional services. The two companies first partnered in 2016 to run BlueData software on top of HPE’s infrastructure. The companies announced the acquisition today at HPE Discover in Madrid, which is happening this week. New Edge Products: In other news out of HPE Discover in Madrid, HPE rolled out four edge products as part of CEO Antonio Neri’s pledge to invest $4 billion in edge technologies and services over the next four years.This includes the Edgeline OT Link Platform, an open platform that automates the interplay between operational technologies (OT) and IT-based applications at the edge. With this product, “HPE is not in the business of an IoT software platform,” said Dr. Tom Bradicich, VP & GM of servers and IoT systems at HPE. “The software allows a graphical drop and drag GUI interface to literally connect IoT systems at the edge.” The second product is Edgeline systems management software designed for edge locations. Bradicich said it’s “edge optimized” to run in remote locations like oil rigs with intermittent connectivity and ensure enterprise-grade reliability and security.