HP 3PAR Service Processor (SP) explained

The Service Processor (SP) is one of the critical components of the HP 3PAR Storage systems which occupy 1RU in the standard rack. Virtual Service processor (OVF Appliance) is supported on HP 3PAR StoreServ 7000 series and it can be deployed only on VMware vSphere hypervisor. As far as my knowledge, HP 3PAR Storage Processor is not supported to deploy on HyperV, XenServer etc.
I believe HP 3PAR Virtual Service Processor (VSP) download is not available online in general. You should be able to locate VSP DVD as part of the HP 3PAR shipment, if not contact HP Support for help.
UPDATE from a reader: With the latest release of HP 3PAR OS 3.1.3, Virtual Service Processor can be installed on Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 and Server 2012 in addition to VMware vSphere hypervisor.

Virtual Service processor is not supported on HP 3PAR StoreServ 10000 (V400 and V800), these models support only physical Storage processors (SP).

HP 3PAR SP does the following functions.

·         HP 3PAR system real-time monitoring and alerting

·         Provides remote maintenance access for HP 3PAR

·         Guided Maintenance for HP or authorised Service Providers

·         SPMAINT function through Web Interface and CLI ( Putty)

HP 3PAR Storage Processor Front View

HP 3PAR Storage Processor  Rear View

Please refer to the above pictures for Front and Rear view of the HP3PAR SP.

Note: For more information on SPOCC menu items and explanation on what it does, refer "HP 3PAR SPOCC menu explained" article.

As of today (30th Jan 2014), latest HP 3PAR InForm OS version is 3.1.2 EMU2 released on 18/09/2013.
Update: As of 31st May 2014, latest HP 3PAR InForm OS version is: 3.1.3

Various HP 3PAR Storage processor default passwords (credentials) are as follows. As a HP best practice, consider changing the default passwords.

Console port: Used for start-up, OOTB ( Out Of the Box Procedure) and maintenance activities

User Name: console

Password: xxxxxxx (Due to the HP confidential information and best practices, password has been deleted from here)

Management port (MGMT) for admin control:

User name: 3paradm

Password: 3pardata

SP Initial default credentials/ Password (Before configuration)

User name: Setupusr/root

Password: no password (blank)

SP default credentials/ Password after install/ configuration: Used for admin control of SP

User name: Spvar

Password: 3V#rpar

Note:  spvar/3V#rpar credentials are used while updating Storage Processor software through SPOCC (Service Processor Onsite Customer Care).

SP default credentials/ Password after install/ configuration: Used for customers login

User name: 3parcust

Password: 3parInServ

Do not change the following account's password as these are randomly generated during the 3PAR initialisation and required for communication between SP and 3PAR system.

·         3parsvc

·         3parservice

·         3paredit or 3parbrowse

Please refer to the article “3Par StoreServ 7000 – Step by step Installation and Configuration” published by Justin Vashisht (3cVguy) for detailed instructions to implement HP 3PAR.

(Read HP 3PAR Virtual Copy Explained)

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