English 
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Japan (HPE) has announced the launch of two new products tailored for the Japanese market: “HPE VM Essentials,” a virtualization platform for transitioning from VMware environments, and “HPE Private Cloud AI,” a hybrid AI platform. HPE VM Essentials will begin shipping at the end of February, while HPE Private Cloud AI will be available starting in April. These products were first introduced at the company’s annual “HPE Discover 2024” event.
日本での提供開始が遅れたことについて、執行役員 ハイブリッドソリューション事業本部長の吉岡聡氏は、「HPE VM Essentialsは、HPE Private Cloud AIのコアエンジンとして機能します。そのため、両製品を戦略的に連携させ、日本での発売を同期させた」と説明。また、ハイブリッドITインフラに対するHPEの長年のコミットメントを強調し、ハイブリッド展開モデルに本質的に適した分野としてAIを強調。
VMware のライセンス変更への対応
Following Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware, several legacy virtualization products were consolidated under “VMware Cloud Foundation,” resulting in significant licensing changes. This shift has prompted many organizations to explore alternative solutions. Yoshioka stated that HPE aims to address this demand by offering HPE VM Essentials alongside HPE Private Cloud AI, providing businesses with a seamless transition option for virtualization infrastructure and AI deployment in hybrid environments.
AIインフラにおけるデータセキュリティの懸念への対応
また吉岡は、AIインフラをクラウド・ハイパースケーラーに依存する場合、意図しないデータ転送に対する企業の懸念が高まっていることを指摘。世界的な調査結果を引用し、半数以上の企業がハイブリッド・アプローチを採用し、AI活用のためにクラウドを活用する一方で、機密データはオンプレミスまたはプライベート・クラウド内に保持するようになるだろうと予測しました。この傾向はさらに加速する見込みです。
こちらもお読みください： 脆弱性管理クラウド「yamory」、クラウド資産スキャン機能の範囲を拡大
HPE VM Essentials：柔軟な仮想化ソリューション
HPE VM Essentials incorporates technology from Morpheus, acquired by HPE in August 2024, enabling integrated management of both the KVM-based “HPE VM Essentials Hypervisor” and “VMware vSphere.” The product lineup consists of:
- HPE VM Essentials スタンドアロン:ソフトウェアのみのバージョン。
- HPE VM Essentials Embedded HPEプライベートクラウド ビジネスエディション:スタンドアロン版とHPEハードウェア（サーバー、ストレージなど）を組み合わせた検証済みモデル。
- HPE VM Essentials Embedded HPEプライベートクラウド エンタープライズエディション:クラウドサービス管理とフルマネージドサービスを含む包括的なパッケージです。
組み込み型は2025年春から全世界で発売される予定です。
Daichi Ogawa, Business Development Manager at GreenLake Solutions Business Division, confirmed that HPE VM Essentials will be competitively priced for Japanese customers. He stated that HPE VM Essentials Standalone would have similar pricing and features to the “VMware vSphere Standard” license previously sold in Japan, which was purchased by approximately 80% of customers. While pricing will vary by sales channel and configuration, estimates suggest:
- HPE VM Essentials スタンドアロン:10万円前後
- HPE VM Essentials Embedded HPEプライベートクラウド ビジネスエディション:数百万円
- HPE VM Essentials Embedded HPEプライベートクラウド エンタープライズエディション:数千万円です。
The software will also include a free tool for migrating VMware environments to HPE VM Essentials Hypervisor, though it requires system downtime. For organizations needing uninterrupted migration, HPE will offer the paid “HPE Zetro.” Additionally, future updates will include Morpheus-based cloud cost management features.
HPEプライベートクラウドAI：高性能AIソリューション
Developed in collaboration with NVIDIA, HPE Private Cloud AI integrates HPE and NVIDIA servers, GPUs, networking, and storage hardware, along with “NVIDIA AI Enterprise” and “HPE AI Essentials” software. The solution is designed to support all AI lifecycle stages, including data preparation, model training, inference, data engineering, analysis, and visualization.
Takahiro Terakura, Senior Category Manager at GreenLake Solutions Business Division, emphasized that “HPE Private Cloud AI is a production-ready solution, not just a proof of concept (PoC).” He highlighted its ability to combine cloud convenience with on-premise control, catering to different user needs across infrastructure management, AI resource management, and AI development.
拡大するAIエコシステムとコストの柔軟性
HPE is also expanding its AI ecosystem by fostering partnerships and talent development while optimizing mid- to long-term costs. In November 2024, the company announced a collaboration with SCSK in Japan and introduced the “Unleash AI Partner Program” to help users develop diverse AI use cases. To offer cost flexibility, businesses can leverage pay-as-you-go options through “HPE GreenLake” and “HPE Financial Services.”
日本語