HP buys Andreesen company for $1.45 billion

HP SAID it would buy Opsware, a software firm co-founded by Marc Andreesen, for $1.45 billion.

Opsware produces products which automate functions in big data centres.

The firm was also set up by Ben Horowitz, who is currently its CEO. It started life as an Internet services business and re-engineered itself by busying itself laying off a number of staff and concentrating on data centres.

Andreesen was responsible for Netscape, which our older and middle aged readers will remember. Probably. µ

* HP ALSO said it will buy Neoware for $214 million. It's in the thin client and virtualisation business.