Dependency mapping helps data center architects uncover the connections between applications, servers and storage systems, so that when they consolidate systems, replace legacy gear or do virtualization projects they don't accidentally break something in the process.

"We've found that most data center managers know with a fair degree of accuracy about 80 percent of what's in their data center. It's the other 20 percent that keeps them up at night," said Jimmy Augustine, a group marketing manager in HP's software division.

HP's tool is called Discovery and Dependency Mapping Advanced Edition (DDMA). A data center architect can enter an IP range and the software examines SNMP traffic, data packets and other data to map out the topology of the IT equipment. It also looks at executable files on servers to see which applications are installed.

The new feature announced Monday is what HP calls a collector portal, a Web interface that lists the applications and dependencies the software has uncovered. Customers then manually enter which departments and services are using which applications.

The data can be used for chargeback purposes, because companies can now see what resources are being used by each department. If several departments are using the same application, the costs could be split among them. Or if a data center wants to retire equipment in a consolidation project, for example, it can see which departments it needs to contact for approval.