TrueNorth points to storage deals
TrueNorth points to storage deals
Storage systems vendor Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) has moved to advance its TrueNorth strategy for open, interoperable storage systems with a flood of announcements on new storage hardware, software and a partner program, including a long awaited alliance with Network Appliance.
After much media speculation about deals in the wings, Network Appliance (NetApp) has announced it has joined forces with HDS to create a NAS gateway product, in a deal which looks set to benefit both parties.
According to NetApp and Hitachi Data Systems (HDS), the two companies will work together to develop a gateway product that will debut in the first quarter of 2003. The new gateway, which both companies claim will enable enterprise customers to deploy a storage pool that can be shared across SAN and NAS applications, will be co-developed, but sold exclusively by HDS.
The gateway will use NetApp's software technology, and will be designed to use features of HDS' storage systems so that the back-end of the gateway can be tightly integrated with the existing HDS SAN boxes. Under the terms of the agreement, HDS will offer NetApp enterprise NAS gateway solutions for Hitachi Freedom Storage environments managed by HiCommand Management Framework tools. Both companies are staying tight-lipped on further details until the quarter it is expected to launch, the first quarter of 2003.
Dan Warmenhoven, CEO of Network Appliance said, "[T]he real winners are our customers, who are looking to leverage their investments, reduce the complexity of their IT infrastructures, increase data availability and simplify storage management."
Commenting on the alliance, Dave Roberson, HDS' president and COO, took the opportunity to illustrate how it fits into its TrueNorth interoperable storage strategy. In a statement, Mr Roberston said: "A key principle of our TrueNorth strategy is the simplification of storage management. Working closely with Network Appliance to develop an enterprise NAS gateway offering, we can empower customers to unify their storage pools and leverage their enterprise-class SAN infrastructures to deliver all application and data types. This will reduce the complexity of customers' IT infrastructures and lower their management costs."
Onwards North
In another announcement, HDS reinforced its commitment to its channel partners with an extension of TrueNorth. HDS described the codicil to its TrueNorth collaborative business model, as a four-tiered, global partnering strategy.
The new strategy includes formal, standardised training, support and incentive programs to build up the skill set and technology capabilities of HDS's partners. The vendors claim the ultimate aim is to help it deliver upon the wide-ranging vision of TrueNorth, by ensuring the delivery of best-in-class open storage solutions with room for value-added services and software.
There are four partnership programs of the TrueNorth Solutions Alliance.
Firstly HDS have kicked off a TrueNorth Solutions Partner Alliance, a program customised for channel and distribution partners, solutions providers and systems integrators. In Australia, HDS have introduced four levels of channel association to cater across the range of enterprise - Platinum, Global, Gold and Associate Partner. Partners already sworn in include: Avnet Enterprise Solutions, Frontline, Heathertech, AlphaWest, Infront Systems, BMIS and TTH as Platinum Partners; EDS and CSC as Global Partners, Fujitsu MVS, Professional Advantage, Commander and Logical as Gold Partners.
Secondly, the TrueNorth Technology Partners Program, which is aimed to provide key technology partners, such as SAN solutions partners and independent software vendors with tools, training and certification.
An example of a new partnership that sits under this program is one newly forged with Computer Associates (CA). The aim of this partnership is for both vendors to integrate products, in order to provide manageable open solutions to both CA and HDS customers.
The TrueNorth Developer Partners Program is designed to encourage storage application developers to build storage management tools based on HDS's HiCommand application programming interfaces (APIs).
Finally, the TrueNorth Global Solutions Partners Program – a program focused at global systems integrators and vertical integrators in markets such as healthcare, life sciences, financial services and telecommunications.
"Hitachi Data Systems’ channel and technology partners play a crucial part in our success, Greig Guy, director of channel sales Australia/New Zealand, Hitachi Data Systems said. "The open and collaborative approach we are taking with the TrueNorth Solutions Alliance will result in even greater support for our partners, the development of mutually beneficial, long-term business relationships, and the flow of storage best-practice throughout the industry."
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