Storage: StorageTek Garners Support From Storage Networking Market Leaders to Simplify SAN Installations - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, April 19, 1999

StorageTek (Storage Technology Corp., the preeminent provider of network storage, Monday announced that several leading storage networking and storage management independent software vendors (ISV) will integrate their products with StorageTek SANaps (see separate news release on SANaps issued today).

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., Computer Associates International, Inc., Crossroads Systems, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company's OpenView Software Business Unit, JNI, Legato Systems, Inc., SCH Technologies, and VERITAS Software Corp. pledged support and resources to make their products interoperate seamlessly with StorageTek's bundled SAN solutions. StorageTek's ISV partners have endorsed StorageTek's "Open, Intelligent and Integrated" approach towards SAN development, guaranteeing customers a quick and simplified process for building a SAN. "StorageTek's commitment to open solutions has helped us earn these critical partner endorsements," said Don Kleinschnitz, StorageTek's vice president of strategic marketing, alliances and SAN applications, SAN Operations. "Leaders in the storage industry are working together to collectively and expediently promote world-class, interoperable storage solutions for our customers." Each SANaps configuration, including partner products, is tested in StorageTek's Virtual Intelligent Storage Architecture (VISTA) interoperability lab. Once the software and hardware work seamlessly together, products will receive the "StorageNet Certified" logo, signifying complete interoperability. The initial release of SANaps LANfree Backup configuration includes: StorageTek's StorageNet Access Hub, StorageTek's REELbackup and REELrobot software from SCH Technologies, StorageNet Fibre Channel Adapter, StorageTek's StorageNet 3100 SCSI-to-Fibre Channel bridge, StorageTek's 9710, 9714 or 9730 automated tape library, as well as professional services and support. StorageTek will accept LANfree Backup orders within 60 days. US list pricing varies depending on the size and selected components of the solution. Pricing for the entry-level LANfree Backup configuration begins at US$150,000. StorageTek's LANfree Backup suite will be initially available through StorageTek's direct sales force. StorageTek is planning to implement a Channel certification program to qualify value-added resellers (VARs) and system integrators to design, implement and service SANaps. StorageTek is the preeminent provider of network storage. The company's strategy is to provide "Open, Intelligent and Integrated" solutions that combine storage products, storage management software and storage services. StorageTek solutions help customers collect, move, store, share and protect all types of digital platforms ranging from laptops to enterprise servers. The company, with headquarters in Louisville, Colo., reported revenue of $2.3 billion in 1998. Information on StorageTek is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.storagetek.com or phone 1-800-786-7835. "BROCADE is pleased to partner with StorageTek to introduce comprehensive, bundled SAN solutions that feature the BROCADE SilkWorm family of Fibre Channel Fabric switches," said Peter Tarrant, vice president of marketing and business development, Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. "StorageTek's StorageNet certification process is synergistic with BROCADE's approach and allows our joint customers to eliminate integration efforts, minimize Total Cost of Ownership, and reduce storage management complexity. Our participation in the StorageNet program further demonstrates BROCADE's commitment to providing customers with best-in-class storage area networking solutions that support open standards." "CA is pleased to continue efforts to extend our SAN solutions by working with StorageTek on SANaps," said Brian Shemilt, vice president, development partner programs, Computer Associates. "We have been working with StorageTek to expand our customers access to StorageTek's world-class storage solutions through projects such as ARCServeIT support for StorageTek's ACSLS library management software. Our support for SANaps is a logical extension of our relationship with StorageTek." "The interoperability of Crossroads Systems' storage area routers provides successful data migration to tape drives and libraries supplying LAN-free backup for StorageTek SANaps," said Bob LiVolsi, senior vice president of Crossroads. "As the de facto standard in storage routing, Crossroads is fortunate to have StorageTek as a partner in supporting storage solutions to their customers." "Customers require reliable backup and recovery of the data in their SAN environments, and participating in StorageTek's StorageNet Certification program with HP OpenView OmniBack is critical in delivering those capabilities to our shared customers," says Reiner Lomb, business manager for HP OpenView SAN management products. "This builds upon HP OpenView OmniBack's already successful support of the StorageTek tape library products." "The JNI FibreStar Host Bus Adapter (HBA) provides the integration between StorageTek's SAN solutions and the operating system. We are thrilled to be the first host bus adapter certified with StorageTek's LANfree Backup," said Tracy Crowe, director of marketing at JNI. "It demonstrates our commitment to the SAN market and mission-critical solutions." "Legato and StorageTek have been at the forefront of the storage market by making SANs a reality for customers," said Nora Denzel, senior vice president at Legato Systems, Inc. "Together, our advanced development efforts will continue to reduce costs and simplify the administration of SANs."