We are at VMworld this week and it should be interesting as VMware continues to press their aggressive growth agenda. We are here because our OEM data optimization solution, Albireo dedupes VMDK and VDI environments like nobodies’ business (up to 100X) and this is a great week to talk with OEM customers and vendors who are serious about storage efficiency.
We have two announcements at the show. The first is around Permabit extending our VMware Alliance to the Select level. That means we are partnering more closely with VMware and their ecosystem. We are the only OEM data optimization partner of VMware. Our second announcement is of our new OEM relationship with BlueArc. Interestingly, the VMworld theme of every storage vendor, save two, is about ‘interoperability’. While good, interoperability or integrating with the VM management console isn’t that exciting to me. The real value is in optimizing the storage of VM. That brings me back to my main point – only two storage companies are talking about optimizing VMware environments – NetApp and our new OEM partner BlueArc and that sets them apart from the rest of the storage crowd.
A couple of weeks ago the subject of how important data optimization is to NetApp’s growth came up during a discussion with a prominent analyst. He attributed NetApp’s growth to two factors: adopting primary data optimization and hitching their wagon to VMware. In effect he said, by implementing a dedupe solution and becoming the preferred storage for a software vendor exhibiting 40% growth (VMware), NetApp was achieving fantastic growth.
That made me think, why isn’t NetApp being as highly valued as 3PAR by the market? I mean they are growing faster and have a more complete product offering. So, why aren’t they getting as high a multiple? Hmm…could it be because the market doesn’t believe NetApp’s VMware driven growth will continue, that it is vulnerable and will come under strong competition? I can confirm VMDK/VDI optimization is a strong driver for our OEM customers, so I do see optimization rather than interoperability becoming table stakes at the VMware game.
We welcome BlueArc as a new OEM partner. Their high performance NAS offering will soon be even higher value and a perfect solution for VMware environments. My prediction is BlueArc and their partners will nick away at NetApp’s market leadership by offering the highest performing primary dedupe solution, Albireo and gain share in the high growth VMware market. Good luck to Gus and the BlueArc team.
We are at VMworld this week and it should be interesting as VMware continues to press their aggressive growth agenda. We are here because our OEM data optimization solution, Albireo dedupes VMDK and VDI environments like nobodies’ business (up to 100X) and this is a great week to talk with OEM customers and vendors who are serious about storage efficiency.
We have two announcements at the show. The first is around Permabit extending our VMware Alliance to the Select level. That means we are partnering more closely with VMware and their ecosystem. We are the only OEM data optimization partner of VMware. Our second announcement is of our new OEM relationship with BlueArc. Interestingly, the VMworld theme of every storage vendor, save two, is about ‘interoperability’. While good, interoperability or integrating with the VM management console isn’t that exciting to me. The real value is in optimizing the storage of VM. That brings me back to my main point – only two storage companies are talking about optimizing VMware environments – NetApp and our new OEM partner BlueArc and that sets them apart from the rest of the storage crowd.
A couple of weeks ago the subject of how important data optimization is to NetApp’s growth came up during a discussion with a prominent analyst. He attributed NetApp’s growth to two factors: adopting primary data optimization and hitching their wagon to VMware. In effect he said, by implementing a dedupe solution and becoming the preferred storage for a software vendor exhibiting 40% growth (VMware), NetApp was achieving fantastic growth.
That made me think, why isn’t NetApp being as highly valued as 3PAR by the market? I mean they are growing faster and have a more complete product offering. So, why aren’t they getting as high a multiple? Hmm…could it be because the market doesn’t believe NetApp’s VMware driven growth will continue, that it is vulnerable and will come under strong competition? I can confirm VMDK/VDI optimization is a strong driver for our OEM customers, so I do see optimization rather than interoperability becoming table stakes at the VMware game.
We welcome BlueArc as a new OEM partner. Their high performance NAS offering will soon be even higher value and a perfect solution for VMware environments. My prediction is BlueArc and their partners will nick away at NetApp’s market leadership by offering the highest performing primary dedupe solution, Albireo and gain share in the high growth VMware market. Good luck to Gus and the BlueArc team.