Hitachi Data Systems in Canada has announced it has expanded its distribution agreement with GE Access. Under the agreement, GE Access will offer the full line of Hitachi Freedom Storage products and solutions to resellers in the Canadian marketplace.
GE Access will carry Hitachi’s flagship high-end storage system, the Freedom Storage Lightning 9900T, as well as the Freedom Storage 9200, a high-performance system for mid-range computing operations. These high-availability storage systems are equipped with Fibre Channel connections for use in SANs. They support a variety of Unix-based platforms as well as Windows NT and Windows 2000 operating systems. Complementing GE Access’ professional service offerings, including technical support, consulting, solution development and integration, Hitachi Data Systems also offers hardware installation and testing services, field sales support and marketing programs.
Sun offers new storage certification program
Sun Microsystems has announced the iForce Storage Elite Program, designed to qualify and certify key iForce partners with a core competency in storage hardware and software consulting integration. The new program builds on Sun’s storage solution effort by offering qualified partners an opportunity to meet growing end-user requirements for complex storage integration.
This program is expected to increase Sun server to Sun storage attach rates by more than 30 per cent. “This designation will signify the substantial investment ASG has made in our data management practice and the world class storage deployments we have successfully completed over the last two years,” said John Murphy, executive vice-president of ASG. “By classifying only the highest tier of systems integrators who have invested in senior storage architects and made extensive investments in SAN labs and testing facilities, Sun Microsystems and our mutual clients will be more secure in their storage decisions.”
Legato acquires OTG Software
Enterprise storage management software vendor Legato Inc. has announced it will acquire data storage maker OTG Software to expand its product offerings to customers.
Under the deal, Legato will acquire all outstanding shares of OTG in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately US$403 million, or US$11.13 per share. Each share of OTG common stock will be converted into the right to receive 0.6876 of a share of Legato common stock and US$2.50 per share in cash. David Wright, chairman, president and CEO of Mountain View, Calif.-based Legato, said in a statement that the combined companies will better serve customers with expanded and complementary products. Jim Chappell, a spokesman for Legato, said the two companies offer products in “adjacent technology spaces” but with little overlap. Major benefits of the merger include an opportunity to create a larger company that offers customers improved support and service, he said.
