EMC expands storage industry open software integration initiative

EMC has announced a major expansion of its E-Infostructure Developers Programme, a comprehensive open software integration initiative. The expanded programme gives customers access to additional third party software tools integrated with a full range of EMC solutions through new programming interfaces. The initiative, which began in 1999 with programming interfaces for EMC`s Symmetrix systems and software, now enables developers to customise their software to utilise key management and protection features of EMC`s CLARiiON systems and software and Celerra Network File Servers.

There are currently 75 vendors, ranging from database, backup and management companies to specialised data software firms, using APIs for EMC`s Symmetrix systems and software, such as EMC TimeFinder and Symmetrix Remote Data Facility (SRDF). More than 40 products with EMC-specific features or functions are currently available from these companies. Software vendor and provider of XML technology, Software AG, is the newest member of the E-Infostructure Developers Programme and will work to integrate its Tamino XML database platform with EMC systems and software. "Our integration efforts with EMC will allow our many common customers and new prospects to gain faster access and higher availability for their XML data stored in EMC systems," says Alf Gebel, vice president of Global Alliances for Software AG.

EMC is now providing access to Command Line Interfaces (CLIs) for its CLARiiON and Celerra systems to independent software vendors (ISVs) and others who will be able to develop and market versions of their products and applications that can control specific features and functions of these EMC solutions. By sharing its programming interfaces with other vendors, EMC is helping customers take full advantage EMC`s features and functionality, while eliminating costly, time-consuming application creation or customization and testing.

Says Graham Prime, product marketing manager of EMC SA: "For nearly two years, we`ve opened up our architecture to some of the world`s best companies and the end result has been more choice for customers. EMC systems, by design, are the most open in the market today, supporting more operating systems, applications and third-party software than all of our competitors combined. This expansion gives customers even more tools that they can seamlessly integrate into their EMC information infrastructure." The new developer kits now available to E-Infostructure Developers Programme members include:

* CLARiiON Management CLI: The CLARiiON Management CLI Development Kit contains command line interface software and documentation for software that manages and monitors CLARiiON disk-array storage systems. The kit is available for Windows NT, Windows 2000, Solaris, HP/UX, and AIX operating systems.

* CLARiiON SnapView CLI: The CLARiiON SnapView CLI Development Kit contains command line interface routines, software and documentation for software that creates and controls LUN snapshots on CLARiiON FC 4700 Fibre Channel disk-array storage systems. The snapshots can be used for independent data analysis or backup.

* Celerra Management CLI: The Celerra Management CLI Development Kit contains command line interface software and documentation for software that manages and monitors Celerra NAS (network attached storage) systems. Members who recently joined the E-Infostructure Developers Programme and those with new offerings include: AltaVista Search Software, BMC Software, Citrix Systems, Fujitsu Limited, Informix, Integratus, Managed Storage International, Metron Technology Limited, Network Associates, Novus Consulting Group, Rutilus Software, SAP, Symantec, Taviz Technology, TeraCloud, and Trend Micro.

A full list of programme participants and information on the E-Infostructure Developers Programme can be found at <http://www.emc.com/partnersalliances/einfostructure/developers/members.jsp>.