The Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) has named the Hitachi HiCommand storage management suite "best-in-class". In a recent report, ESG performed hands-on testing of the Hitachi TagmaStore Universal Storage Platform, TagmaStore Network Storage Controller, and HiCommand Tiered Storage Manager, and concluded that Hitachi's hardware and software products combine to deliver "technology that has obvious and quantifiable value".
"ESG has spoken with customers who have saved significantly by implementing an intelligent tiered storage environment," says Tony Asaro, senior analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group. "The key is to combine tiered storage with intelligent software that can centrally manage the tiers and migrate data dynamically, transparently, and without disruption."
According to ESG, the combination of the Universal Storage Platform or Network Storage Controller with HiCommand Tiered Storage Manager can provide transparent and non-disruptive data migration of heterogeneous SAN-based storage systems - servers do not have to be taken offline, the process does not require a team of people, and the actual data migration is very fast and reliable.
"Data migration is a fundamental process within the data centre. However, there is a great deal of misunderstanding and lack of awareness about the tools available to perform this task," explains Asaro. "ESG Lab testing has shown that Tiered Storage Manager is not only capable of managing on-line migrations, but is also easy to use. Tiers of storage are easily defined and managed at the application level, migration candidates are automatically detected, and migrations are performed using a simple four-step wizard."
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With offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town, Shoden Data Systems is the sole distributor for Hitachi Data Systems in SA. Shoden Data Systems also has strategic agreements with McData - a provider of storage networking solutions, products and services, and is an authorised enterprise solutions and service provider of Fujitsu Siemens Computers. In addition, the company is a Veritas Elite Partner, providing integrated, managed, best-of-breed storage software solutions to the marketplace.
Based on more than 350 collective years of experience in the service, support and marketing of Hitachi products, Shoden Data Systems uses its intellectual capital and industry leading products to provide customers with total solutions in the storage, enterprise servers and connectivity arenas.
The following offerings are available:
1. Storage
HDS Storage Range, Storage Product of the Year 2004
Hitachi Network Storage Controller series
Hitachi Tagmastore Universal Storage Platform Series
Hitachi Workgroup Modular Series
Hitachi Adapatable Modular Series
2. Connectivity
MCDATA, Brocade and CISCO
Fibre Channel Switches and Directors
Channel Extension
3. Servers - Fujitsu Siemens Servers
PrimePower - SPARC based Solaris servers.
Primergy - Intel-based servers
PrimeQuest - Itanium-based servers
4. Software
Veritas Commercial and Enterprise products
HDS Storage Software
5. Data Centre Services
Design, Architect, Implement and Support of Data Centre solutions based on our world leading offerings.
Hitachi Data Systems
Hitachi Data Systems leverages global R&D resources to develop storage solutions built on industry-leading technology with the performance, availability and scalability to maximize customers' ROI and minimise their risk. By focusing on the customer's perspective as we apply the best hardware, software, and services from Hitachi and our partners, we uniquely satisfy our customers' business needs.
With 2 700 employees, Hitachi Data Systems conducts business through direct and indirect channels in the public, government and private sectors in over 170 countries. Its customers include more than 50% of Fortune 100 companies. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.eu.hds.com.
Hitachi
Hitachi, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company, with approximately 340 000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2002 (ended 31 March 2003) consolidated sales totalled 8 191.7 billion yen ($68.3 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors, including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.hitachi.com.
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