Hitachi Data Systems has announced that it is the first storage vendor to complete hardware interoperability testing with Cisco. The vendor also announced the signing of a non-binding letter of intent to resell and support the Cisco MDS 9000 Family of Multilayer Directors and Fabric Switches as part of its portfolio of SAN switches.
When the terms of the agreement between Cisco and Hitachi are finalised, Hitachi Data Systems will make the Cisco MDS 9000 available to its customers with full service and support.
According to Fanie van Rensburg, MD of local HDS distributor Shoden Data Systems, this agreement allows Hitachi Data Systems to offer its customers the scalability, security and performance they need while protecting their storage investment.
"Ensuring that the Cisco MDS 9000 multilayer switches interoperate with Hitachi Freedom Storage is consistent with the HDS 'TrueNorth' vision of partnering with a broad range of companies to deliver storage solutions that benefit our mutual customers."
The Cisco MDS 9000 Family is a comprehensive line of SAN switches for a wide variety of storage networks. The Cisco MDS 9000 Family is designed to offer high performance and scalability, and delivers intelligent network services such as multi-protocol/multi-transport integration, virtual SANs (VSANs), security, advanced traffic management, sophisticated diagnostics and unified SAN management.
"These products are designed to help customers drive SAN consolidation, increase data availability, and more efficiently manage their storage resources," adds Van Rensburg.
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With offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town, Shoden Data Systems (Pty) Ltd is the sole distributor for Hitachi Data Systems in SA. In addition, Shoden Data Systems is the sole distributor of INRANGE Technologies Corporation, the world's leading manufacturer of Channel Extenders, Fibre Channel and ESCON/FICON directors. Shoden Data Systems is also a Veritas Premier Partner and provides integrated, managed, best-of-breed storage area network solutions to the marketplace. Based on more than 200 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 - the HDS Freedom storage range, including Lightning 9900 and 9500.
2. Connectivity - the Inrange FC/9000 Fibre Channel/ FICON Director, ESCON Directors and Channel Extenders.
3. Servers - Fujitsu Siemens PrimePower range of servers.
Hitachi Data Systems
Hitachi Data Systems is committed to enabling organisations worldwide to exploit the full potential of information. By following and deploying our TrueNorthT strategy, we provide customers with a broad range of storage solutions to simplify, protect and optimise their information infrastructures. Our offerings include enterprise and modular storage systems and software, professional services, fully complemented by best-of-breed products through industry alliances.
With 2 700 employees, Hitachi Data Systems conducts business through direct sales and resellers in the public, government and private sectors in over 170 countries on six continents. Its customers include more than 50 % of Fortune 100 companies. For more information, please visit http://www.eu.hds.com.
Hitachi, Ltd
Hitachi, Ltd, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company, with approximately 320 000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2001 (ended 31 March 2002) consolidated sales totalled 7 994 billion yen ($60.1 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 http://global.hitachi.com.
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