HP has signed a technology agreement with Hitachi that will see the two vendors exchange application programming interfaces (APIs) that will enable cross-management of each other`s storage arrays.
This agreement, together with similar contracts that HP recently signed with IBM and EMC, means that HP`s storage software will soon be able to seamlessly manage the systems that account for 90% of the world`s installed storage market.
Under the terms of the agreement, HP will be able to manage Hitachi Freedom Storage Lightning 9900 and 9900 V Series and Thunder 9200 Series storage arrays within the HP OpenView Storage Area Management software product. Hitachi will be able to manage the HP StorageWorks XP and VA disk arrays, HP StorageWorks Enterprise Virtual Array (EVA) and HP StorageWorks Enterprise Modular Array (EMA) storage systems within the Hitachi HiCommand Management framework.
Says Kim Howlett, Storage Manager at HP South Africa: "HP, to date, is the only one of the world`s top four storage vendors to sign API agreements with each of the other leading players.
"This reflects our commitment to helping the storage industry move towards open standards, and also puts us in a strong position to provide solutions that help customers to easily and cost-effectively manage disparate storage environments."
The exchange of APIs is an interim step toward standards-based interoperability being led by the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) in an effort called the Storage Management Initiative (SMI). SMI is based on Bluefin technologies and provides a common management interface for all components in a storage area network (SAN), including disk arrays, switches, host adapters and servers.
"The best solution to storage hardware interoperability is standards-based interfaces like CIM and Bluefin. However, it will take some time before these interfaces include the rich management functions that customers need today," says Howlett. "In the meantime, HP has signed contracts with the world`s leading storage hardware vendors to ensure that customers have access to solutions that ease the task of storage area management in heterogeneous environments."
By November, HP will ship a new version of its OpenView Storage Manager product that allows for management of heterogeneous systems.
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HP is a leading global provider of products, technologies, solutions and services to consumers and businesses. The company`s offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing. HP completed its merger transaction involving Compaq Computer Corp on 3 May 2002. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.
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