HiCommand is designed to make it easier to install, configure and manage all Hitachi storage systems across all major enterprise storage resource management tools and using software offered by independent software vendors, as well as its own software.
Shoden Data Systems, local distributor of Hitachi Data Systems, has announced HiCommand, a software framework for simplifying the tasks performed by storage-system administrators.
According to Fanie van Rensburg, MD of Shoden Data Systems, HiCommand provides a single, integrated, Web-based user interface for controlling all Hitachi Freedom Storage systems. "It also provides a set of Application Program Interfaces (APIs) designed to simplify the integration of storage management functions with products developed by independent software vendors (ISVs)."
Stefano Mattiello, MD of Sun Microsystems South Africa, comments: "The HiCommand software platform is an excellent complement to the Sun StorEdge software product line. Customers have a complete view of the entire storage stack - which simplifies the storage management process and reduces costs. This is yet another example of how the recently announced alliance between Sun and Hitachi Data Systems is benefiting customers."
Designed to mirror the workflow process of storage administrators, HiCommand delivers a substantial increase in productivity, making it possible for each administrator to manage larger amounts of data. Adds Van Rensburg: "The exponential growth of data has escalated the cost of managing a storage system, with more and more people being employed for this task. HiCommand aims to enable companies to deploy data centre resources in more productive activities."
HiCommand presents administrators with easy-to-use graphical displays that show the logical groupings of storage resources in the customer installation, tools for controlling the connectivity of physical and logical storage components, and up-to-date operational information such as device capacity and usage.
The HiCommand APIs will be made available and will enable ISVs to tightly integrate their applications with HiCommand, leading to increased customer options for deploying storage virtualisation tools and other software aimed at reducing management costs.
HiCommand software runs on a Microsoft Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Unix-based server with network connection (TCP/IP) to all managed storage. The HiCommand server can be controlled via the Web from any location, enabling customers to achieve the cost benefits offered by a centralised approach to managing storage.
In its initial release, available now, HiCommand will support the Hitachi Freedom Storage Lightning 9900. Support for the Freedom Storage Thunder 9200 will be available in November. In future releases of HiCommand, Hitachi Data Systems expects to include support for storage from other vendors.
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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 switches and ESCON 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 9200.
2. Connectivity - the Inrange FC/9000 Fibre Channel Director, ESCON directors and channel extenders.
Hitachi Data Systems
Committed to helping customers exploit the value of information technology for success in the Internet economy, Hitachi Data Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd (NYSE:HIT), is a leading provider of business solutions for the world's most information-intensive corporations. For further information on Hitachi Data Systems, access www.hds.com.
Hitachi Ltd
Hitachi, Ltd, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the world's leading global electronics companies, with fiscal 2000 (ended 31 March 2001) consolidated sales of 8 417 billion yen ($67.9 billion*) The company manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including computers, semiconductors, consumer products and power and industrial equipment. For more information on Hitachi, Ltd., please visit Hitachi's Web site at http://global.hitachi.com
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