Tarsus` first HP rack-school elicits positive response

Tarsus Technologies, local distributor of the HP range of server hardware in SA, recently concluded its first rack-building course. The course was aimed at allowing resellers to experience the process of building, configuring and supporting these servers in the field.

"While rack servers are in massive demand today, we`ve found that many of our resellers have up until now, had to go on-site without the in-depth knowledge required to set-up and configure the servers," says Greg Pothitos, HP ESG product manager at Tarsus Technologies. "The rack school`s main objective is to provide SMB resellers with the ability to learn the set-up and configuration tasks beforehand, so that they are equipped to roll-out the required servers when the time comes. It is a reality today, that SMB resellers do not have the means to conduct training and keep their skills current - in-house."

"The scenario has been compounded by the fact that HP currently doesn`t offer any official certification or training for the rack range of products. The identification of this gap in the vendor`s offering has allowed us to create a practical curriculum, that in the space of a day teaches resellers how to build, configure, power-up and support the range. Enabling them with the knowledge to add vital value to their customers` businesses," Pothitos continues.

The feedback from the course has been extremely positive. Says Gary Fynn, managing director of Fynn Technologies: "It was very insightful and valuable to see a practical demonstration of what we are selling. The trainer was excellent and worked at a pace that everybody could keep up with. I would recommend the course to both technical and sales people."

Adds Clifford Snouck of IT Rescue: "It was very interesting and informative. A real plus point of the course was the hands-on approach, not only giving a feel for the equipment, but definitely allowing more knowledge to sink in."

Pothitos says the rack course will resume next quarter, with multiple sessions scheduled. "The training delivered by the rack-course and the feedback received fits in perfectly with what Tarsus and its HP division is trying to achieve from a channel development perspective. By next quarter, we should have a competency centre in place, allowing resellers to place rack-servers in the context of other IT infrastructure equipment and experience a further reaching range of solutions," he concludes.