MetaStor, the own-brand division of storage vendor LSI Logic Storage Systems, Inc, has extended its product offering into the storage area network space with the launch of its Open SAN Initiative. The Wichita, Kansas-based company will add its SAN to a portfolio including server-attached and network-attached storage (CI No 3,704).
Jim Griffin, MetaStor marketing director, said the openness claim for its SAN is based on the fact that, while it is clearly designed to sell MetaStor equipmant, all the partners in the SAN Initiative (Ancor, Brocade, Gadzoox, HP/Transoft, JNI, Mercury, Q-Logic, Veritas and Vixel) are supporting one another’s products. The common support strategy is offered via what MetaStor calls its ‘SAN Service Network’ which uses a software package from Clarify and offers strategic partners access for problem solving. Therefore, claims the company, customers need have only one point of contact to solve any problems they are having with the network. Griffin added that alliances are similarly being sought with ATL, Legato, CA, Tivoli and BMC Software, among others.
Griffin said that MetaStor’s sales strategy is 100% channel-based because the company has no direct sales force of its own. Among its channel partners are StorNet, Unique Digital and CoComp in the US, as well as NMG of Sweden, Royton in China and SIMMs in Australia.
