Spurred to action by similar moves from its rivals, Digital Equipment Corp yesterday signed up with Hitachi Data Systems to extend its StorageWorks open systems storage line to offer connectivity with IBM S/390 compatible mainframes, and ultimately a single storage architecture for mainframes and open systems. DEC will take Hitachi’s existing 7700 MP multi-platform storage array, and the lower-end 6700, and integrate them into its StorageWorks product line in the first phase of the deal, which involves both joint development and marketing. DEC sells StorageWorks as a set of open systems modular storage building blocks which support various Unix flavors, Windows NT and DEC’s own OpenVMS operating systems. It claims the business generates $2bn revenues annually, and says it’s so far shipped 10,000TB of storage. The Hitachi technology should see the StorageWorks set support IBM’s MVS-OS/390-based mainframes, and both move and share data between open systems and mainframes. Hitachi began closing EMC’s technology lead on mainframe and open systems storage integration when it announced device sharing for the 7700 disk array last February, combining MVS, OS/390 access with attachment to DEC, HP, IBM and Windows NT-based hardware (the 6700 doesn’t currently attach to S/390s). Since then it’s added further data migration and remote copy tools. And last year it set up a new world wide indirect sales organization to find partnerships that would boost its presence in the open systems market. DEC says it sees Hitachi – the largest supplier of IBM mainframe compatible products – as the most credible partner and the best fit for its $2bn storage business. But the move comes only after a series of similar partnerships set in place by rivals such as IBM Corp with Storage Technology Corp, Hewlett-Packard Co and EMC Corp, and most recently Sun Microsystems Inc and Encore Computer Corp. DEC dismisses those efforts, saying that its partnership with Hitachi will result in an integrated architecture for mainframes and open systems. The two were vague on time scales, but said they would begin working with customers immediately on a project basis. Hitachi spokesman Doug Young called the deal an important new strategic direction for the company. The timing of the deal was not so good for Aneheim, California-based MTI Technology Corp, which also plans to add Hitachi products into its Unix and NT storage products. Hitachi insisted the two deals did not clash.
