The DR550 is IBM’s equivalent of compliance-friendly systems such as EMC Corp’s Centera. It comprises IBM’s CommonStore and Archive Manager software running on Big Blue’s xSeries servers connected to the company’s mid-range DS4200 disk arrays. Until now that software did not run on Windows.
According to a joint statement, the arrangement will see Microsoft through its channel partners recommend IBM storage and software to its customers for email archiving solutions. Although Microsoft offers a hosted email archiving service, it does not have any standalone email archiving products in its portfolio.
Both companies said that the deal is likely to be extended to other applications beyond email archiving. It was up to IBM to decide which workload to go for first, and they decided on email archiving, said Microsoft’s marketing director Claude Lorenson. One possible area for future cooperation would be the sale of IBM’s file archiving software, in combination with its Windows-powered NAS boxes.
The announcement comes only two weeks after Microsoft announced an extension of its relationship with EMC Corp that will revolve around the integration of EMC’s content management software with Microsoft’s application stack. In March, EMC and Microsoft Corporation announced a significant expansion of their relationship that they said would help deliver ILM solutions for Microsoft applications.
So why is there is no equivalent to the DR550 deal between Microsoft and EMC, involving say EMC’s EmailXtender running on Windows, coupled with EMC’s Centera CAS box or disk archive?
Lorenson refused to close the door on EMC or any other supplier. We’re very happy to work with all vendors, he stressed.
But Microsoft pointed out that the Centera operating system is a Linux variant, rather than Windows. Neither does IBM’s Engenio-made DS4200 run Windows as its operating system. Microsoft said however that customers will not interact with the DS4200 operating system, and will interact with the Centera OS.
IBM has tailored off-the-peg, ready-configured DR550 hardware and software packages that include best practices advice and installation scripts designed for VARs. Our co-operative effort was to put this together on Windows. Microsoft’s cooperation will be to find the references and the opportunities to sell it, said Gordon Arnold, technical strategist for IBM.
Amy Whol, president of analyst Whol Associates said: There’s a nice overlap between IBM and Microsoft business partners. Also, it’s really easy to get to be an IBM business partner at this level.
