Captain,
It really is unfortunate that investors can't recognize the new Compaq. With Storage revenues that exceed server revenues, their service business, enterprise business, ISP and so on, you would think that investors could see that comparing Dell to Compaq is like comparing AAPL to IBM.
Compaq Strengthens Storage and SAN Leadership Position By Launching
the Open SAN
Unveils Business Unit, SANworks(TM) Solutions, Storage Networking Technology Center
biz.yahoo.com
HOUSTON, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ - news) strengthened its position today as the world's top ranking storage
systems supplier and leading SAN provider by committing significant resources to deliver the ultimate Storage Area Network -- the Open SAN. An Open SAN
supports both heterogeneous storage systems and heterogeneous server platforms, allowing customers to network and securely manage all of their storage systems --
wherever the systems are located and whichever vendor they may be from. It is a key component of Compaq's NonStop(TM) eBusiness solutions strategy to deliver
the best Internet infrastructure for 24x7 computing.
Compaq unveiled three initiatives directed toward establishing an Open SAN world:
* Formation of its Enterprise Storage Software (ESS) business unit;
* Announcement of the Compaq SANworks product line of Enterprise Storage
Management Solutions; and
* Construction of the Storage Networking Technology Center in Colorado
Springs, Colorado.
``Compaq's SANworks software and infrastructure will allow customers to manage any vendors' storage and servers in the same storage area network,' said
Howard Elias, Vice President and General Manager of Compaq's Storage Products Division. ``Every time someone clicks on a mouse, they create information that
can be used to improve a company's bottom line. But that information has to be stored in a way that's manageable, accessible and secure. Through Compaq
SANworks, we are taking the lead in delivering storage solutions that increase business flexibility, elevate customer service levels and streamline operational
efficiency.'
John McArthur, Vice President of Storage Research at IDC, stated: ``As the world's leading supplier of storage systems and a pioneer in switched storage networks,
Compaq has the clout to ignite the Open SAN market.'
In addition, ITcentrix recently cited Compaq as the industry leader in storage networking in its survey of major storage users and Global 200 companies, where
respondents named Compaq ``most important' to their network storage strategy nearly twice as often as the nearest competitor.
With the announcement of its Enterprise Storage Network Architecture (ENSA) in late 1998, Compaq took the initial step toward delivering the Open SAN.
Additional steps were made in 1999 as Compaq delivered the industry's first SAN-based data replication, SAN-based snapshots and clones, switched SAN-WAN
(wide area network)-SAN replication, and SAN-based storage virtualization.
Then, in late 1999, Compaq announced a multi-million dollar investment and partnership with HighGround Systems, a leading provider of storage resource
management software. The two companies plan on delivering Open SAN management solutions which will support Compaq StorageWorks with other vendors'
storage products and provide customers 24x7 access to the Internet -- essential for eCommerce operations that demand highly available, flexible, and shared
resources throughout an enterprise.
Today, Compaq is announcing the formation of a dedicated business unit that is responsible for delivering the storage software management solutions that will enable
the Open SAN. Also unveiled today is a new product line of Enterprise Storage Management Solutions that will be offered under the name of Compaq SANworks.
``We are delighted to see the SAN industry's market leader take this far-reaching step, which will commercialize SAN technology for all businesses,' said Dennis
Grant, President and CEO of HighGround Systems. ``HighGround's close partnership with Compaq and the Open SAN management software we are jointly
developing will accelerate the debut of this important new market.'
Compaq is already rolling out its SANworks roadmap to address the critical areas of Open SAN management, Open SAN interoperability, and Open SAN
virtualization. Within 90 days, Compaq will announce additional SANworks products that feature advanced technology for managing Open SAN storage resources.
Further announcements will be made this year and next to expand the scope and capabilities of Open SANs.
SANworks products available today create virtualized Windows NT storage pools for increased business flexibility, make instant data snapshots for quick recovery
leading to higher customer service levels, and replicate data anywhere in the world over SAN-WAN-SAN connections for reliable business continuance. For
example, CLP Power, Hong Kong's largest power utility serving more than 1.8 million business and residential customers, uses SANworks Data Replication
Manager to provide high performance, remote data replication between its production center and its recovery center every time a transaction occurs. Should a
system failure occur, CLP Power has an exact backup copy of system files to quickly boot into action.
``We control our operation centrally, which is a key concern when you have multiple vendor storage solutions and would need lots of trained people to restore and
recover data if the system fails,' said Richard Brisbane-Cohane, Management Services Manager at CLP Power. ``We chose to deploy Compaq's SANworks over
our ATM network connection in a one-stop shop approach so that our data center management operates in the most cost effective and efficient way.'
As a further commitment to the storage industry, Compaq is working in conjunction with The Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) to establish a
Storage Networking Technology Center. The center will be a state-of-the-art facility for developing and testing open storage networking standards to help expand
this strategic new market opportunity.
``The SNIA is extremely excited to be working with Compaq,' stated Larry Krantz, Chairman of the SNIA. ``Compaq's commitment to storage networking and
standards development is an enhancement to the entire industry.'
For more information about this announcement, visit the company's Storage Web Site at compaq.com . Among the information available at that
site:
* Background on the Compaq ENSA architecture; and
* Strategy for SANworks Enterprise Storage Management Solutions.
About Compaq
Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune Global 100 company, is the second largest computer company in the world and the largest global supplier of computer
systems. Compaq develops and markets hardware, software, solutions and services, including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant
business-critical solutions, enterprise and network storage solutions, commercial desktop and portable products and consumer PCs. The company is an industry
leader in environmentally friendly programs and business practices.
Compaq products are sold and supported in more than 100 countries through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners. Customer support and
information about Compaq and its products are available at compaq.com .
Compaq, Registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective
companies. |
