http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/03/16/huawei_hugging_datacore/
A hyper-converged server and storage system is coming as the offspring of a Huawei-DataCore deal giving channel partners of both an answer to Nutanix, Simplicity, and EVO: RAIL-type offerings.
Basically it’s Huawei FusionServer servers running DataCore SANsymphony-V software with Huawei Oceanstor direct-attached storage made into a virtual SAN across 2 to 64 servers. Also, 3rd-party storage can be virtualised through DataCore’s software and added into the storage resource pool.
Two or more Huawei server nodes can be used to pool external storage and form a stretch cluster over multiple data centres, with DataCore failover, using sync mirroring, providing non-stop data access if there is a disaster in either location.
The systems can have pre-installed Microsoft server software and be delivered optimised to support Microsoft applications and Hyper-V virtualisation projects, as well as VMware ones. Supported apps include SQL server, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics ERP, SharePoint, Exchange, SAP and VDI.
The two suppliers say DataCore and Huawei channel partners can now provide 100 per cent Huawei hardware products, end to end, covering storage, network and compute needs.
It’s good news for Huawei, whose channel can now pitch its servers and disk and flash storage into accounts with existing third-party storage arrays and use DataCore software as the glue to bring it all together, ticking the software-defined and hyper-converged boxes on the way.
For DataCore it’s good news as well, coming on top of existing deals with Cisco (UCS), Dell (PowerEdge) and Fujitsu (Primergy) for their servers. All server vendors are jumping aboard the hyper-converged and software-defined storage bandwagons as a way to sell more servers and their own direct-attached storage.
They see the virtual SANs inherent in such offers as a way to divert customer spend previously devoted to third-party SAN arrays into their own pockets.
Get a briefing doc about the combined Huawei/DataCore system here (pdf).
Huawei/DataCore hyper-converged systems will be available for shipment later this month within EMEA. List prices start at around $20.000.
