Hitachi partners with Microsoft to take on Cisco, VMware with a new unified compute platform
But wait, there’s more! The Hitachi UC Platform won’t lock you into Hyper-V, it also supports VMware. Specifically, it uses:
- Storage, Server and Network: Hitachi Universal Storage Platform V, Hitachi blade servers, and Fibre Channel and Ethernet components.
- Orchestration Software: An extensible software layer developed by Hitachi for automated, end-to-end management of all processes for server, storage, network and applications through a simplified, role-based management portal.
- Microsoft Software: Microsoft System Center Operations Manager and System Center Virtual Machine Manager will be tightly integrated as well as Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 with Hyper-V.
- Virtualization Technologies: Hitachi Universal Storage Platform V, Hitachi Dynamic Provisioning and the Hitachi Storage Cluster for Microsoft Hyper-V. Support for Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware hypervisors will be provided.
The UC Platform is slated to be delivered in 2011, says Miki Sandorfi, Chief Strategist, File and Content Services, of Hitachi Data Systems.
Hitachi Data Systems and Microsoft have long-been partners. Hitachi already sells storage virtualization based on Microsoft’s hypervisor, the Hitachi Storage Cluster for Hyper-V. But with the compute environment, Hitachi and Microsoft have grown closer. The two also announced a worldwide OEM agreement to in which Hitachi will distribute Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft System Center suite and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 products.
This UC system represents a considerable additional investment, Sandorfi says, with the orchestration layer. Orchestration is the piece that makes the compute environment more like utility computing, able to juggle workloads across a maze of virtual components be they servers or LUNs.
Hitachi’s product demonstration was first demonstrated on the same day that HP held a press conference to announce its plans to kick Cisco to the curb. HP explained that it will integrate 3Com networking gear with its servers (that can be optimized to run VMware) to create HP’s Converged Infrastructure. HP’s vision is a converged utility network that combines data, voice and video.
Cisco, EMC and VMware have been buddying up, even giving their partnership the fancy name of the Virtual Compute Environment (VCE) coalition. The three launched a joint venture, named Acadia, to sell unified compute systems that they call VBlocks.
While Microsoft and Cisco have a long history of collaboration, competition between them has grown more fierce since Microsoft introduced its VoIP product, Office Communications Server. Microsoft can be none too happy with Cisco’s chummy relationship with VMware, too.
Hitachi’s UC Platform is clearly Microsoft’s (and Hitachi’s) attempt to take the three VCE amigos out at the knees. Hitachi’s Sandorfi didn’t mention if the idea would be to compete with Acadia on price, but given the players involved you can bet that their sales rep will be willing to deal.
Posted by Julie Bort.
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