NetApp grows fastest in rebounding storage market

Nearly three times quicker than the rest

The external disk storage market is back in rude health, according to IDC, with 17 per cent revenue growth in the first quarter. EMC, IBM, NetApp and Dell all recorded double-digit revenue growth, and NetApp leads the pack with a 47.4 per cent jump.

IDC reckons the market grew to $4.96bn in the first quarter of this year compared to the same quarter last year. EMC's external disk storage systems factory revenues grew 37.6 per cent to $1.22bn, giving EMC a commanding 24.6 per cent market share - helped by Data Domain revenues being included. IBM and NetApp tied statistically for second place with IBM assigned $579m revenue and an 11.7 per cent share, up 21.6 per cent on the year.

NetApp earned $550m revenue and had an 11.1 per cent share and revenue growth of 47.4 per cent. It was number six in the rankings a year ago and has made a pretty spectacular jump - yet more evidence that it is doing very well indeed.

HP and Dell tied for fourth place, HP recording $506m revenue, a 10.2 per cent share, and growth of just five per cent, under-performing compared to the market as a whole. Dell on the other hand grew 21.8 per cent to a 10.1 per cent share with $500m revenue.

Hitachi and Oracle/Sun were classed as being in the "Others" category.

NetApp has done very well indeed, but EMC's revenues were more than equal to those of IBM and NetApp combined. IBM and Dell grew revenues at approximately the same rate while HP languished. HP just has to get the EVA products selling better, and that depends upon the coming refresh. The company is doing so well elsewhere in its product offerings that storage looks like the runt relation.

No doubt David Donatelli is laughing up his sleeve because we, he, and everyone else are convinced that the EVA, or P6000 as it will be known, will be a triumph for HP. ®