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IBM blesses Catalogic's ECX copy data management
Big Blue takes storage biz's hand, gallops into the sunset
Catalogic has finally managed to get IBM on board its in-place ECX copy data management train.
Big Blue and Little C are saying that the following IBM arrays are supported with ECX:
- Storwize hybrid arrays
- SAN Volume Controller
- FlashSystem V9000
- SoftLayer – with ECX helping to reduce wasteful and redundant data storage in IBM's public enterprise cloud
- Spectrum Protect (Flash Copy Manager) for snapshot management
Catalogic says that what's unique is the capability to not just move the data to the SoftLayer cloud, but also to automate the entire process of bringing up live application environments in the cloud in support of functions like DR, Dev and Test or Analytics.
The CAPEX and OPEX savings are claimed to deliver a >300 per cent return on investment for clients. It is expected to accelerate SoftLayer adoption by IBM's enterprise storage customers.
Oddly, and unexpectedly for a storage service that says it reduces storage resource consumption, this development should, Catalogic claims, drive new or expanded storage sales based on the additional use cases it enables.
So, if you want to spend less on storage, don't buy Catalogic. Is that the message? Weird.
Apart from that oddity, this five-product addition is a nice extension of ECX' existing support for VMware and NetApp's ONTAP, both seven-mode and cluster mode (CDOT). The Catalogic roadmap has more vendors and products on it:
- EMC VNX
- Microsoft Hyper-V
- HDS VSP
- Nimble Storage
- HPE 3PAR
- VMware VVOLs
We wouldn't be surprised if XtremIO was on Catalogic's EMC list as well. Expect a Catalogic-EMC announcement later this quarter or the next.
Get more info here. The joint IBM-Catalogic products are currently available through IBM and Catalogic’s network of resellers and distributors. ®