Servers

Servers

HPE strengthens small business servers with ClearCenter partnership, reborn MicroServer

June 5, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on HPE strengthens small business servers with ClearCenter partnership, reborn MicroServer
The exclusive deal with ClearCenter provides a Linux platform that provides server, networking and gateway functionality, and combined with the HPE ProLiant MicroServer, provides a low-cost offering for small businesses and SOHOs.

[…]

Channel Programs

New flexible consumption models, incumbency protection highlight Dell EMC channel changes

May 9, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on New flexible consumption models, incumbency protection highlight Dell EMC channel changes
Partner presence at this year’s event increased massively over anything at either the Dell or EMC events, or the initial joint event in Austin last fall.

[…]

Servers

New 14th gen PowerEdge servers highlight first day of Dell EMC World

May 8, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on New 14th gen PowerEdge servers highlight first day of Dell EMC World
The dominant theme of this year’s Dell EMC World is the automation of the data centre, and a key part of that is the announcement of its latest servers, with availability set for summer.

[…]

Channel Programs

Lenovo Canada’s Stefan Bockhop promoted to run Lenovo server channel business

April 25, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Lenovo Canada’s Stefan Bockhop promoted to run Lenovo server channel business
The promotion for Canada’s long-time channel chief means that a replacement will be named – but no decision there has yet been reached.

[…]

Servers

Integrated Dell-EMC technologies begin to roll out with ScaleIO Ready Node

September 23, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Integrated Dell-EMC technologies begin to roll out with ScaleIO Ready Node
Dell EMC releases ScaleIO software from EMC integrated with PowerEdge servers, and thinks it will be a strong channel offering.

[…]

Computers

Lenovo channel chief pleased with North American performance

August 23, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Lenovo channel chief pleased with North American performance
Sammy Kinlaw reviews Lenovo’s recently concluded quarter in North America and indicates their initiatives going forward, including a new distribution agreement for the Motorola products.

[…]

Data Centre

Nutanix expands customer choice in server platforms, validating its software on Cisco UCS

August 18, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Nutanix expands customer choice in server platforms, validating its software on Cisco UCS
The interesting thing here is that Nutanix has expanded the Cisco support on its own, without Cisco being involved in the validation process. That supports the two companies’ earlier stated position that no partnership where Nutanix would be sold on UCS was in the works. This move may, however, indicate that Nutanix is trying to create momentum towards it.

[…]

Cloud

Cisco, SwiftStack collaborate on turnkey object storage enterprise cloud solution

July 13, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Cisco, SwiftStack collaborate on turnkey object storage enterprise cloud solution
A new reseller agreement between the companies will see this integration of Cisco Metapod with SwiftStack 4.0 software become available to the Cisco channel.

[…]

Big Data

HDS targets midmarket with expanded UCP 2000 and new hyper-converged offering

June 21, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on HDS targets midmarket with expanded UCP 2000 and new hyper-converged offering
The HC V240, HDS’ first hyper-converged appliance, is based on the VMware stack, but the hyper-converged road map is likely to broaden out beyond that.

[…]

Dave Mason, vice president of advanced solutions at Ingram Micro Canada
Cloud

Ingram Micro Canada adds Power to IBM lineup

June 13, 2016 Robert Dutt Comments Off on Ingram Micro Canada adds Power to IBM lineup
Ingram Micro Canada will help Big Blue drive its Power architecture into the midmarket through the channel via an expanded partnership.

[…]

Data Centre

HPE, Docker look to future with major strategic alliance

June 8, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on HPE, Docker look to future with major strategic alliance
The two companies announced a broad range of Docker ready HP servers, which will be available in Q4, and a broad range of Docker integrations and other solutions for HPE, which are available now.

[…]

Servers

Dell upgrades four-socket server portfolio

June 6, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Dell upgrades four-socket server portfolio
The enhancements reflect the increased capacity of Intel’s new Xeon E7 and E5 v4 processor. Dell has also refreshed its PowerEdge R830 rack server, which had not been updated since 2011.

[…]

Servers

Dell announces both Intel-related and internal improvements to their PowerEdge servers

April 4, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Dell announces both Intel-related and internal improvements to their PowerEdge servers
Dell has announced the availability of its 13th generation servers with significant upgrades due to Intel’s release of its new Broadwell CPUs. The company, has, however, added some of its enhancements at the same time.

[…]

Cloud

SwiftStack sees great IoT opportunities in joining Cisco Solution Partner Program

February 24, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on SwiftStack sees great IoT opportunities in joining Cisco Solution Partner Program
The approved compatibility with Cisco allows any Cisco UCS server to be turned into the equivalent of a private Amazon S3 storage cloud, which is well suited for IoT requirements. More specific partner-focused announcements relating to this partnership are also coming.

[…]

Networking

Scale Computing partners with Mellanox to add networking to hyper-converged solution

February 23, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Scale Computing partners with Mellanox to add networking to hyper-converged solution
Adding networking to the server, storage and virtualization capabilities of their HC3 solution gives Scale a complete bundle that responds to customer requests for such an addition.

[…]

Computers

Lenovo sets sights on 30 per cent PC share, enhanced server growth

February 5, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Lenovo sets sights on 30 per cent PC share, enhanced server growth
Lenovo channel chief Sammy Kinlaw said raising System x server sales is his top priority for the year, as some partners still don’t sell these at all.

[…]

Big Data

Lenovo, SAP expand alliance with new joint techs, go-to-market programs

January 27, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Lenovo, SAP expand alliance with new joint techs, go-to-market programs
Details are pretty high level at this stage, and a Chinese cloud solutions venture will be China-focused — at least in the short term. There are, however, other elements which Lenovo channel partners will find of interest.

[…]

Operating Systems

Xinuos launches modernization of SCO OpenServer with OpenServer 10

January 22, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Xinuos launches modernization of SCO OpenServer with OpenServer 10
Xinuos, which purchased SCO’s UNIX server products, is now releasing an entirely new version of the OS, hoping that leveraging market conditions and fond memories of the legacy SCO product will lead non-legacy customers and partners to look past damage to the brand done by SCO’s management in its later years.

[…]

Cloud

HPE debuts composable infrastructure lineup

December 8, 2015 Robert Dutt Comments Off on HPE debuts composable infrastructure lineup
HPE shows off the first members of its Synergy family of systems that pool compute, storage, and networking for a more cloud-like data centre.

[…]

Channel Communities

Hewlett Packard Enterprise stresses SMB, channel commitment with new releases

November 12, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Hewlett Packard Enterprise stresses SMB, channel commitment with new releases
For partners, the most interesting thing here may be the Small Business Marketplace e-commerce platform, an explicitly channel-focused online site, rather than a direct-to-customer site that competes with partners. It’s in pilot now in the U.S., but when it will be in Canada is not yet clear.

[…]